Best day is friday , they treat you like family. I've been attending with my family for six years…read more the last years its improved a lot.

Very welcoming congregation. I have even brought Jewish and Mormon friends to service and they have…read moreeven felt comfortable and enjoyed the experience. Love the music- contemporary but not overly trendy. Great sermons that you can often bring back into your own life. Wonderful volunteer opportunities. Something almost every week! Lots of gatherings- from small community bible study groups to cocktail hours after work to morning mommy meetings. "Dinners With Grace"- a monthly potluck hosted at someone's home is also a lot of fun. They also host an annual wine tasting event that all of my friends go to (and love)! Lots of foodies at this church =) Many young families- also some singles in their 20's, a few older folks. But mainly couples in their young/mid 30's with young kids. Plus, Sunday School offered every Sunday for the little ones! Come at 10am for coffee and increedddible muffins to socialize. Church is from 10:30-12ish. Free parking in the school lot- bonus!!

One of the most disappointing and stressful programs I've ever done…read more I took the TEFL certification course with International TEFL Academy (ITA) in Barcelona, and I regret it. From the start, the experience felt disorganized and emotionally exhausting. The course didn't use a clear grading rubric--trainers graded based on vibes, not criteria. Feedback was minimal, which made it almost impossible to improve. Instead of walking away confident and prepared, I left feeling like a worse teacher than when I started. What really pushed this over the edge for me was the student visa situation. ITA heavily advertises that Americans can legally work in Spain by enrolling in their "Student Visa Program." They even imply you can teach full-time. What they don't say is that legal work under a student visa requires an extra authorization process that most schools refuse to do. I only found this out after spending thousands and being rejected by employers who said my visa wasn't valid for work. ITA's staff even admitted in writing that many graduates work "cash in hand" (aka illegally) and brushed it off like it's just how things work in Spain. For the money they charge, I expected professionalism, clarity, and legal accuracy. Instead, I got stress, vague answers, and no real path to employment. Please be careful before trusting this company with your money or your future.

I'm posting this review years after my teaching abroad experience because that is how great of an…read moreimpression this place made on me. Because of this company I got a job teaching in South Korea, a formative experience in my life. The class was definitely more expensive than other ESL certifications, but it was comprehensive and for an online class I learned a lot. More impressive however is their life long job search aid. This place won't just get you a certification, they will get you a job. They walked me through every step of the process and I know that even years later, if I were to go back to them looking to teach abroad again, they would be the reason I would find a job. This is an excellent company. I highly recommend.

My husband and I have been members here for 9+ years. Our daughter started in preschool and has…read morecontinued on through junior kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade. I truly love it here. The church helps me build my relationship with God, is warm and welcoming, and has both service and social activities. Pastor Hess is doing a lovely job leading the congregation. The school has been doing a great job teaching our daughter and providing her with a healthy, God-centered environment. Navigating school is challenging for both students and parents. The teachers have provided my daughter *and* me with invaluable tools on how to reach our educational goals and deal with interpersonal relationships (1st graders have *big* emotions!). I feel like I am part of a team.

My daughter attends there pre-kindergarten program and we were referred by friends of ours. We…read moreabsolutely love the staff and the school.

Its a nice neighborhood church. I personally have only been there as a polling place. But its alway…read moreclean and well kept. I also think they offer Girl scout troops from that location.

We had our costumed Halloween wedding reception at Second Unitarian, and it was the perfect venue…read morefor us. The admin Kate was very friendly and responsive, and best of all, she was totally cool about rescheduling our reception to an entire year later because of covid. I also found the venue extremely affordable for its size and how nice it is; of the three we saw it was the cheapest but also our favorite. In terms of the space itself, the beautiful church windows lend a gothic aesthetic and look great for any wedding (especially a Halloween one). We had about 100 people and that number comfortably fit in the sanctuary seated at long rows of tables. I'm very glad we found this venue, and would recommend it to anyone.

