Father Peter Armenio, Vicar of the Prelature of Opus Dei for the Midwest, fulfilled his aspiration to help the underprivileged shortly after his ordination in 1981. He became a chaplain at the Midtown Center for boys in Chicago that year. Today, 28 years later, he remains actively involved as chaplain at the Metro Achievement Center for girls in the West Loop. After-school and summertime programs at both centers integrate academics with virtues to help at-risk kids become better students and better people.

What led you to get involved in Midtown following your ordination?

“I grew up in the 60s and 70s in New Jersey and lived close to New York City, where I witnessed the destructive nature of slum neighborhoods, especially on children. A sensitivity to the underprivileged coupled with my youthful idealism led me into a ministry of helping others in similar circumstances.”
 
How have the programs at Midtown and Metro impacted the lives of the at-risk kids who participate?

“In general, the kids are pleasantly surprised that they are loved and that adult tutors, mentors and advisors make such a fuss over them. Some kids come from dysfunctional families, and they haven’t experienced the kindness and love that they receive during their time at the two centers.”

The programs are based on the social teachings of the Catholic Church. Please elaborate.

"Essentially, the programs stress three fundamental teachings: the dignity of every human person willed by God and made in His image; a person's capacity for a personal relationship with God as a means to serve others in a loving way; and the need to live one's life according to God's law.   Teaching young boys and girls the Ten Commandments follows the strong emphasis on Character Development present throughout the entire program."

How do the centers complement the spiritual formation students receive at home, school or church?

“Spiritual formation primarily comes from example. The staff, tutors, mentors and advisors all lead by example and become role models for nearly 1,000 children, ages 8 thru 18, who annually participate in the centers’ One-on-One, Achievement and College Orientation Programs. Religious instruction is provided only with parental consent. One 11-year-old girl at Metro last summer insisted on becoming Catholic. She had never been baptized and her mom happily agreed.”

What specific virtues do the programs instill in the children?

“Charity – the value of service to others; Temperance – the self-control and freedom to fully develop one’s talents; Fortitude – the determination to work hard; Courage – the willingness to stand up and resist peer pressure; and Chastity – which underscores the church’s emphasis on human dignity.”

How does Midtown Educational Foundation’s mission help fulfill the mission of Opus Dei?

"Broadly speaking, the mission of Opus Dei is to bring Christ and his message of salvation into the modern world. We believe that the way to do that is through a life of holiness lived in daily work and family life.   This sanctification of everyday activities should set the tone of any kind of work, whether it's through an educational program in Chicago or an AIDS program in Africa or simply working in an auto body shop. Members of Opus Dei strive to become holy through daily work - doing the best they can and offering their work to God."

MEF has promoted and supported the educational and personal development of Chicago’s inner-city youth since its founding in 1965. It is particularly concerned that along with growing academically, children mature morally, acquiring the virtues and values needed for long-lasting achievement.

Metro Achievement Center for girls is located at 310 S. Peoria St., Chicago, IL 60607.  Phone: (312) 226-4886.  Midtown Center for boys is located at 1819 N. Wood St., Chicago, IL 60622. Phone: (773) 292-2664.

Both Centers offer one-on-one tutoring programs for 4th thru 6th graders, an achievement program for 7th and 8th graders, and a college orientation program for high school students. Enrollment is open to academically average students from low-income families across the Chicago area.

In 2006, the Chicago Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Foundation’s Lend-a-Hand Program recognized MEF with the Thomas A. Demetrio Award as “the most exemplary youth mentoring program in Chicago.” Philanthropy Magazine also recognized MEF as “one of 16 cutting-edge programs…doing exceptionally effective work” in the U.S. And, the President’s Summit on Volunteerism profiled MEF as one of 50 model programs in the country.

For more information about student programs, volunteer opportunities or charitable contributions, please visit
www.midtown-metro.org.

Ask Jim Palos about the people who have had the biggest impact on his life growing up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood in the early 1970s and his parents and a childhood mentor at the Midtown Center for boys immediately spring to mind.

His mom made sure that her children signed up for constructive activities, especially during the idle – and potentially dangerous – months of summer. Palos and his five brothers enrolled in a youth development program for boys from low-income families – one that was created by a small group of volunteers who were inspired by Catholic social teachings. The program combined academic tutoring in math, science, and English with weekly talks on character which were further instilled in Midtown’s many sports activities. 

Midtown changed Palos’ outlook on life and his future in a profound way.

“Gangs were a dominating presence in my neighborhood and claimed a lot of good young people,” he said. “Many close friends made bad decisions and were pulled into guns, drugs, and gangs.”

“Midtown was a very different scene,” Palos continued. “The staff and volunteers there truly cared about serving others in the middle of society and helped kids discover their potential. The defining moment for me came during the 8th grade. I hadn’t been thinking much about high school when the program director at Midtown asked me if I had applied to a nearby school. Since I was reluctant to even try on my own, he dropped everything and marched me over to the admission’s office.”

Roughly four years later, Palos graduated from St. Ignatius Preparatory. He subsequently earned an undergraduate degree from Columbia University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Palos fondly remembers Tom Kane, the program director who befriended him at a young age. He has since dedicated himself to helping others achieve success in the classroom and in life. He was executive director of Midtown Educational Foundation from 1991 until 2000, served on the Illinois State Board of Education during the Edgar and Ryan administrations, headed the Latino Educational Alliance for two years, and most recently left a position as president of the Institute for Media and Entertainment in New York to return to his Chicago roots.  He maintains his involvement as a member of the board of directors of the Midtown Educational Foundation.
“It’s amazing how similar Midtown is now to the place and people I experienced 30 years ago,” Palos concluded. “That’s because its guiding spirit lives on. The gospel message of love and social justice inspires everything that happens here. It unites everyone.”

Today, nearly 400 men and women volunteer their time and talent throughout the school year to help boys and girls become better students and better people. If you are interested in helping an at-risk child discover his or her true potential, please visit www.midtown-metro.org or call.

MEF has promoted and supported the educational and personal development of Chicago’s inner-city youth since its founding in 1965. It is particularly concerned that along with growing academically, children mature morally, acquiring the virtues and values needed for long-lasting achievement.

Metro Achievement Center for girls is located at 310 S. Peoria St., Chicago, IL 60607.  Phone: (312) 226-4886.  Midtown Center for boys is located at 1819 N. Wood St., Chicago, IL 60622. Phone: (773) 292-2664.

Both Centers offer one-on-one tutoring programs for 4th thru 6th graders, an achievement program for 7th and 8th graders, and a college orientation program for high school students. Enrollment is open to academically average students from low-income families across the Chicago area.

In 2006, the Chicago Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Foundation’s Lend-a-Hand Program recognized MEF with the Thomas A. Demetrio Award as “the most exemplary youth mentoring program in Chicago.” Philanthropy Magazine also recognized MEF as “one of 16 cutting-edge programs…doing exceptionally effective work” in the U.S. And, the President’s Summit on Volunteerism profiled MEF as one of 50 model programs in the country.

For more information about student programs, volunteer opportunities or charitable contributions, please visit
www.midtown-metro.org.