The Healing Corner was launched in the Fall of 2015 by Arielle Maldonado & Krystal Robledo and started in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago in response to a shooting that took place next to a prayer vigil. Realizing prayer circles were no longer enough, The Healing Corner community-building events were created to engage the community in open dialogue. The Healing Corner goes to different corners known for violence predominately on the West Side of Chicago and passes out free food, hugs, and resources. We build a dialogue around the issue of violence while forming and maintaining community relationships. Our events predominately take place in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood. Since our start, we have had over 100 community events on the West Side of Chicago.

We put an emphasis on getting to know the young men and boys who hang out on the corner and guide them towards a positive path. Through encouragement, guidance, resources, love, and staying in touch, we hope to change lives and create peace in our most troubled inner-city communities. The Healing Corner acts as a guide to the community on how we should treat one another. We actively show and display unity by being present, while also creating a safe space for kids to play when we are at Harding Park or Linden Park. This work is so important as our communities are struggling with social-emotional issues that can turn violent and cause more trauma. At The Healing Corner, everyone gets a share and support without judgment. Some items we distribute are Narcan and Gun Locks beside everyday essentials and food.

Since COVID, we have started our own Mutual Aid program. If you would like to be added to our e-mail list, please send a message to our page. We also have tried focusing more on mentoring activities with our youth and are actively raising money so we can take our youth out more often. The Healing Corner has 60+ families in our network that we maintain relationships with, which is over 150 youth and children. These families come from poverty, have been heavily impacted by trauma or lost immediate family members to gun violence, or have adult family members with disabilities or children with special needs.

HEAL Chicago stands for Hope, Empowerment, Atonement, and Love. The Healing Corner is a street outreach program of HEAL Chicago. We have big hopes for the future!