History of Daisy's
December 1973 - Tots and Toddlers Day Care Center, Inc., located at 1920 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, IL had its groundbreaking ceremonies with the late Congressman Robert McClory; Grace Mary Stern, County Clerk; John Matejevich, State Representative; the late Adleine Ge-Karis, State Senator; John Connelly (then State Representative), Joseph Hunter, John Hancock Agent, and other local school officials and friends assisting with a symbolic shovel donated by George Zybinski, former school board member.
April 1974 - Classes began with Open House held May 1974. Tots and Toddlers opened with a staff of seven and 67 children in a licensed facility accommodating 100 preschool children and 20 infants.
September 1975 - Tots and Toddlers expanded its facility to 150 preschoolers with a staff of 21, which included certified teachers, a practical nurse, teacher assistants and high school aides. The Small Business Administration financed the facility, which was designed by Dr. Daisy Brooks. Dr. Daisy Brooks was also the General contractor for both phases of construction.
December 1979 - Daisy's Nursery, located at 1906 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, opened its doors with a capacity of 66 infants’ ages 6 months through 2 years of age. Staffed with licensed nurses and certified teachers.
August 1980 - Tots and Toddlers (North), located at the Whispering Oaks facility in Waukegan, IL opened its door with a capacity of 65 preschoolers. Identical programs were offered at this extension of Tots and Toddlers as those offered at the North Chicago facility.
October 1988 - Construction began on Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center (East), located at 1919 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, IL. Dr. Daisy Brooks designed and was the General Contractor for this facility.
February 1989 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center (East) opened its doors to adolescent females between the ages of 12-17. Licensed capacity - 26. Service included long and short term care, emergency shelter, socialization and recreation, counseling, child care development training and transportation.
September 1993 - Daisy's Resource Optional School, on-site NCA accredited school located at 1919 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, IL began its first academic school year.
September 1993 - Daisy's Supervised Independent Living Program, located at 1911 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, IL opened its doors to adolescent females between the ages of 18 and 21.
September 1994 - Converted Tots and Toddlers, located at 1920 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, IL to Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center (West). Opened to pregnant and parenting adolescent females between the ages of 13 and 18. Licensed capacity - 18. Services included those offered at Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center (East). Included on-site nursery.
September 1996 - Daisy's Vocational Training Programs began. Four vocational classes (certified by the Illinois State Board of Education) were offered to residents: Basic Office Skills, Child Care Development, Cosmetology, and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program.
December 1996 - Sherman Avenue between Argonne Drive and 20th Street named Dr. Daisy M. Brooks Drive.
April 1997 - Fire destroys Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center (East) facility.
January 1998 - New and re-designed facility reopens. Dr. Daisy Brooks designed and was General contractor for the new facility. Vocational classes (certified by the Illinois State Board of Education) were opened to the public.
September 1998 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center - Awarded subcontract for Title V, Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Program.
June 1999 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center awarded additional funding from Title V to begin an after-school program for middle school aged youth. Youth Enhancement and Prevention Program (YEPP) - later renamed Youth Empowerment Program (YEPP) began serving 80 middle school aged youth.
October 1999 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center celebrates its 25th year service anniversary. Celebration held at North Shore Lights, Highwood, IL.
November 2001 - Daisy’s Resource and Developmental Center awarded contract from Housing Urban development to begin Youth Build North Chicago. First contract year -2002-2003. Second and third contracts were awarded for period 2003-2004 and 2004-2005, respectively.
April 2002 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center's Youth Build North Chicago pre-apprenticeship construction program began accepting and servicing youth adults into program. Office located at 1920 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, IL.
January 2003 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center awarded contract from Workforce Development Program (governed under Workforce Investment Act) to provide vocational training to youth between the ages of 18 and 21. Services also included job preparation and placement assistance. Second and third contracts awarded in 2004 and 2005.
December 2003 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center awarded contract from Illinois Department of Corrections to service pregnant and parenting females between the ages of 18 and 25.
January 2004 - Daisy's Structured Transitional Living Program, located at 1919 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, IL, opens doors to residents and begins offering the following services, individual and group counseling, vocational training, daily independent living skills training, job search and placement assistance.
October 2004 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center holds its first annual fundraising telethon. The event, held at Comcast Studios, Waukegan, IL was hosted by Ms. JoMarie Payton of the television show Family Matters. Ms. Payton is also the voice of "Sugar Mama" on the television show The Proud Family.
October 2005 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center holds its second annual fundraising telethon event. The event, held at Comcast Studios, Waukegan, IL was hosted by Ms. JoMarie Payton.
July 2007 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center awarded contract from Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to begin North Chicago Vocational Transitional Living Program, located at 1919 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, IL. Program services to females between the ages of 17 and 24. Services offered include individual and group counseling, vocational training, daily independent living skills training, job search and placement assistance.
October 2007 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center holds its third annual fundraising telethon event. The event, held at Comcast Studios, Waukegan, IL was hosted by Ms. JoMarie Payton.
2007 - Dr. Daisy Brooks was inducted into the Lake County Civil Rights Hall of Fame.
