Working to Preserve Our Heritage

<p class=ql-align-justify><strong>On</strong> a cold and snowy evening in December 1982 motivated by the lofty Hellenic ideals of <em>philotimo</em> and <em>philoxenia</em> a diverse and dynamic group of Greek Americans launched a groundbreaking movement that forever changed the landscape of Chicago's Greek community.</p><p class=ql-align-justify><br></p><p class=ql-align-justify>Forty years later <strong>John Psiharis</strong> with substantial involvement from Dr. Elaine Thomopoulos the co-founders of Greek-American Community Services (GACS) recounts how this eclectic cadre of Hellenes helped ignite a renaissance in Chicago's Greek Community and heighten Greek participation within the broader community.</p><p class=ql-align-justify><br></p><p class=ql-align-justify>This book the first in the <strong>Hellenism in the Heartland</strong> series meticulously details the incredible legacy of GACS which in its day celebrated promoted and preserved Greek American cultural heritage through far-ranging public programs in the arts and humanities touched the lives of thousands through its social services introduced adult day care as a viable care option for the community helped build better interethnic understanding and cooperation and gave birth to the committee that established Chicago's Greek-American Nursing Home. The early years of the Coalition of Limited English Speaking Elderly (CLESE) an organization GACS played a key role in launching are also described.</p><p class=ql-align-justify><br></p><p class=ql-align-justify>Extensive research and insider accounts offer a unique glimpse into the inner workings of this trailblazing organization then lauded as a leading example of the very best our community has to offer. Enhanced with photos and ephemera the book includes a comprehensive who's who and chronological history of GACS. The hardcover includes a comprehensive index for easy reference.</p><p class=ql-align-justify><br></p>