Family & Belonging

Operation Anchor.

Military service affects more than the person wearing the uniform. Behind every service member and veteran are spouses, children, caregivers, friends, and families navigating the experience alongside them. Family & Belonging creates opportunities for those relationships to grow and for military-connected families to find community beyond the uniform.

How to plug in All four pillars

Esprit de Corps Foundation military family event in Chicago

Why this pillar exists

Service doesn't stop at the person wearing the uniform. Neither does the strain.

80%

of active-duty military spouses report career interruption caused by their family's service — moves, deployments, or unpredictable schedules.

Blue Star Families · Department of Defense

6–9

times the average military child changes schools before graduating high school — three to nine times more disruption than a civilian peer.

U.S. Department of Defense

When a veteran transitions, the whole family transitions with them — spouses set aside careers, kids leave schools and friends behind, everyone loses the built-in base community. Almost no civilian infrastructure treats military families as a first-class audience after the uniform comes off.

Esprit builds programming around the family unit — recreation together, holiday gatherings, spouse networks, kids' events — so belonging isn't something that ended when the enlistment did.

What we build

Some we run ourselves. Some we build with a partner. All of them serve the community.

Family Experiences

Museums, sporting events, outdoor recreation, family days, attractions.

Military Kids

Activities and experiences specifically recognizing military children.

Spouses & Partners

Networking, social connection, career resources, education.

Community Gatherings

Cookouts, dinners, holiday events, celebrations.

Caregivers & Families

Connections to organizations specializing in family and caregiver resources.

Welcome & Belonging

Events where veterans and families new to Chicago can meet others and establish community.

Under this pillar

Recurring programs.

Programming that puts Family & Belonging into practice year-round.

Family Recreation Events

Holiday Family Celebrations

Spouse Networking

Kids' Programming

Family Volunteer Days

Community Gatherings

Lead this pillar

Family & Belonging needs a team. Want to run it?

Pillar Team Leaders own the calendar, recruit the volunteers, and keep the work moving between events. If you can commit real time and want your fingerprints on something meaningful, this is the door.

Lead Family & Belonging

Build with EDC

Open a door for a family.

A museum can open its doors. A sports team can provide an experience. A restaurant can host dinner. A business can sponsor a family day. EDC brings everyone together.

Host a family experience

Signature programs