our roots

Harmony Community Cares, NFP (HCC) sprouted from Harmony Community Church. Since 1991 the church has been committed to “loving and serving like Christ”. Since 1999 that love and service has been rooted in Chicago’s North Lawndale Community. From Peace Gatherings, to weekly food distribution, free tutoring services and a host of other community events, Harmony has been a beacon of light in North Lawndale.

To deepen our roots within the community and further our reach beyond the church, Harmony Community Cares, NFP (HCC) was established as a 501(c)3 in 2018. We welcome people of all faiths, races, ethnicities, gender, sexual orientation and backgrounds.

HCC’s current Board President is Dr. James L. Brooks. He is a resident of North Lawndale and CEO of Lawndale Christian Health Center. His father, the late Rev. James Brooks, was the Pastor of Harmony Community Church for more than 20 years. While serving at the church Rev. Brooks saw a man eating from a trash can and he said, “this cannot be” and worked towards addressing the needs of food insecurity amidst a food desert. In 2006, the Harmony Food Pantry was birthed. The Food Pantry and other programs are still serving the needs in the community.

The HCC Board is composed of members from various backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, gender, sexual orientation and experience. Our by-laws require that 51% or more of our members are appointed by those from the Harmony community.