History & Mission

The mission of Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc. is to empower, educate, and employ people to change lives and strengthen communities.

The agency was founded as a settlement house in 1919 by Ada Sophia McKinley, a schoolteacher and social reformer, who saw the need to assist veterans returning from World War I and African Americans migrating from the South. Having just completed celebrating its 100th anniversary, the agency serves more than 7,000 people annually at over 70 locations, primarily in Illinois/Chicago with additional sites in Indiana and Wisconsin.

Ada S. McKinley has three areas of service:  Child Development & Youth; Employment & Community Support; and Behavioral Health & Clinical.  Services rendered daily include tutoring, mentoring and college placement, foster care, housing opportunities, youth and family counseling, employment training and placement, and head start programs.

The vision of Ada S. McKinley is for all people to have the opportunity for education and employment.