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Equality Should Be Normal: Offering Aid to Chicago Families

Chicago’s Washington Park neighborhood has a new resource center to assist south side individuals and families in need. The Equality Should Be Normal Barbara Murphy Community Resource Center located at 239 E. 51st.

Equality Should Be Normal

Equality Should Be Normal is a Chicago-based 5013c whose mission is to eradicate racism while advocating for violence prevention, education reform, mentorship, and enriching the Black community.

Shelves of clothing and hygiene essentials at Equality Should Be Normal

Romel Murphy, a champion for social justice and equality in the Black community, founded the non-profit. He named the center in honor of his mother, Barbara Murphy, who passed away at 46 from colon cancer. The space houses various valuable services that will benefit the Washington Park Community and surrounding areas.

Computer lab with boxes of books at Equality Should Be Normal resource center
Computer Lab full of donated books for students

Equality Should Be Normal Community Services

Neighborhood residents can walk in to pick up free hygiene items, baby formula, diapers, clothing, and other essentials from the community center. Also, volunteers on-hand will pass out 150 hot meals from Chef Stephanie Izard’s Girl and the Goat restaurant every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Chef Izard is Board Chair for the Equality Should Be Normal center.

Boxes of meals from the Girl & the Goat restaurant at ESBN Washington Park Community Center
150 hot food boxes from The Girl & the Goat restaurant are distributed Mon, Tues, Thu, Fri

Other services include mentorship, on-site therapists, tutors, financial literacy education, and free haircuts.

Barber Services at Equality Should Be Normal
Free haircuts provided on Mondays

Equality Should Be Normal Service Schedule

  • Makeover Monday-Barbershop services
  • Technology Tuesday-STEM classes
  • Wellness Wednesday-Mental health therapy
  • Financial Friday-Financial literacy education
  • Wednesday-Grocery distribution in partnership with Mariano’s
  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday-Prepared meal distribution in partnership with World Central Kitchen

Additionally, Equality Should Be Normal has created a safe place for neighborhood youth. There’s a computer lounge for studying, on-site tutors, and recreational activities, including a pool and ping pong table, PlayStation 5, TV, and gym..

Game room with tv at Equality Should Be Normal

Students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher to utilize recreation facilities. If they don’t have at least a 2.5 GPA, they must commit to an hour of tutoring before engaging in entertainment. Director Romel Murphy hopes to partner with other youth mentoring organizations to funnel young ones into the center.

Pool Table at Equality Should Be Normal

How to Get Involved

  • Donate
  • Volunteer
  • Buy Merchandise

Equality Should Be Normal welcomes monetary donations, clothing, and essential items. They also need volunteers for food distribution to walk-ins, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Volunteers can sign-up on their website.

Donation drop-off and pickup hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Please spread the word so that this wonderful organization can get the support they need!

PlayStation gaming area at Equality Should Be Normal

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