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…
When I was growing up I never had the opportunity to play sports. As I’ve grown older, I see a serious need for youth sports programs, especially in Chicago. Recently I was coaching my own kids in baseball and soccer in a small, rural Indiana town. Things are much different there – kids don’t experience…
On Friday, March 18th soccer players from Robert Morris University – led by their Coach Jake Truty – conducted drills with students from Jenner, Morton, Sherman and Libby. The kids were divided into small groups and taken through dribbling, heading and control drills. Overall, the kids had a blast and loved spending time with the…
As the winter season draws to a close, more and more families are coming out to Chicago Indoor Sports to support Urban Initiatives and watch our kids in action. Last Friday, many families of our Walsh, Reavis, and Jahn participants lined the sidelines to cheer on the players. Urban Initiatives would like to thank all…
On Friday, February 25th, five members of the Northwestern Men’s Soccer Team volunteered their time and soccer expertise at Chicago Indoor Sports with Urban Initiatives. The players were led by Assistant Coach Neil Jones and helped to lead warm-ups, officiate, and coach some of the games. The kids from Attucks, Daley, and Jenner were thrilled…
At Urban Initiatives, we know how important character building and healthy lifestyle changes are to the overall development of our kids. Fun activity sheets that speak to these topics are given to our kids each week. Check out some of the thoughtful and inspiring responses we received from the players themselves! Picture: Jakari, a 3rd…
A great new study that supports the importance of physical fitness in improving the cognitive development of youth. Urban Initiatives firmly believes that a healthy body helps lead to a healthy mind. Click here to read the article.
Governor Quinn has named March, 2011 – Nutrition Month in Illinois. In his proclamation, he cites our state’s obesity prevalence and promoting the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption and community nutrition programs. Click here to download the proclamation [PDF].
Ron Redd, Urban Initiatives’ Board Chair, has been asked to speak at the 2011 Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars’ Annual Networking Weekend in New York City. Congratulations to Ron for having his dedication to quality education and giving back to the community recognized. We are extremely grateful to have him on our team! The Jackie Robinson…
Chicago’s school board adopted a new program to offer breakfast in the classroom in Chicago Public Schools. Click here to read the full article for the Chicago Tribune.
Click here to watch a fabulous video about Urban Initiatives. Thank you to Optimus for developing this video for us!
The Soccer Ball gets great buzz on The Feast blog. Check out Blogger Liz Fischer’s rundown of our incredible event. Click here. We hope to see you on Friday!