For 119 years, Sunshine has been a presence in the most challenging communities of Chicago. We have weathered various ups and downs, survived two pandemics (1919 and 2020), multiple Presidents, and mayors. God has carried us through the race riots of 1919, the Civil Rights movement, urban renewal, multiple displacements, and several different iterations of our ministry in the inner city of Chicago. Though many things have changed throughout the years, three things have remained constant; We have always been focused on sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, seeking the peace (Shalom) of the city, and serving the most under-resourced communities of Chicago.
ESTABLISHED IN 1905
It all began in 1905 with a mission for single mothers founded by Moody Church on Illinois Street on Chicago's near north side. Then, in 1912, the organization moved to 604 N. Clark Street and became a rescue mission, whose work was with vagrants on the street. Throughout these early years the organization was known as Moody Gospel Mission.
SUNSHINE GOSPEL MISSION
In 1918, Moody Church passed along the responsibilities of the mission and it was at this time that the name of our ministry was changed to Sunshine Gospel Mission. The Mission continued its inner-city outreach, but increasingly became an independent, interdenominational organization.
SUNSHINE GOSPEL MISSION
In 1918, Moody Church passed along the responsibilities of the mission and it was at this time that the name of our ministry was changed to Sunshine Gospel Mission. The Mission continued its inner-city outreach, but increasingly became an independent, interdenominational organization.
CABRINI GREEN | URBAN RENEWAL
In 1974, under the new leadership the vision of Sunshine was changed to expressly communicate the organizational shift toward that of reaching neighborhood youth. This time the mission moved to the Cabrini Green Housing Project on Chicago's near North side. In 1976, Sunshine began renovation on the new 22,000 square foot youth center located at 865 N. Larrabee Street.
CABRINI GREEN | URBAN RENEWAL
In 1974, under the new leadership the vision of Sunshine was changed to expressly communicate the organizational shift toward that of reaching neighborhood youth. This time the mission moved to the Cabrini Green Housing Project on Chicago's near North side. In 1976, Sunshine began renovation on the new 22,000 square foot youth center located at 865 N. Larrabee Street.
SUN-CHI-WIN CAMP
During these years Sunshine also owned and operated an 88 acre camping facility in Union, MI. Over the years thousands of children from the inner-city got their first exposure to nature and the great outdoors beyond the city through attending Camp Sun-Chi-Win.
The camp operated primarily during summers and was closed in the late 1990’s. At the same time the Larrabee property fell into significant disrepair because resources were scarce. Through it all, work with young people, often led by a very small staff and many volunteers, continued to Cabrini residents.
The camp operated primarily during summers and was closed in the late 1990’s. At the same time the Larrabee property fell into significant disrepair because resources were scarce. Through it all, work with young people, often led by a very small staff and many volunteers, continued to Cabrini residents.
SUN-CHI-WIN CAMP
During these years Sunshine also owned and operated an 88 acre camping facility in Union, MI. Over the years thousands of children from the inner-city got their first exposure to nature and the great outdoors beyond the city through attending Camp Sun-Chi-Win.
The camp operated primarily during summers and was closed in the late 1990’s. At the same time the Larrabee property fell into significant disrepair because resources were scarce. Through it all, work with young people, often led by a very small staff and many volunteers, continued to Cabrini residents.
The camp operated primarily during summers and was closed in the late 1990’s. At the same time the Larrabee property fell into significant disrepair because resources were scarce. Through it all, work with young people, often led by a very small staff and many volunteers, continued to Cabrini residents.
NEW DIRECTION
In 1996, the board hired their first Executive Director, who restarted many of the youth programs in the community, recruited new board members and cast a new vision for growing the ministry’s financial base. In 2001, a new Executive Director was hired. It was clear at that time the ministry would need to find additional or alternate ministry sites as the community of Cabrini-Green was being torn down. Sunshine relocated to the Woodlawn community.
A NEW HOME
In 2004, an abandoned building was purchased at 500 East 61st Street and renovations on the new Sunshine home began where youth outreach ministry continued to flourished. In 2012, an additional abandoned property (across the street at 501 East 61st) was purchased and its full rehab was initiated. The space allowed for the expansion of new programming related to short-term missions (BridgeBuilders program); training, and equipping local under-resourced entrepreneurs to grow their own businesses (Sunshine Enterprises program, currently its own entity); and Greenline Coffee. In the years to follow, programming aimed at strengthening the family unit (Familyhood), and to address violence intervention (Flourishing Community Initiatives) were implemented.
A NEW HOME
An abandoned building was purchased at 500 East 61st Street and renovations on the new Sunshine home began. 2004 Sunshine relocated to the Woodlawn community, there youth outreach ministry flourished. In 2012, an additional abandoned property (across the street at 501 East 61st) was purchased and its full rehab was initiated. The space allowed for the expansion of new programming related to short-term missions providing a mutually beneficial service-learning opportunity known as Bridge Builders; training, and equipping local under-resourced entrepreneurs to grow their own businesses - currently its own entity, Sunshine Enterprises; and Greenline Cafe.
2020 AND BEYOND
In September of 2020, Kimberly Salley became the new Executive Director. While sustaining programs for youth and family advocacy, and short-term missions she continues to lead with the place based approach and strategy in supporting and advocating for the community in creating new programming based on the needs and concerns of the community and its residents. In doing so, she launched our Housing Equity Initiative, and initiatives to enhance academic remediation, and mental health therapy. As well as, the development of our Sunshine Community Center Project.
2020 AND BEYOND
In September of 2020, Kimberly Salley became the new Executive Director. While sustaining programs for youth and family advocacy, and short-term missions she continues to lead with the place based approach and strategy in supporting and advocating for the community in creating new programming based on the needs and concerns of the community and its residents. In doing so, she launched our Housing Equity Initiative, and initiatives to enhance academic remediation, and mental health therapy. As well as, the development of our Sunshine Community Center Project.
BUILDING THE SUNSHINE COMMUNITY CENTER
This project seeks to be an extraordinary vision for re-imagining these authentic Chicago neighborhoods. One that delivers on the importance of social trust and a sense of place by activating a sustainable framework for safety, collaboration, engagement, stewardship, involvement, and investment at a time when commitment to the greater good, at the heart of addressing systemic inequality and rebuilding our community, has never been stronger. LEARN MORE
BUILDING THE SUNSHINE COMMUNITY CENTER
This project seeks to be an extraordinary vision for re-imagining these authentic Chicago neighborhoods. One that delivers on the importance of social trust and a sense of place by activating a sustainable framework for safety, collaboration, engagement, stewardship, involvement, and investment at a time when commitment to the greater good, at the heart of addressing systemic inequality and rebuilding our community, has never been stronger. LEARN MORE