- It all began in 2012 with some UCAN shovels and our dream for a new home in North Lawndale.
- Our Groundbreaking Ceremony took place in September of 2013 in the presence of supporters and elected officials.
- Chair of our Campaign Cabinet, Frank Clark, speaks about the project and what it means for the community.
- The foundation was laid in June of 2014. UCAN set a diversity goal to have more than 50% of our construction vendors from MBE/WBE firms.
- UCAN staff toured the campus in December 2014 as USG drywall and siding was being put into place.
- The campus has a beautiful view of the orginal Sears Tower and is located on the corner of Fillmore and Independence Blvd.
- Our Beam Raising Ceremony was hosted on August 11, 2014.
- UCAN's family of supporters gathered to sign a ceremonial beam to be hoisted into the center of our Therapeutic Youth Home.
- UCAN Board members Richard DeCleene and Lourdes Gonzalez were among those who took a guided tour on April 18, 2015.
- President and COO, Zack Schrantz leads a guided tour of UCAN's Therapeutic Youth Home.
- Phase 1 of our project is complete and our youth move into this amazing new facility in August of 2015.
- We appreciate the unwavering support of our board and campaign donors to make this campus a reality!
- A ribbon cutting ceremony for our new Therapeutic Youth Home was hosted the morning of August 6 in front of a crowd of UCAN staff, supporters and youth.
- UCAN's Board of Directors, Richard Fleming speaks about our goal to fulfill the quote of David Burnham and "Make no small plans " for this campus.
- UCAN CEO Tom VandenBerk; George Sheldon, acting director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services; Ald. Michael Scott Jr. (24th); George Drost, UCAN Life Trustee; and Sylvia Davis, UCAN alumna joined Rick to cut the ribbon.
- Guests toured UCAN's state-of-the-art facility and signed a welcome banner in the gymnasium for youth who moved in at the end of September.
- UCAN CEO Zack Schrantz welcomes the audience at the John D. and Alexandra C. Nichols Center ribbon cutting
- John and Alexandra Nichols address the crowd during the ribbon cutting
- (back l-r) Rev. Jeff Carlson of St. Pauls UCC, George Drost, UCAN Alumna Reshay Scott, IL State Representative Art Turner, Cook County Commissioner Robert Steele (front l-r) UCAN CEO Zack Schrantz, Alexandra Nichols, John Nichols, CEO Emeritus Tom Vanden Berk, Deputy Mayor and Chief Neighborhood Development Officer Andrea Zopp, Alderman Michael Scott Jr.
- (l-r) Rev. Jeff Carlson of St. Pauls UCC, UCAN Alumna Reshay Scott, George Drost, UCAN CEO Zack Schrantz, Alexandra Nichols, John Nichols, CEO Emeritus Tom Vanden Berk, IL State Representative Art Turner, Alderman Michael Scott Jr., Cook County Commissioner Robert Steele
- Exterior of the Nichols Center (facing Central Park)