Having lived in Madison, Wis. during my freelance musician career days, I was a frequent performer…read moreat the Frank Lloyd Wright Unitarian church there. I remember being inspired by the welcoming embrace of the Unitarian congregation, and would never turn down the opportunity to play a service. It's been many years since I've stepped inside a church on a Sunday, but this past weekend my friend, EW, was the preacher for the lay-led service at "2U", so I decided to check it out. There's a welcoming coffee hour, so get there 15-mins. early and you'll be greeted with some friendly faces before the service. There was very little that was traditional about the service, overall, as it was dedicated to "Facing Your Fears"- something I've made a pact with myself to do in 2011. Within the first five minutes the preacher said "feel free to shake what your momma gave you" with someone saying "shake it don't break it" in reply. This is not your parent's church! (Unless your parents literally go here). There is a real sense of humor here, an openness to all people and faiths, and it was easy to feel at home, even as a newbie. My friend EW did a reading for the kids from "the Monster at the End of this Book", then launched into her sermon on facing her fears. This was a lay-led service, that church volunteers may lead. The whole service tied in incredibly well, and afterward I felt more grounded than I had in a long time. I hate to generalize, but "self-actualization through faith and community" might be a good boilerplate phrase for Unitarianism. When times are tough, a faith community can help get us through even the roughest patch. You don't have to go it alone. Since this is the year of Transformation for me, I will definitely be back from time to time for community support. And the welcoming atmosphere at Second Unitarian can help me along my path with a smile, a song, and a Hallelujah. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOoEYxt0PPA

God is good..all the time! This church has remained in this location for the last 100 years. It has…read moresince added an annex building called Impact Center and also the Pui Tak Center. The church runs programs from infants to seniors all through the week. The church also boasts three different language congregations, English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. Great place to worship. Great place to connect.

This church is along Wentworth, and has the appropriate Asian-style detailing to adorn the…read moreexteriors of what otherwise is an ordinary brick building. This is the heart and the Christian community center for those who live in Chinatown.

My fiancé and I moved to Chicago in December and started looking for a new catholic church. Every…read moreSunday we went to a different church around the downtown area until we finally found what we were looking for...a small church, with a community feel, and an amazing priest/sermons. The following sums up Immaculate Conception: Great Priest --- Fr. Larry is amazing! He is very personable, remembers everyone by name, and most importantly delivers great sermons. We take something away from every mass we attend. Amazing Music --- The music is awesome. It's not traditional, boring church music. It's very modern, with a great rhythm and beat. Community Feel --- Fr. Larry is a big reason this church has a sense of community. Once he found out we were new to the area and church, he immediately introduce us to other parishioners and gave us a warm welcome. Free Parking & Easily Accessible ---- Do I have to say more? This is not something that's easy to find in Chicago. Immaculate Conception has its own school and parking lot that is free for parishioners. Flexible Mass Times --- Immaculate Conception also has a sister church called St.Joseph a couple blocks away. Between the two churches you have a lot of different mass times to pick and choose from. We absolutely love it here, and you will too! If your new to Chicago and looking for a great Catholic church, trust me....Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph are it! :)

The volleyball group I play with on Wednesday nights meets at this school to use the gym. So I…read morereally can only review that aspect of the school, and not the education or curriculum they provide. What I can tell you is that every person I've encountered at the school is extremely friendly and helpful, the gym is beautiful and clean, and they also have great sports equipment. Plus, there is a parking lot out front -- love that I don't have to search and pay for street parking.

Excellent music to start the service. Followed by a solid biblical message that is relevant to you…read moreas a parishioner. Everyone is so nice and welcoming. Love this place!!!

I was sad to review the previous reviewers experience at Chicago First. My family and I have been…read moregoing there for over six years and I honestly have not one negative thing to say about that church. It has been the best thing that has happened to us since we moved to the southwest burbs. The pastor's that speak are very current and relevant and I benefit greatly by attending there on a regular basis. There are also wonderful adult classes for everyone and the kids programs are terrific. My kids love it and they range from 4-9. They have actually cried when I say we can't go on a given week! I really could write pages and pages of how this place has changed our lives. I am so sorry that the previous reviewer had such a negative experience but all I can say is people make stupid mistakes at times. Don't let that experience turn you away from what really is an amazing place.