Welcome!

We would like to acknowledge that the Lilac House resides on the traditional Territories of the Three Fire Peoples - the Ojibwe, Odawa and Bodewadmi, as well as the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac, Fox, Kickapoo, and Illinois Nations. Illinois is currently home to more than 75,000 tribal members and the Chicago area is currently home to one of the largest and most diverse urban Native communities in the U.S.

By making a land acknowledgment, we recognize that Indigenous peoples are the traditional stewards of the land that we now occupy, living here before Chicago was a city and thriving here today. As community members of the Lilac House, and as we work and play on this land, we must reflect on how we can best educate our children to learn from the atrocities that occurred in the U.S. against Indigenous People while also celebrating their existing communities. 

As an education center, we will work hard to do our part by celebrating recognized holidays such as Indigenous People's Day. We will ensure that our classroom library has books written by and about Indigenous individuals and communities, and that children in our program are given a clear and honest education on our American History. 

Our program is located on Washtenaw Avenue. Washtenaw is a variant of the Ojibwe word, "Wash-ten-ong," the Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) name for the Grand River in Michigan. 

Click Here to learn more about Native American Communities in Chicago

We do not discriminate against any individual based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability or ability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs. All families are welcome in this program. The Lilac House is a space that demands respect for others through peaceful, non-violent discussion. Racist, homophobic, transphobic, and sexist practices and language will not be tolerated at the Lilac House. We are an anti-hate facility, and I hope that all members of our community can respect this practice. Children learn from the examples we set, and I hope that together we can model healthy, respectful practices towards each other for our children. 

Our classroom will demonstrate these practices to children through age appropriate children's books that depict honest and respectful representations of a variety of people and places in our world. We will offer children the opportunity to play with a diverse array of toys and materials. We commit to answering children's questions in a developmentally appropriate way that is still meaningful and honest. We vow to respect each child's unique human experiences and personality. We believe this is how we educate children on justice, equality, equity, and respect. 

Click here to learn more about what we mean as Developmentally Appropriate Practice and language