History

Marcy-Newberry Association was established with a mission to address the needs of West Side communities of Chicago by developing, managing and operating groups and individual programs to: Stimulate self-determination, empowerment, self awareness, community development and revitalization, human dignity and racial pride: promote positive self images in children and adults: provide, through the existing resources of the agency and referral to others, education/training designed to lead to employment and job fulfillment; and promote citizen involvement in the improvement of the neighborhood.

From a one room mission site at 300 W. Maxwell Street, to 12 Sites! We have been busy meeting growing needs in the community since 1883.


Historical Sketch of Marcy-Newberry:

1883
- Founded by Elizabeth Smith Marcy & Church Women on the near north-side of Chicago
- Serving Czechoslovakian and Bohemian immigrants in the Halsted and Maxwell street areas of

 Chicago

1888
- Funding and accreditation granted by the Rock River Conference & Women's Home

Missionary Society

1890
- Small, two-story frame building purchased at the corner of Maxwell and Newberry Avenue
- New immigrants and neighborhood residents learned new, life-changing skills

1896
- A three-story building erected and named the Elizabeth E. Marcy Home
- Cycle of immigration changed and programs changed to meet the need of Jewish immigrants programs expanded from Newberry base to Lawndale community

1936
- The old buildings name changed to Newberry Avenue Center

1960
- Southern blacks start to migrate to Chicago
- Soon Lawndale and Newberry Avenue areas become predominately black

1964
- Newberry Center moves to present location: 1073 W. Maxwell Street

1969
- Both centers, Marcy and Newberry, merge, becoming Marcy-Newberry Association

1991
- Constructed the Greenfield-Robinson Transitional Living Center for pregnant teens and homeless moms

1994
- Spearheaded the development of Newberry Park Apartments. 84 units