Lithuanian World Center
Channel: Lithuanian World Center
Date: 2012-11-01

Organizational History
The Lithuanian World Center (LWC) is located at 14911 W. 127th Street in Lemont.  It is a 150,000 square foot building located on approximately 18 acres.  LWC was established in 1988, is a nonprofit organization that houses and serves the social, cultural, spiritual, and educational needs of people of ethnic Lithuanian descent in the Chicago Metropolitan Area and throughout the world. LWC's mission is to attend to the needs of ethnic Lithuanians and to care for the preservation of ethnic identity and heritage as well as advancing the integration of Lithuanians into local communities.  The Center offers educational programs to the wider community about the history and important cultural contributions of Lithuanians to the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in addition to providing cultural and sports opportunities for the entire community of the Lemont Heritage Corridor. LWC seeks donations and conducts fund raising events throughout the year that enable it to provide space and operate the Center for the benefit of a variety of American-Lithuanian nonprofit organizations that teach and present Lithuanian traditions in art, dance, music and language, including:  three folk dance groups ("Grandis", "Spindulys" and "Knights of Lithuania"); the Lithuanian Museum of Art, featuring a permanent collection of traditional Lithuanian wood sculpture as well as temporary exhibitions of art by Lithuanian and other artists; the Lithuanian choral society, "Dainava"; and several schools for youth and children that transmit Lithuanian language and cultural traditions. The Center's facilities are also used by other Lithuanian organizations, including sports teams, the Lithuanian Foundation, Scout troops and Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis Catholic Mission. LWC regularly presents major educational and cultural events, such as the 2008 three-day International Symposium on Science, Literature and the Arts, which featured over 50 speakers and attracted hundreds of attendees. 
Recently, LWC constructed a new gymnasium at the Center. The new space, which has a dual function as concert hall with stage, is widely used by many groups in the community. More at: http://www.lithuanianworldcenter.org/