Greetings from our casa to yours!

My name is Jamie and I’m one of the six LVCers living in Chicago in Casa Óscar Romero. My fellow housemates are Bre, Namarig, Levi, Weber, and Liam. We have had a great first few weeks together so far!

Our house is located in the Logan Square neighborhood in Chicago, and our placement organizations are located all throughout the Chicagoland area. My placement is at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Churchwide office near O’Hare. I am the assistant for the ELCA’s Justice for Women program. I absolutely love my placement and can’t wait for the upcoming months ahead.

Much of our experiences in Casa together so far have been adjusting to the area, public transit, the house itself, and living in community with one another. One of the most memorable components of my LVC experience with my housemates has certainly been our shared meals together. So far, we’ve enjoyed homemade lasagna, Mexican rice bowls, pasta, grilled veggie burgers and dogs, hummus and falafel, pancakes, and much more. It’s always so wonderful to come together and share some intentional time together over a meal. Plus, the food is always delicious!

We have also had the opportunity to embrace some cultural experiences with one another in our first month here. Members of our house have attended a poetry slam, the jazz festival, the library, and a book signing all within the past three weeks. Last week, we talked together about the implications of gentrification, racial injustice, police brutality, and the role we play as new members of the neighborhood. Overall, this first month together has been filled with meaningful conversations and opportunities to truly experience the city of Chicago.

Thanks for taking the time to read more about our house! We’re all very excited for the year ahead and look forward to what’s to come.

Blessings,

The Residents of Casa Óscar Romero