Maywoodian Families

Four Projects

We’re so excited to share the four projects that our Summer Mentees were able to accomplish during our 6 week mentorship program.

1. The Quinn Center

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Our Summer Mentees were able to photograph children at The Quinn Centers annual summer camp this year, they put to use all of the skills they learned throughout the 6 week Mentorship.

2. Maywoodian Families

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A group of five mentees photographed families who live in Maywood, as well as made a blog post about each individual family and their story of how they came to Maywood.

3. Video | Food Desert Conversation

Another group of five mentees created, shot, planned, and edited a podcast video talking about the challenges our community faces.

4. Individual Headshots

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Our Summer Mentees teamed up to photograph headshots of each other. They utilized their skills that they learned throughout the 6 week mentorship cohort.

Part 1 | Part 2

Maywoodian Families

Hello! We are a group of Firehouse Mentees trying to share the stories of families in Maywood. We wanted to share the faces of our community and show the diverse stories that make up Maywood. We also wanted to spotlight the experiences and opportunities that the Maywood community has brought for each of the families. We are excited to present these unique stories and we hope you enjoy learning more about your neighbors and the history of this great community! Thank you to all the families who shared their stories with us, we couldn’t have done it without you!

Meet the Arteaga Family!

2. The Hurt Family

Meet the Hurt Family!

3. The Bustamante Family

Meet the Bustamante Family!

4. The Hernandez-Franco Family

Meet the Hernandez-Franco Family!

5. The Wellington Family

Meet the Wellington Family!

Maywoodian Families | Hernandez-Franco

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Photo Credit: Jasmyn Scavella

How Long Have You Lived In Maywood?:

21 Years

What Are You Loving About Maywood?:

Centralized Area, lots of potential. Community outreach

Favorite Memory?:

Discovering my church St. Eulalia

What Opportunities Has Maywood Brought To Your Family?:

My sons went to PMSA, lots of community services opportunities

What Hopes Do You Have For Your Maywood Community?:

Community development, community beautification, safety initiatives

What Is Something That Your Family Enjoys Doing?:

Camping

Photo Credit: Jasmyn Scavella, Mya Frank, Suha Kassar, Cristal Andrade, Houmam Kassar

Maywoodian Families | Wellington Family

Photo Credit: Jasmine Lopez

Photo Credit: Jasmine Lopez

How long have you lived in Maywood?:

Since 2000. My husband was born and raised here.

What are you loving about Maywood?: 

My Son attended the same neighborhood school his Dad did. He was able to walk to the neighborhood school and have friends in his neighborhood.

Favorite memory in Maywood?:  

Coming home from Afghanistan and seeing the yellow ribbons tied to each tree on our block.

What opportunities has Maywood brought to your family?: 

To grow as a family. For 2 years, my Son lived in his father's childhood home. The same home I moved into when we got married in 2000. We later purchased our own home in 2008...in Maywood.

What hopes do you have for your Maywood community?:

Change and progression. Clean blocks, safe environment for my Son to navigate through without me being worried. To mention Maywood with pride as there is so much rich history here.

What is something that your family enjoys doing together?:

Sitting in the backyard/garage enjoying our home.

Photo Credit: Jasmine Lopez

Maywoodian Families | Bustamante Family

Photo Credit: Cristal Andrade

Photo Credit: Cristal Andrade

How long have you lived in Maywood?:

9 years

What are you loving about Maywood?:

The community atmosphere is really nice on our block. All of the neighbors look out for each other and each other's kids. I love the history that some of our neighbors carry about Maywood, and their excitement towards seeing Maywood grow and thrive once more.

Favorite memory in Maywood?:

When I was 9 months pregnant with my 4th child, me and my family would walk up and down the neighborhood at night. All of the neighbors would wave, cheer me on, and encourage us as the due date came closer and closer. It was one of the things that helped me get through that last month!

What opportunities has Maywood brought to your family?:

When we were looking for a home, we didn't qualify for very much. We looked all through Chicago and suburbs but everything in our price range was complete junk. When we found our home in Maywood we were so skeptical. We wondered what's the issue? Why is this house so inexpensive? This house has only gained equity over the years and has allowed us to expand, dream bigger, and get ahead. We've also been able to house roommates who have gone on to change careers, get debt free, prepare for marriage, and buy their own homes. It has blessed us and our growing family, as well as many around us.

What hopes do you have for your Maywood community?:

I hope for Maywood to thrive. To see the beautiful people of the community get ahead, not just one family here or there, but unified together. We have all the potential, we have an amazing location close to everything, we have incredible neighbors, teachers, and professionals in all fields, but we need our leadership to see the potential and walk Maywood towards that. Cause it's here, it just needs to be uncovered.

What is something that your family enjoys doing together?:

We love taking "adventure" walks. We go all around the neighborhood imagining fun crazy scenarios all year long and make up all kinds of silly things that could be happening.

Photo Credits: Cristal Andrade, Suha Kassar, Mya Frank, Jasmyn Scavella, Houmam Kassar