Category Archive

Urban Initiatives

  • Building a New Otis Team

    Halfway through the first week of school, Urban Initiatives already has made its mark on the new school year, helping our partners to meet the challenges of the new year. otis world language academy, a long tIME Urban initiatives partner for all three programs, has an interesting challenge this year. As a welcoming school, otis…

    Building a New Otis Team
  • ATG Comes Through in the Clutch for Attucks

    A big shout out to a local title insurance company, Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. (ATG), for giving the Attucks school a boost just in time for the fall Work to Play season. Attucks has been partnered with Urban Initiatives since 2006, but when budget shortages left the school’s administrators wondering if they would be…

    ATG Comes Through in the Clutch for Attucks
  • Urban Initiatives 10th Anniversary

    It started 10 years ago with 12 boys and girls at Byrd Academy in Cabrini-Green. Fast forward to today where Urban Initiatives now serves over 10,000 boys and girls throughout 21 Chicago communities. Coach D and Coach Ish never thought the Work to Play program would expand to 26 schools and Urban Initiatives would offer other programs like…

    Urban Initiatives 10th Anniversary
  • UI’s Executive Director Selected to Join Leadership Greater Chicago

    Jim Dower, Urban Initiatives’ Co-Founder and Executive Director, has been selected to join Leadership Greater Chicago’s 2014 Fellows Class. Congratulations to Jim on being recognized for his consistent dedication to empowering and inspiring children and for his tireless efforts to promote social change in Chicago. We are thrilled to have him as the leader of…

    UI’s Executive Director Selected to Join Leadership Greater Chicago
  • BMO Harris Bank Brings The Carnival To Prieto

    In an effort to encourage and reward upstanding behavior, staff members from Prieto Math & Science Academy put together a carnival of epic proportions for their students. With the help of Urban Initiatives Program Associates and a group of volunteers from BMO Harris Bank, the school set up a number of fun and interactive booths…

    BMO Harris Bank Brings The Carnival To Prieto
  • The First Ever Work to Play Cup

    We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the 10th year of the Work to Play program than to bring over 700 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders together for a day of soccer, fun and friendship.

    The First Ever Work to Play Cup
  • Daley Gets Dunked at Field Day!

    To celebrate their inaugural year with Urban Initiatives’ Play with Potential partnership, Daley Academy hosted a field day in Cornell Square Park. For two hours during the school day, the entire school participated in jumping rope, musical chairs, and playing in the beautiful weather. Every student enjoyed some time out in the perfect weather, snacked…

    Daley Gets Dunked at Field Day!
  • If You Paint It, They Will Play

    On Friday, May 24th students at Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy worked together on a large project to brighten up their school’s playground area.  When Saucedo’s recess coordinator, Coach Paul, suggested that the school improve recess quality by adding fun designs to the playground blacktop, students in Ms. Korth’s elective art classes stepped up to the…

    If You Paint It, They Will Play