LCCO History
LCCO History
​Ezekiel 37: 1-10
"Can these dry bones live?"
"Can these dry bones live?"
A Vision​
A Vision​
2013
In 2013, Life Changing Community Outreach started with a vision from God. A vision to see the Austin Community on the west side of Chicago will be GREAT! Our Founder, Yvette McKinnie, wanted to "Provide A Quality Of Life" on the west side of Chicago. Life Changing Community Outreach Board members were named and put into place.
A Reality
A Reality
2014
In 2014, Yvette's vision became a reality. It is time to change our community by changing lives. The first Life-Changing Community Outreach program, "Teens, Let's talk" was created, a boys and girls mentoring program. They would gather every Saturday in the home of our founder, Yvette McKinnie. The Program started out with 10 youth members. Over the course of this year, LCCO gave its first Angel Tree Christmas to Remember Youth Event to the children of the community, whose parents were incarcerated.
Summit​
Summit​
2015-2016
- In 2015, Life Changing Community Outreach had its first youth Summit, consisting of over 50 children in the Lawndale and Austin Communities.
- In 2016, more programs began to form to reach and target more than the youth. The Women's Mentoring Program launched and soon followed the first Women's Conference held with one of our partners, The Mildred Franks Foundation. Over 75 women attended the conference making it a success.
Community Outreach
Community Outreach
2017-2018
- In 2017, LCCO continued to see a rapid increase in the homeless population on the west side. The Staff of Life Changing Community Outreach, gathered the youth of LCCO every Saturday, and together they set out to feed the homeless and provide essential items for them.
- In 2018, God said, "it is the time!". Yvette heard God say, "Take it to the streets." Life Changing Community Outreach rented its first space to continue to run programs and conduct outreach Ministry in the communities.
Expansion
Expansion
2019
- In 2019, a second space was available next to Life-Changing Community Outreach. Yvette knew that we needed to expand. With prayer and trusting God and donors, Life Changing Community Outreach made the decision to take the second rental space.
- LCCO partnered with other organizations and hosted a Health Awareness Event for the community
- With a bigger space, Life Changing Community Outreach was able to partner with Chicago Public School's Safe Haven and become a Safe Haven Site For Spring Break of 2019.
- LCCO also partnered with Easter seals providing senior citizens with job training.
Fighting The Pandemic
Fighting The Pandemic
2020
- In 2020, LCCO became certified by the State of Illinois for the Drug Overdose Prevention Program (DOPP). LCCO began its Narcan Training Program to provide information and education on Narcan.
- LCCO remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We continued to serve the community by hosting day camps while schools were closed down and providing a safe haven.
- LCCO hosted the first annual Christmas to Remember event in which we handed out presents to 115 kids making it a Christmas to remember.
Space Development
Space Development
2021
With the purchase of a new 7-unit 3 storefront building, LCCO continued to grow by creating and implementing new programs for both the Youth and the Seniors. This has allowed LCCO to reach out more to the community by offering a variety of programs that the Austin Community can benefit from.