Trellus

Trellus Trellus exists to empower immigrants, refugees, and underserved communities in Chicago to thrive.

From Chinatown to Uptown and beyond, Asian Human Services offers a guiding hand of employment placement, education and healthcare to the city’s immigrants and refugees. Representing more than 55 countries including the United States, AHS’ client base contributes to the city’s diverse social fabric. With compassion and professionalism, the organization transforms cultural outsiders with nowhere els

e to turn into informed and involved members of the community, leading to stronger neighborhoods, closer connections and a better city.

Last week, Trellus Adult Education team member Victoria Butler presented to educators across Illinois through the Illino...
06/11/2026

Last week, Trellus Adult Education team member Victoria Butler presented to educators across Illinois through the Illinois Adult Education Professional Development Network.

Her session explored how an instructor's voice can support accessibility and student engagement through volume, pitch, and pace. Participants reflected on their own speaking styles and discussed how vocal delivery can affect learning and comprehension.

"Our voice is the main tool teachers use to communicate information, so it's worth making it as effective as possible to support student comprehension," Victoria shared.

Victoria teaches online English classes for immigrants and refugees and coordinates Trellus's Paraprofessional ICAPS program. She recently completed a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Master Cohort, further strengthening her work in creating accessible learning environments.

We're proud to see Victoria sharing her knowledge with educators across the state and helping improve learning experiences for adult students.

Earlier last month, Trellus Co-CEOs Eric Lindstrom and Rebecca Creighton traveled to Springfield to advocate for the imm...
06/09/2026

Earlier last month, Trellus Co-CEOs Eric Lindstrom and Rebecca Creighton traveled to Springfield to advocate for the immigrant and refugee communities Trellus serves every day. Through conversations with State Representatives and legislators, they shared the realities nonprofits and community organizations are facing as they continue to do more with less while meeting growing community needs.

Advocating for Trellus means advocating for the families, children, and individuals who rely on access to education, support services, and opportunity. Being present in Springfield matters — not only to ensure lawmakers understand the challenges facing community-based organizations, but also to elevate the voices and experiences of immigrant and refugee communities during a time of heightened uncertainty and increasing barriers.

The day was filled with meaningful conversations, policy discussions, and relationship-building — along with an unexpected stop at the Women’s Legislative Talent Show, proving there’s always room for a little joy in advocacy work. By the end of the day, Eric and Rebecca had logged 17,600 steps — roughly 8 miles— on behalf of Trellus clients, staff, and communities.

We are proud to share that Trellus is entering our 6th of partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH...
06/04/2026

We are proud to share that Trellus is entering our 6th of partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH)! As a funded partner of the newly launched Healthy Chicago Mental Health Collective (HC-MHC), we have been awarded crucial funding to expand vital behavioral health services across Chicago.

With this support, Trellus is bringing expanded, strategic mental health services and school-based support directly to the Albany Park, Rogers Park, and West Ridge neighborhoods.

Why This Matters

The HC-MHC is a citywide network of CDPH Mental Health Centers and community providers working together to strengthen Chicago's mental health safety net. This funding enables us to deeply serve more individuals and families in need, ensuring our communities get the care they deserve.

"It's okay to need a little support. It's okay to say 'I'm not okay.' It's okay to ask for help.

Together with CDPH, we deliver care that honors culture, language, and lived experience—offering compassionate, quality care regardless of immigration status, insurance coverage, or ability to pay.

Chicago Department of Public Health

We’re excited to share that throughout the month of May, local Rogers Park coffee shop Cozy Cafe , featured artwork cre...
06/02/2026

We’re excited to share that throughout the month of May, local Rogers Park coffee shop Cozy Cafe , featured artwork created by participants from Museum of Us! ☕🎨

This partnership is a wonderful example of community collaboration in action — creating opportunities for our students and artists to share their creativity with a wider audience while building meaningful local connections. We’re so grateful to community partners like Cozy Cafe for supporting and uplifting emerging voices through art.

