Crosstown Classic with Spartan FC

This blog honors the J.R. Albert Foundation as a cornerstone partner whose early, unrestricted support and long-term trust helped transform Urban Initiatives from its earliest chapters into a citywide force for Chicago’s youth.

Through a transformative visit to Mesirow Financial, Zapata Academy’s Urban Initiatives team demonstrated how professional exposure and meaningful mentorship build the social capital necessary for students to envision and achieve their brightest futures.

This blog encourages people to use simple, festive games like The Winter Wonder Guess, Holiday Two Truths and a Lie, and Snowball Toss Challenge as icebreakers to find calm, connect with others, and relieve stress during the busy holiday season.