Historically, Breakthrough services and programs evolved out of a response to an expressed need from the community. Over the past 10 years, the need for youth and adult services in East Garfield Park increased and Breakthrough became challenged in its ability to accommodate the demand. Breakthrough addressed this demand by revisiting its geographic target area for outreach and set out to look for space that would meet those needs.
After casing a host of Garfield Park area maps, which included a sea of vacant lots, one pushed pin in the dead center of a particular map confirmed the DreamBig FamilyPlex construction site. This site happened to be only two minutes away from the Breakthrough Joshua Center, current home of our Breakthrough youth programs.
The land consists of 12 vacant lots of potential and opportunity to adequately serve the needs of youth and adults in the East Garfield Park community. Ministry participants were asked to pray that Breakthrough could acquire the land for the Breakthrough DreamBIG FamilyPlex. On a daily basis, various program participants assured us they were praying and made constant inquiries about the time table of the “BIG DREAMS†building.
The land was identified as 3201 W. Carroll Ave. and was reserved for a church who had earmarked the space for a senior citizens’ service building. With persistence for clarification on the project, time lines and target dates for completion, Breakthrough Founder and Executive Director Arloa Sutter, contacted the alderman who eventually called the church representative to confirm their plans for the project. To Arloa’s surprise, the representative said, “they gave up on their plans a few years backâ€. That day, the Breakthrough Leadership and program participants witnessed God answer their prayers.
Soon thereafter, the alderman gave his support for Breakthrough to proceed with plans to acquire the land. Construction plans were expedited to the city council and an ordinance was passed to award the development of the land to Breakthrough. The plans for construction of the DreamBIG FamilyPlex are well in motion!
