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San Miguel works to strengthen the community by reinforcing relationships among residents, promoting development, and supporting community leaders.  San Miguel works in partnership with community organizations to encourage cross-sector activities for students and families, such as neighborhood development and beautification projects.  San Miguel relies on positive relationships with neighbors to thrive in both the Back of the Yards and Austin communities.

The  4th Annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration is one such example of San Miguel building lasting relationships with the community and our neighbors.  Over 600 people attended this community event focused on family, culture and tradition.  Together, with the help of our community and sponsors, this event raised over $6,000 for school programming!

The students at the  Gary Comer Campus performed community service on Friday, May 7 in the Austin neighborhood.  The 5th-8th grade students spent a half day working with the elderly and day care kids, as well as cleaning up their community and working on beautification projects, during the annual Comer Day of Service.  The late Gary Comer, the Land's End founder who donated $1.2 million to establish the West Side school, died in 2006 and as a way to honor Gary Comer's legacy of service, the students established an annual Gary Comer Service Day to honor the man who has done so much for the Austin neighborhood.  "We want our students to be prime examples of giving back to the community," said Kathy Donohue, the school's assistant principal.  "We've been the beneficiary of so much generosity that it's important the kids are givers as well as receivers." said Donohue. "They're from a wonderful community, and they're contributing to it being a great place."

San Miguel recognizes that in order for children to do well in school, they and their families must be well at home, and families are stronger  when they live in a supportive neighborhood.  Since access to a number of support resources is limited in the Back of the Yards and Austin communities, San Miguel and the Family Support Program facilitate many development opportunities for adults and families such as the Resource Fair hosted by the Gary Comer Campus.

The  "Finding Solutions in Challenging Times Community Resources Fair" was held on Tuesday, May 4 in the school gym with over 25 social service agencies in attendance.  San Miguel Schools and St. Joseph Services were inspired to hold this event due to the almost overwhelming number of requests by neighborhood residents needing assistance with a variety of problems.  Most are unsure of what to do or where to turn.  Denise Smalley, Coordinator of Family Services at St. Joseph Services states that, "Almost daily we encounter countless individuals who suffer because they are unaware or unable to access vital services. That's why we are excited to offer a range of solutions to local residents."

All of these support resources and partnerships help to foster an environment of healthy relationships among students, graduates, and families.  Furthermore, they help to instill confidence among community members that San Miguel is much more than a traditional middle school.  Because of San Miguel's multi-initiative mission, presence in the Back of the Yards and Austin neighborhoods has grown significantly.  In both communities, San Miguel Schools Chicago is becoming a beacon of learning, stability, and support in the neighborhood.