At Urban Initiatives, we believe deeply in the power of sport and play to foster connection, build social capital, and open doors to new possibilities for young people. Some of the most meaningful moments in our work happen when students, educators, and partners come together in spaces that spark curiosity, belonging, and shared humanity.
Recently, students from Zapata Academy’s UI Soccer Team attended a holiday gathering hosted by our valued partner, Mesirow Financial. What made the experience especially powerful was not just the setting, but the relationships that formed between students and professionals, and between partners united by a shared commitment to youth development.
With Zapata Academy’s permission, we’re honored to share their reflection on the experience in their own words.
A Reflection from Zapata Academy
Dear Urban Initiatives Team,
On behalf of Zapata Academy, I want to express our sincere gratitude for selecting our UI Soccer Team to attend the holiday event at Mesirow Financial’s downtown offices. Being chosen from among many UI partnering schools was an exceptional honor, and the experience proved to be truly transformative for our students.
An Invaluable Educational Experience
The visit to Mesirow Financial (353 N. Clark St.) provided our students with remarkable opportunities for growth and learning.
Career Exploration & Professional Exposure
Our students toured Mesirow’s corporate offices and experienced a professional workplace environment firsthand. They engaged directly with finance professionals, asking thoughtful questions about career paths and daily workplace life. The Mesirow staff was genuinely impressed by our students’ curiosity and the depth of their questions about careers and professional development.
Social-Emotional Learning in Action
Beyond career exposure, our students made meaningful connections with Mesirow staff members and deepened their understanding of this month’s social-emotional learning theme through real-world application. Throughout the visit, our players demonstrated exceptional behavior, kindness, and professionalism – qualities we work to instill daily at Zapata.
Power of Exposure
Opportunities like these are transformative for our students. Visiting a professional corporate environment, interacting with successful professionals, and seeing career possibilities firsthand helps our students envision their own futures and understand the pathways available to them. These experiences expand their horizons beyond the classroom and show them what is possible with dedication and education.
A Partnership that Makes a Difference
This invitation reflects the strong partnership between Urban Initiatives and Zapata Academy. Our coaches, Mr. Nunez and Ms. Bustamante, worked tirelessly to develop not just skilled athletes, but well-rounded, respectful young people. Their dedication, combined with the daily efforts of our entire Zapata staff to cultivate an environment where students learn to ask meaningful questions, follow directions with purpose, and treat others with genuine kindness, prepared our students to represent our school with confidence and grace.
Thank you for believing in our students and for creating opportunities that open doors to futures they may have never imagined. Your commitment to using sports as a vehicle for youth development continues to make a profound impact on our Zapata community.
With deep appreciation and gratitude,
Zapata Academy Administration and Staff
Why Moments Like This Matter
Experiences like this capture what Urban Initiatives is all about building relationships that extend beyond the field and classroom, and creating networks of care, opportunity, and trust around young people.
Seeing partners like Zapata Academy and Mesirow Financial connect with one another, and with our students, is a powerful reminder that social capital is built through shared experiences, mutual respect, and genuine human connection.
We are grateful to Zapata Academy and Mesirow Financial for helping make moments like these possible.
