The Alliance of Local Service Organizations, ALSO, was founded in 1998 with a simple but powerful idea:
That lasting change happens when communities most affected by violence are at the center of the solution. What started as a small pass-through organization in Chicago’s Northwest Side has grown into a nationally recognized leader in violence prevention—working locally and across the country to create Safe Homes and Safe Streets. Today, we provide direct services, training and technical assistance, and systems-level advocacy to address both domestic violence and community violence—with a strong emphasis on their interconnectedness.
ALSO’s journey began with a deep awareness of the toll that community violence takes on families and neighborhoods. Seeing the devastating impact firsthand, we took action—launching prevention and intervention programming aimed at ending street violence and creating safer spaces for everyone.
Over time, it became clear that violence doesn’t stop at the street corner. In 2007, ALSO expanded its work to address domestic violence, recognizing that safety at home is interconnected to safety in the community. As we listened to community members experiencing violence and delved deeper into the realities of their neighborhoods, we began to see the powerful connections between violence in the streets and violence in the home—each often rooted in similar systemic barriers and cycles of harm. In 2020, with the help of state funding, ALSO started implementing direct case management and other support services for survivors, expanding in 2025 to offer them legal services as well.
From our roots in Humboldt Park, we have built deep partnerships with individuals, communities, civic and public sector agencies, weaving together community-driven solutions with evidence-based strategies. Today, our story continues to be guided by the belief that safety, healing, and justice are collective responsibilities. We continue to stand alongside those on the front lines—transforming lives, communities, and systems.
Through our comprehensive, community-based, and culturally responsive services, ALSO continues to champion the needs of most historically underserved communities—because everyone deserves a life without violence and abuse and what they need to thrive.