Category Archive
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…
DNAinfo Chicago’s Justin Breen recently sat down with the longest tenured Work to Play On Site Program Director, Coach Christian Nze. You can read his great story HERE.
The Chicago Cubs and Cubs Charities teamed up with Urban Initiatives for a fun and exciting way to enjoy the summer days. The Cubs on the Move Fitness Trolley visited, Otis, Lloyd, Tarkington and Gunsaulus each week with one message, Play Every Day.
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
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…
To wrap up the end of the school year, each Play with Potential school created a variation on the theme of “Field Day.” At Otis, students raced around the school, trying to beat their teacher, a marathon runner. At Tarkington, a classic field day will give kids a lot of time outside playing games of…
