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Community Based Organizations (2 of 2)
East Side United Methodist Church

© The Field Museum, photo by Rod Sellers

East Side United Methodist Church (ESUMC) is an important religious center that also plays a vital secular role in promoting the civic health of the region. It is also the second-oldest church on the Southeast Side, established in 1875 by a group of Swedish and German immigrants. The original congregation was called the First Church Evangelical Association, and was located near Calumet Park.

• East Side Pride, East Side's major CBO, holds its meetings of over 100 members at the church.
  
• ESUMC worked to establish and obtain funding for 'The Zone' youth center at Avenue O and 117th.
• Youth Group and Drama Club, also held at ESUMC, are beginning to foster a young presence at ESP meetings.
• The church hosts Summer Arts Camps connected to University Theatre at University of Chicago.
  • Site of the 2002 play 'Got East Side,' a history of the East Side written by area teens.
    
    
• ESUMC has an intergenerational congregation of multi-ethnic (mainly Latinos and Slavic) descent.
  
• Reverend Zaki is an advocate for seniors and youth. He is also working hard at his church and across the community to facilitate cross-cultural understandings.
  
• ESUMC hosts English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
  
• The pastor and congregation participates in area environmental initiatives.
  • The photo at top was taken at the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative's (AWLI) Wolf Lake Wetland Festival in spring of 2003, where ESUMC pastor Reverend Zaki led a sunrise service for the community.
    

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