August 2010 - Dr. Daisy Brooks received the Citizen's Medal (the second medal in the nation) from President Barack Obama.
October 2011 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center 4th annual fundraising telethon. The event, held at Comcast Studios, Waukegan, IL was hosted by Ms. JoMarie Payton.
April 1974 - Classes began with Open House held May 1974. Tots and Toddlers opened with a staff of seven and 67 children in a licensed facility accommodating 100 preschool children and 20 infants.
September 1975 - Tots and Toddlers expanded its facility to 150 preschoolers with a staff of 21, which included certified teachers, a practical nurse, teacher assistants and high school aides. The Small Business Administration financed the facility, which was designed by Dr. Daisy Brooks. Dr. Daisy Brooks was also the General contractor for both phases of construction.
December 1979 - Daisy's Nursery, located at 1906 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, opened its doors with a capacity of 66 infants’ ages 6 months through 2 years of age. Staffed with licensed nurses and certified teachers.
August 1980 - Tots and Toddlers (North), located at the Whispering Oaks facility in Waukegan, IL opened its door with a capacity of 65 preschoolers. Identical programs were offered at this extension of Tots and Toddlers as those offered at the North Chicago facility.
October 1988 - Construction began on Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center (East), located at 1919 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, IL. Dr. Daisy Brooks designed and was the General Contractor for this facility.
February 1989 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center (East) opened its doors to adolescent females between the ages of 12-17. Licensed capacity - 26. Service included long and short term care, emergency shelter, socialization and recreation, counseling, child care development training and transportation.
September 1993 - Daisy's Resource Optional School, on-site NCA accredited school located at 1919 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, IL began its first academic school year.
September 1993 - Daisy's Supervised Independent Living Program, located at 1911 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, IL opened its doors to adolescent females between the ages of 18 and 21.
September 1994 - Converted Tots and Toddlers, located at 1920 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, IL to Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center (West). Opened to pregnant and parenting adolescent females between the ages of 13 and 18. Licensed capacity - 18. Services included those offered at Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center (East). Included on-site nursery.
September 1996 - Daisy's Vocational Training Programs began. Four vocational classes (certified by the Illinois State Board of Education) were offered to residents: Basic Office Skills, Child Care Development, Cosmetology, and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program.
December 1996 - Sherman Avenue between Argonne Drive and 20th Street named Dr. Daisy M. Brooks Drive.
April 1997 - Fire destroys Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center (East) facility.
January 1998 - New and re-designed facility reopens. Dr. Daisy Brooks designed and was General contractor for the new facility. Vocational classes (certified by the Illinois State Board of Education) were opened to the public.
September 1998 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center - Awarded subcontract for Title V, Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Program.
June 1999 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center awarded additional funding from Title V to begin an after-school program for middle school aged youth. Youth Enhancement and Prevention Program (YEPP) - later renamed Youth Empowerment Program (YEPP) began serving 80 middle school aged youth.
October 1999 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center celebrates its 25th year service anniversary. Celebration held at North Shore Lights, Highwood, IL.
November 2001 - Daisy’s Resource and Developmental Center awarded contract from Housing Urban development to begin Youth Build North Chicago. First contract year -2002-2003. Second and third contracts were awarded for period 2003-2004 and 2004-2005, respectively.
April 2002 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center's Youth Build North Chicago pre-apprenticeship construction program began accepting and servicing youth adults into program. Office located at 1920 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, IL.
January 2003 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center awarded contract from Workforce Development Program (governed under Workforce Investment Act) to provide vocational training to youth between the ages of 18 and 21. Services also included job preparation and placement assistance. Second and third contracts awarded in 2004 and 2005.
December 2003 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center awarded contract from Illinois Department of Corrections to service pregnant and parenting females between the ages of 18 and 25.
January 2004 - Daisy's Structured Transitional Living Program, located at 1919 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, IL, opens doors to residents and begins offering the following services, individual and group counseling, vocational training, daily independent living skills training, job search and placement assistance.
October 2004 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center holds its first annual fundraising telethon. The event, held at Comcast Studios, Waukegan, IL was hosted by Ms. JoMarie Payton of the television show Family Matters. Ms. Payton is also the voice of "Sugar Mama" on the television show The Proud Family.
October 2005 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center holds its second annual fundraising telethon event. The event, held at Comcast Studios, Waukegan, IL was hosted by Ms. JoMarie Payton.
July 2007 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center awarded contract from Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to begin North Chicago Vocational Transitional Living Program, located at 1919 Sherman Avenue, North Chicago, IL. Program services to females between the ages of 17 and 24. Services offered include individual and group counseling, vocational training, daily independent living skills training, job search and placement assistance.
October 2007 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center holds its third annual fundraising telethon event. The event, held at Comcast Studios, Waukegan, IL was hosted by Ms. JoMarie Payton.
2007 - Dr. Daisy Brooks was inducted into the Lake County Civil Rights Hall of Fame.
August 2010 - Dr. Daisy Brooks received the Citizen's Medal (the second medal in the nation) from President Barack Obama.
October 2011 - Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center 4th annual fundraising telethon. The event, held at Comcast Studios, Waukegan, IL was hosted by Ms. JoMarie Payton.