In the summer of 2024, Gateway to Learning unveiled the long-awaited opening of Cheri’s Gateway Garden: a space for participants to engage with the outdoors right here at our facility on Lincoln Avenue. Having an outdoor space with gardening and planting options provides opportunities for skill building in cooking, home skills, employment and more.

Cheri’s Gateway Garden is a memorial to former executive director, Cheryl Hennelly, who made monumental changes to Gateway to Learning’s programming and created the foundation for our success today. Cheri helped transition Gateway to Learning from a school structure for children and young adults, to the current day programming for adults. Cheri opened up Dorothy’s Sweet Shoppe, one of our social enterprises where we not only sell delicious treats to the public, but also build employment skills like production, customer service, and points of sale with participants.

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2 Casey R
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4 Joseph H
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9 Big Jim
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11 Francine
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13 Mario
14 Lixcet R
15 Vic
16 Wiola M
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18 Daniel S
19 Dexter
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22 Francine
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24 Marcia
25 Joshua D
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31 Kevin
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35 Dexter P
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37 Jim J
38 Andrew K
39 Gerry H
40 Joseph H
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44 Andrew
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47 Bob S
48 Mary A
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Each Pieces Make a Whole

Our mosaic displayed in the garden that greets you as you pass by on Lincoln Avenue was graciously donated to us by The Chicago Mosaic School. Made up of over 200 panels, community members of Gateway to Learning each had a hand in contributing to the panels that make up the piece. It is testament to how Gateway to Learning is uplifted and supported by our incredible community.

Want to sponsor a panel? Contact Advancement Manager Emma Kelley at Emma@GatewayToLearning.org for more information.

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100 Dustin C
101Ari
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103 Malak F
104 Tommy M
105 Liz D
106 Lydia S*
107 Chris
108 Paula
109 James G
110 Ladonna
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112 Gerard P
113 Khalid
114 Ladonna
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117 Khalid
118 Lydia S
119 Amy F
120 Schmuelle
121 Gerry H
122 Taylor K
123 Cassie W
124 Lavitta M
125 Arin M
126 David C
127 John
128 Joshua D 

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130 Adrian
131 Carmen V
132 Andy M
133 Nick G
134 Chloe
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138 Kevin
139 Billy K
140 Liz D
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142 John V
143 Chains J
144 Melissa S
145 Malak
146 Yadi
147 David C
148 Nick G
149 Khalid
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152 Ricky M
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154 Elvis G
155 Brittany G
156 Lee D
157 Agnes B
158 Brian F
159 Coleen D
160 Oscar H
161 Adrian B
162 Brittany G
163 Chloe C
164 Brittany
165 Melissa
166 Andy M
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168 Lee D
169 Dip
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171 Cassie