Every year the 2024 Chicago Marathon is a celebration of joy, community, and the power of play, drawing thousands of people out for the fun. Yet, in the very neighborhoods that host this iconic event, many Chicago youth and families still lack access to sports and play opportunities. This year, our Charity team is lacing…
Gabrielle Jone just joined the UI team as the new Play with Potential REC Coordinator at Dr. Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy in Chicago’s Belmont Cragin community. What drew you to Urban Initiatives? Gabrielle: The close knit relationship to underserved communities is what drew me to Urban Initiatives. I have been volunteering and working…
Greg Washington is the newest member of the Urban Initiatives family. He will be the School Based Program Coordinator for all THREE of UI’s programs, Work to Play, Take the Lead and Play with Potential at Claremont Academy in the city’s Englewood community. Welcome to the team Greg! Urban Initiatives: What drew you to Urban…
Spring is (sort of) in the air, and that means our Work to Play soccer teams and Play with Potential recesses have finally moved back outside. Last Saturday, a group of 20 adults met 20 Lawndale Community Academy (LCA) students for the inaugural Lawndale Field Day. The LCA students at the event were celebrating a successful…
DNAinfo reporter Mauricio Peña visits the First Annual Lawndale Field Day! Reach here: https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150511/north-lawndale/first-annual-lawndale-field-day-raises-money-for-work-to-play-program
Each month we will share with you two dynamic Team Captains that embody the Take the Lead team spirit and go above and beyond in their communities throughout Chicago. This year 151 Take the Lead Team Captains from 24 Chicago Public Schools across 19 distinct communities will help make an impact in the lives of…
Take the Lead Team captains from Howe School of Excellence, located in the city’s Austin Community, took the morning off from soccer to focus on giving back to their very own neighborhood. As part of their upcoming We Day celebration team captains served their community by spending their practice time doing a little spring-cleaning around…
Junior Board member Jose Garcia shares his experience from the #UIJB Volunteer Day. Imagine yourself walking into an indoor stadium, not fully knowing what to expect. Now imagine walking through the doors and seeing dozens of families, Urban Initiatives staff, fellow UI Junior Board members, and close to 100 UI Work to Play soccer players…
The beginning of the school year brings changes for everyone. A new grade, new teachers, new friends and for Urban Initiatives, new schools! Each year the Work to Play program expands into new schools giving hundreds of kids the chance to join a team that learns how to play soccer, eat healthy and increase their…
For the past two years Urban Initiatives’ Junior Board has spent the month of May engaging in a little team building, a lot of friendly competition, and a huge amount of fundraising. We’re only two weeks away from May 1, and that means just one thing: the Third Annual Junior Board Bus Campaign is here!…
