About Our Programs
Made at GPLXC Model
Programs Created, Facilitated, and Funded by Our Team
The heart of our work lies in our GPLXC Original programming. These are high-quality, specialized initiatives developed entirely in-house. Unlike "standard" social services, our programs are unique blueprints for liberation, built on 8 years of grassroots organizing and the lived experiences of our founders and staff.
Our Expertise: Every curriculum is custom-built to serve the specific needs of Queer, Immigrant, and Latinx residents in Gage Park. We combine mental health support, popular education, and collective care into every session.
100% Free for Neighbors: To ensure that our work is accessible to everyone, regardless of financial status, all "Made by GPLXC" programs are provided at no cost to participants.
Driven by Fundraising: Because we never charge our neighbors for these programs, they are made possible entirely through our fundraising efforts and the support of donors who believe in our vision.
High-Impact Design: From our youth arts initiatives to Juntas Nos Apoyamos, these programs are the result of deep research, intentional dreaming, and a commitment to abolitionist principles.
When you see the "GPLXC Original" label, you are engaging with a program crafted with love, radical intentionality, and a lifetime of neighborhood expertise.
Our Peer-to-Peer Mutual Aid Model
Neighbors Supporting Neighbors, Gage Park Thriving.
At GPLXC, we believe that true liberation is impossible without Mutual Aid. We recognize that our neighborhood is already filled with brilliant artisans, educators, healers, and leaders, yet traditional systems often ignore or exploit their labor.
That’s why many of our workshops and wellness classes operate on a Peer-to-Peer Community Mutual Aid Model. Here’s what that means:
Supporting Local Leadership: Instead of hiring outside instructors, we prioritize and empower residents from Gage Park to lead our programs.
100% Direct Support: When you register for a class marked with this model, 100% of your registration fee goes directly to the local instructor.
Keeping Wealth in the Community: This ensures that resources circulate within our neighborhood, supporting local businesses, families, and talent.
When you see our "Mutual Aid Badge" on a program description, you aren't just learning a new skill—you are directly investing in the autonomy and thriving of a Gage Park neighbor.
Big collaborations, real impact.
Our Strategy of Redistribution and Representation
While we are a grassroots organization, we intentionally partner with some of Chicago’s oldest and largest institutions. For us, these collaborations are a form of resource redistribution. We leverage our relationships with major entities, from the Chicago History Museum to the University of Chicago, to:
Reclaim the Narrative: We take up space in institutions that have historically left our communities out, ensuring that the story of the Southwest Side is told by us and for us.
Redirect Resources: We act as a bridge, moving funding, expertise, and institutional power directly into the hands of our neighbors.
Amplify Our Voice: We use these citywide and national platforms to demand that Gage Park is no longer ignored, proving that grassroots models are the future of community care and that residents of the southwest side deserve a seat at the table.
Our Collaboration Principles
We are intentional about how we work with outside entities. To ensure our partnerships align with our grassroots mission, we prioritize collaborations that:
Center the Community: Projects must directly benefit Gage Park residents and respect their lived experiences.
Follow Local Leadership: We lead the way on our neighborhood’s needs; we look for partners who are ready to support and follow our grassroots expertise.
Commit to Equity: We seek partners who are dedicated to dismantling systemic harm and building sustainable, long-term support in the Southwest Side.
