History 1969-1979

Since its introduction in 1946, the JCC branch concept grew to eight neighborhood Centers, serving the needs of diverse Jewish families throughout Chicagoland. By this time, Jewish Community Center of Chicago was seen as much more than just neighborhood sites; it had become an institution helping to build and preserve the communities in which the Jewish population lived.

By 1970, JCC was working in partnership with every Jewish Federation agency and was involved in programs at over 30 synagogues, including day camps, preschools, senior adult groups, and other programs for informal Jewish education.

In 1971, Mayer Kaplan JCC opened at 5050 Church St., Skokie.

Hyde Park JCC opened at 5307 Hyde Park Blvd., Chicago

Social issues surrounding American youth were increasingly a subject of societal concern and focus. Adolescents and young adults were at risk, as many of them became involved with drug and sexual experimentation. JCC put a great deal of focus on serving adolescents and young adults, and in 1971, JCC began operating the Response Center, an inter-agency drug response program for young people.

In 1972, JCC assumed responsibility on behalf of the Jewish Federation for College Age Youth Services, an initiative that worked to create a sense of Jewish community for Jewish students on campuses throughout Illinois. JCC introduced a college outreach program geared toward commuter students in the Chicago area.

As more and more Jewish people moved away from the city and into Chicago’s suburbs, JCC began opening more sites and offering more programs and services in the North, Northwest and Southern suburbs. In 1972, JCC began operation of the North Suburban JCC, and in 1975 North Suburban JCC opened new headquarters in Northbrook with a significant increase in membership and program participation.

Beginning in 1974, Mayer Kaplan and Rogers Park JCCs assumed a major role as service centers for Soviet Jewish immigrants.

In 1976, Rogers Park JCC began offering the agency’s first full-day day care center. The program had a primary emphasis of serving children of Russian immigrant families. The Day Care focused on English and Jewish culture to help new arrivals as they adjusted to American life.

In 1977, JCC established the Lincoln Park/Lakeview JCC, offering day camp for ages 3 years-3rd grade, Mom & Tot programs, and programs for young adults. In 1982, the Center moved to its current location at 524 W. Melorse in Chicago, and in 1984 the Center was named the Florence G. Heller JCC.