The South Side
Takes Care
of Its Own.
D&D Foundation connects South Side Chicago residents to free job training, OSHA & CNA certifications, legal aid, expungement clinics, BMO bank accounts, and more. No cost. No income requirements. Just show up.
Everything You Need
to Move Forward
We don't just point you in a direction. We connect you directly to the resources that can change your life — all free, right here on the South Side.
OSHA, forklift, HVAC, CNA, security — all free. Whether you're 16 or 60, we have a path into a career that pays.
Marijuana expungement clinics. Bank account access through our BMO partnership. Your record and your finances don't have to hold you back.
Active shelter connections, case manager referrals, counseling resources, and support for women and youth who are ready to rebuild.
health & more
requirements. No catch.
for the South Side
to God and this community
"I was born and raised on the South Side. I moved back, I got my life back, and I promised God I'd give back. This is me keeping that promise."
Dorthy Neal · Founder, D&D Foundation
Free Resources,
No Strings Attached
Every resource below is free. No income requirements. No barriers. Just reach out and we'll connect you.
OSHA, HVAC, CNA & More
Free certification programs that put you in a new career. Open to residents 16 and up. No previous experience required.
See programs
Marijuana Expungement Clinic
Clear your record for free. Our expungement clinic connects you with legal help so your past doesn't define your future.
Learn more
Open a Bank Account Today
In partnership with BMO Bank, we help South Side residents open bank accounts — no credit check required. Take control of your money.
Get startedWhat the Village Says
Real people. Real stories. Real change — right here on the South Side.
Dorthy sat with me for two hours and helped me understand every option I had. I didn't even know half these programs existed. She treated me like family, not a case number.
I had a felony on my record that was holding me back from everything — jobs, apartments, all of it. D&D Foundation connected me with the expungement clinic. My record is clear now. My life is different.
I was at the shelter when Dorthy came in. She didn't just give me a pamphlet. She picked up the phone, made the calls, and followed up. Because of her, I have my CNA certification and I'm working.
Dorthy Neal
Dorthy was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. She came back five years ago, rebuilt her life, and made a promise she intended to keep. In February of this year, she left her job to run D&D Foundation full-time — because the South Side deserves what the North Side has.
Dorthy goes back to the same shelter where she once stayed — because when she was there, nobody showed her the way. She figured it out alone, and she built D&D Foundation so no one else has to. She partners with BMO Bank, legal clinics, and vocational programs across the city.
Read Her Full StoryReady to Connect?
Reach out to Dorthy directly. Whether you need resources for yourself or you want to refer someone — we'll point you in the right direction.