DR. LUCY LANG-CHAPPELL HOUSING COMPLEX
MISSION—
The mission of the Dr. Lucy Lang-Chappell Housing Complex is to provide low income housing and related programs that would meet the physical and emtional needs of the developmentally challenged. The goal is to enrich the quality of life for developmentally challenged residents from all religions, ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds. We believe that affordable housing and supportive programs improve the economic status of residents, transform neighborhood, and stabilize lives.
Our motto is "we help because we care."
OUR GOALS—
To provide a variety of special programs and services tailored to the unique needs of the developmentally challenged:
1) Case management for accessing community services;
2) Wellness programs;
3) Social programming;
4) Education and training via lectures and workshops regarding topics of special interest to the residents.
©2014 Dr. Lucy Lang-Chappell Housing Complex. All rights reserved.
Dr. Lucy Lang-Chappell
ACSW, PhD | President/CEO
Some of what you should know
about the Founder, Dr. Lucy Lang-Chappell:
Dr. Chappell, a 5-foot petite woman is the best of the best, and a leader’s leader. Many call her the “Dynamo”, the “phenomenal woman”, the “go getter”, the woman to whom a reply of “no” to her means “yes”, she is a warrior for mental health. She is an over achiever, finished high school at 16 years of age, college at 19 years of age (with a degree in English and Sociology), Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Loyola University of Chicago and on to a Ph.D. in Human Services. Her education did not end with three degrees, but continued over many years in various subjects under such Scholars and Masters as William Glasser, M.D. (psychiatrist), Carl Vassillious, M.D. (psychiatrist), Harvey Strassman, M.D. (psychiatrist), Ravendronath Sarma, M.D. (child psychiatrist), Harry Altenberg, M.D. (psychiatrist), Robert A. DeVito, M.D. (psychiatrist), David Miller, M.D (psychiatrist), Natalie Hamowitz, Ph.D. (University of Chicago Social Service Administration, Chicago IL; Supervision and Administration; Task Centered Treatment The University of Chicago).
Dr. Chappell's noted affiliations are: American Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW); National Association of Social Workers (NASW); National Association of Black Social Workers and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
She has the unusual combination of being both a strong administrator and an experienced clinician. She has taught and mentored many people who now hold high positions in the mental health field. Her work in Mental Health/Behavioral Health Services began with her position for the city of Chicago as Center Director of the Lawndale Mental Health Center on the west side from June 1969 to October 1984. Her advancements due to her persistence, hard work and administrative and clinical expertise, earned her the Dr. Francis J. Gerty Award after only three years of service (comparable to, if such were possible, the Hall of Fame of Mental Health). To our knowledge, no other person or agency in Chicago has had the honor of having received this award. Later she was promoted to Regional Director where she coached and gave administrative consultation for nine mental health centers throughout Chicago.
Again, because of her continued studies, persistence, and determination, her progress never halted. In October 1984, she was selected to lead the Bobby E. Wright Behavioral Health Center where she served with a stellar record as recognized by numerous auditors such as CARF (licensure bureau for mental health agencies), for exemplary leadership. In June 2004, she received the Damen Award from Loyola University the School of Social Work. This award was given for her outstanding service in mental heath and behavorial health. She led this center to victory for 27 years, retiring in February 2013. Her record as clinician, administrator, teacher and motivator, is stellar. She was Assistant Professor (Part-time) at the Jane Addams Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Illinois, and also at the George Williams College in Downers Grove, IL.
She was born in Fernandina Beach, Florida and in a family of five, she is fourth. Her parents, although never attending high school, valued education. All five children have earned advanced degrees such as Master’s and Doctorate, and one a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. Her intellectual DNA is laced with a strong dosage of common sense, creativity, hard work, and a passion for helping people which are some of the ingredients for her success.
As a mother, wife, teacher, role model for women and men, and motivator, all eyes across the nation have been on her for conducting seminars about mental health and behavioral services. She has given presentations representing Chicago and the agency of which she was President/CEO (Bobby E. Wright Behavioral Health Center from 1984 to February 2013). Her lectures are so dynamic that there is usually standing room only when her name appears as a presenter on the program. A book entitled Echoes of an Extraordinary Woman has some excerpts of how she held the attention of participants. Her presentations have been in China (Yale University Delegate, People’s Republic of China before a group of Chinese psychiatrists), London, Scotland, and almost every state in the United States of America.
A statement that best sums up Dr. Chappell’s philosophy is “Persistence, more than anything else, keeps us great. Anyone can be great for a day, a week, a month, but the people who ultimately succeed are the ones who understand that success is a long term commitment.” In summary, Dr. Chappell is a leader with vision, determination and commitment, yet with a compassion for others. She emphasizes a holistic approach to service delivery. Good tidings rattle throughout the health community with a consistent thread that she has helped so many people, patients, staff and others to achieve their goals. The residents of the Dr. Lucy Lang-Chappell Housing Complex (for the developmentally challenged) are blessed to have become a recipient of her vision, as well as people throughout Chicago and especially the North Lawndale, East and West Garfield areas.
Dr. Lang-Chappell’s late husband, Roy Chappell, was a member of the original Tuskegee Airmen. The Roy M. Chappell University Education Center at Kentucky State University, a street in his hometown of Williamsburg, Kentucky, as well as a highway marker leading into Williamsburg, were all dedicated in his name for his exceptional efforts in education.
Dr. Chappell and Roy have two daughters, Camille Chappell Johnson who is an art teacher in the Chicago Public School system, and Kathy Chappell who is a professor at DePaul University. Dr. Chappell loves what she does, considers it a calling, and clearly exemplifies a person who has led an extraordinary life helping people.
Daughter Camille Chappell Johnson won the prestigious Oppenheimer award multiple years for her art work and expertise for Mosaic murals, Cultural Diversity murals and cut out benches. Daughter Kathy Chappell who was formerly a Yale University Fellow was hired as a Clinical Instructor at Yale University in New Haven, CT. She returned to Chicago to assist in caring for her Father. (Dr. Chappell's husband, Roy Chappell, died in 2002). Kathy became a Professor at DePaul University in Chicago.
In addition to all of this, she loves beautiful things be it wild flowers, earrings or shoes. The second, less obvious, is that she is a gourmet cook, yet has over the years taken a bag lunch to work most days. If you want to really know Dr. Chappell plan a visit with her at the Dr. Lucy Lang-Chappell Housing Complex and get a copy of her book, "Echoes of an Extraordinary Woman." CLICK HERE
Future Plans for Helping is a collection of Lang-Chappell papers, as presented at various presentations, to be published for your pleasure.
mmmmm“Enriching the quality
of life for developmentally
mmmchallenged residents…”