If you’re in the area, stop by to support local art, local business, and the incredible talent within our community!

Tuesday–Saturday: 9 AM – 4 PM
Sunday: 9 AM – 3 PM
Closed Mondays

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, it is important to remember that for many, the challenges of anxiety ...
05/28/2026

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, it is important to remember that for many, the challenges of anxiety and instability do not end on May 30.

At Trellus, we view mental health as a year-round commitment. Awareness is the first step, but action is what creates lasting change. We spend every day of the year addressing the root causes of distress—providing job training, English language classes, and housing navigation to ensure our neighbors have the stability they need to thrive.

To sustain this work beyond the month of May, consider setting up a monthly donation. Recurring support ensures that these vital resources remain available to our community throughout the entire year. https://mytrellus.org/donate/

Trellus’ Workforce Development department hosted their first training workshop named Introducing Yourself 101 and it was...
05/26/2026

Trellus’ Workforce Development department hosted their first training workshop named Introducing Yourself 101 and it was a huge success!

A big thank you to Megan Cornwall from the Workforce team for putting together such an engaging, informative, and interactive presentation with activities that made everyone feel included and comfortable participating.

Thank you as well to everyone who helped spread the word and support this new team-led initiative. We’re excited to continue building these workshops and expanding future training opportunities based on the wonderful ideas and feedback shared so far.

05/21/2026

Mental health is deeply connected to economic stability. In neighborhoods like West Ridge, Rogers Park, Albany Park, and Uptown, financial insecurity is a primary driver of chronic stress and anxiety.

Recent data shows that Chicagoans without steady employment are 31% more likely to fall below the poverty line, keeping the nervous system in a constant state of fight-or-flight. Trellus addresses these root causes through employability development, job readiness training, and career navigation.

By providing the tools for stable careers, we help our neighbors move beyond crisis and toward long-term peace of mind.

Check out mytrellus.org to learn more!

On May 12, Shannon Distel, Trellus Adult Education’s Computer Skills Instructor, presented on Digital Inclusion at TCS D...
05/19/2026

On May 12, Shannon Distel, Trellus Adult Education’s Computer Skills Instructor, presented on Digital Inclusion at TCS Digital Empowers: Collaborating for Connected Futures, hosted at the University of Chicago.

The conference brought together community, industry, nonprofit, and civic leaders to share real-world strategies for advancing digital inclusion, expanding opportunity, and strengthening workforce readiness for the future.

During her presentation, Shannon spoke about the importance of culturally relevant digital literacy instruction and creating equitable pathways for participation in an increasingly digital world.

Trellus is proud to have Shannon sharing her expertise and helping adult learners build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in today’s digital landscape.

New federal changes are coming to Medicaid in 2027. To make sure you stay covered, the State of Illinois needs to be abl...
05/14/2026

New federal changes are coming to Medicaid in 2027. To make sure you stay covered, the State of Illinois needs to be able to reach you with important updates.

The most important thing you can do right now is update your address.

✅ How to update:

• Visit abe.illinois.gov and click "Manage My Case."
• Call 877-805-5312 (Option 2).
• Keep an eye out for official mail from the State of Illinois and open it immediately.

To learn more: https://hfs.illinois.gov/addressupdatemessagingtoolkit.html

Last week, Trellus hosted a Lunch & Learn focused on Nurturing Work-Life Harmony, led by Cat Savino, Director of the Beh...
05/12/2026

Last week, Trellus hosted a Lunch & Learn focused on Nurturing Work-Life Harmony, led by Cat Savino, Director of the Behavioral Health Department.

The session brought staff together for meaningful conversations around wellness, balance, and mental health for Mental Health Awareness month. The event also provided an opportunity to connect with colleagues and engage with Trellus’ Wellness Initiative.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and virtually, participated in the discussion, and contributed to making the event a success. We are grateful for the continued commitment to fostering wellness and community across Trellus!

Address

2838 W Peterson Avenue
Chicago, IL
60659

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17735644944

Website

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