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…
The sight of over 15 soccer fields and the smiling faces of Wilmette Wings players greeted soccer players from Bethune, Howe, Goethe and Jahn at Avoca Park for the annual Wilmette Crosstown Classic. U8, U9 and U10 Wings teamed up with UI players for an afternoon of soccer and making new friends.
Urban Initiatives welcomed a team of grown-up kids from Groupon to play soccer with teams from Jenner and Otis. 19 staff came ready to play, wearing green Groupon track suits and cleats! Teams of volunteers coached fields of players, encouraging kids to pass and practice moving the ball as a team. Some volunteers just came…
This year’s Work to Play Coaches Training at the Chicago Indoor Sports Center was a huge success! 53 coaches, a mix of On-Site Program Directors and Assistant Coaches from the 22 schools that participate in the Work to Play Program, attended the fast-paced and interactive training on Urban Initiatives’ Work to Play curriculum. Our coaches…
The Work to Play Program was featured on the WGN Morning News during their Around Town segment with Ana Belaval. WGN set up shop at Dr. Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy where On Site Program Director John Laughlin and Assistant Coach Drago Petrusic ran one of their patented morning practices.
On the evening of Monday, October 8th 2012, Fire fans will gather together with special guests from past and present to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club and honor the team’s heroes at the Chicago History Museum. Fire legends including Peter Nowak, Chris Armas, Lubos Kubik, Frank Klopas, Jesse Marsch, Diego…
The Chicago Cubs invited Urban Initiatives families to their baseball game on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. And what a game it was! In an exciting back-and-forth slug fest that saw six home runs, the Cubbies prevailed 13-9. The victory was due in large party to Anthony Rizzo’s two home runs, one of them being…
I had the pleasure of working with Urban Initiatives last spring as an assistant coach at one of their schools. I read all I could about the program, but nothing compares to actually going to one of the schools and coaching the kids.
As part of a new partnership with Urban Initiatives as a result of the longer school day, Daley school now offers an engaging recess program called Play with Potential. For twenty-five minute sessions, children have the opportunity to engage in active play, learn new games, build social skills, and take a much-needed mental break from…
The first week of the 2012-2013 Work to Play Program is officially in the books! 15 year-round schools (Track E) helped Urban Initiatives kick off our 10th year of our health and education soccer programming in the Chicago Public Schools. UI kids from Englewood to Pilsen, from Back of the Yards to Cabrini, all hit…
On August 18th The Latin School of Chicago boys soccer team and the Walsh Elementary Urban Initiatives soccer team came together to cheer on the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park versus the New England Revolution. For a majority of kids on the Walsh team this was their first ever soccer game and the experience was…
Hi! This is Becca, Brendan, and Noah here, the new Program Associates at Urban Initiatives this year. We are honored and excited to be a part of this amazing team, and we anticipate another very successful year for the organization. We have a diverse collection of experiences and interests that merge well with the mission…