Maintaining a strong sense of community while ensuring resident safety remains a top priority at CJE SeniorLife’s affordable housing sites. From programs that bring neighbors together to security enhancements that provide added peace of mind, these efforts help create environments where residents feel supported, connected, and at home.
CJE has taken a proactive approach to safety and security as antisemitic assaults, harassment, and vandalism have reached record levels in the United States and terrorist attacks have increasingly targeted Jewish communities worldwide. Working closely with law enforcement, CJE conducted vulnerability and risk assessments across its locations and secured more than $418,000 in grant funding to support critical security enhancements.
The safety of all our residents and staff is paramount. Nearly 360 low-income Jewish and non-Jewish residents call CJE’s affordable housing buildings home, and 35 staff work at the sites. CJE’s affordable housing includes Swartzberg House apartments in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood, Village Center and Krasnow Residence apartments in Skokie, and Robineau Residence, a group home in Skokie.
CJE secured grant funding to upgrade surveillance systems, install strategic barriers, fortify windows and doors, and improve lighting. Funding has come from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and the Service Club of Chicago.
The investments have helped create an environment where residents and staff feel comfortable venturing outside their doors.
“It sends the message that we prioritize their safety and care about them, that we pay attention to their needs,” said David Guthridge, CJE Executive Director of Housing Management Services. “It builds confidence in their security.”
But creating safe environments requires more than investments in security equipment alone, Guthridge stressed.
“At the end of the day, it’s also about neighbors being neighborly, knowing each other,” he said.
That positions residents to know when something isn’t right and to report it, he added.
“CJE communicates that message to residents at townhall meetings, and CJE’s life enrichment programs help residents spend time together and build that sense of community and family,” said Katya Kapelnikova, CJE Life Enrichment Educator.
“When you know who’s who and feel like family, you look out for each other,” she said. “You protect each other.”
Kapelnikova, who is fluent in Russian, Ukrainian and English, coordinates life enrichment activities for CJE’s affordable housing residents, some of whom are immigrants from Russia, Ukraine and Assyria in-speaking regions of the Middle East. Programming is provided in English and Russian.
“My goal is for residents to be healthy physically, emotionally, and spiritually and for them to be happy and safe,” she said.
Among activities residents have participated in are exercise programs, musical hours, arts and crafts and table games. Kapelnikova arranges picnics and birthday celebrations and has organized field trips to the Shedd Aquarium, Northbrook Symphony, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Botanic Garden and Field Museum. Residents recently enjoyed a guided tour of downtown Chicago. Kapelnikova also brings in guest speakers, musicians and entertainers and has arranged art exhibitions at the housing sites featuring the digital artwork of Swartzberg House resident Alex Kagan.
Kagan, who has lived at Swartzberg House for 10 years and is a native of Belarus, enjoys the programs. They foster connections and have helped him, and others get to know their neighbors better, he said.
Eduard Kuzmis and Ganna Goncharova, residents of Village Center, echoed that sentiment. They say they know roughly 50 of their neighbors well. The couple, natives of Ukraine, have lived at Village Center since 2004. They like the fact that there are a variety of programs designed to appeal to different interests.
“People come to the programs; they see each other, socialize, and it brings joy,” said Goncharova. “We care about each other and worry about each other like family.”
In addition to CJE-planned life enrichment programs, residents have launched their own in-house groups, said Kagan. He participates in Torah classes initiated by residents at Swartzberg House, and an Assyrian Club was launched at Krasnow by Kapelnikova.
CJE’s Grants Department applied for and successfully received funding for our life enrichment programs from Alvin H. Baum Family Fund, Leonard and Diane Sherman Family Foundation and Swartzberg Zoller Family Foundation.
“The programs combat isolation and loneliness in addition to enhancing safety, and residents give the Life Enrichment team high marks for their work. Staff have a passion for it, and it is done amid challenges,” said Guthridge.
“We have changing demographics with both ages of residents exiting and coming in and differences in nationalities, ethnic makeup, languages,” he said. “It can be challenging to get them together, to have them break bread and get to know each other. It’s the staff who are bridging the gap. The more we can do that, get people talking to each other, knowing each other, respecting each other and caring for each other, the better.”
Through thoughtful security investments and meaningful opportunities for residents to connect, CJE is fostering communities where people feel protected, valued, and can thrive together.
This summer, friends of CJE came together at Ravinia Green Country Club for Game Day, an afternoon filled with friendly competition, great food by Zelda’s Catering, fun raffle prizes, and a shared commitment to supporting older adults in our community.
