Category Archive

Urban Initiatives

  • UI Coaches Receive Spring Training

    all Urban Initiatives coaches receive regular training to ensure that our participants are receiving the highest quality programming possible. In March, Urban Initiatives hosted two spring training sessions on the south and west sides. These trainings kick off our spring seasons and provide an opportunity for our Work to Play soccer coaches to come together,…

    UI Coaches Receive Spring Training
  • UI Team Captains Take the Ice

    On Friday, February 1st, our Team Captains in our leadership development program — Take the Lead- participated in a leadership retreat at MB Ice Arena. MB Ice Arena is the Chicago Blackhawks’ official practice arena and we were so grateful for the Blackhawks partnership in executing an incredibly successful retreat.

    UI Team Captains Take the Ice
  • 2019 Soccer Ball is Huge Success at New Venue!

    Urban Initiatives and Allstate Insurance presented the 2019 Soccer Ball at Rockwell on The River on Friday, January 25, 2019. Featuring fundraising, dancing, cocktails and delicious appetizers, Soccer Ball 2019 was a complete success!

    2019 Soccer Ball is Huge Success at New Venue!
  • 2018 Associate Board Pizza Party

    Every year, we look forward to this event as a way for the UI staff, Associate Board and participants to genuinely connect and get to know each other through an evening of games, team building exercises, and, of course, pizza.

    2018 Associate Board Pizza Party
  • Thank You to Our Associate Board!

    The Urban Initiatives Associate Board is a group of approximately 150 young professionals who dedicate their time to volunteering with UI participants, helping to plan UI events, and raising funds to support our work. Our members come from all over the greater Chicago area to support the kids and families that we serve. Although their…

    Thank You to Our Associate Board!
  • Urban Initiatives 2017–2018 Research & Evaluation Results

    Urban Initiatives is excited to announce that our 2017-2018 data and evaluation results are complete and our programs have once again showed strong results in physical activity, academic success, and social emotional learning. Urban Initiatives is committed to being a proven organization that continually evaluates our programs to determine success and to make curriculum and…

    Urban Initiatives 2017–2018 Research & Evaluation Results
  • Why Building Social Capital is Key to Student Success

    As we approach the start of a new school year, high school juniors and seniors are contemplating their future — whether headed towards the workforce or a college experience — and they are weighing their grades, extracurricular activities, and test scores to determine next steps to reach their goals. Regardless of their SAT scores, their…

  • School is OUT and Summer Camp is IN

    Our 4-week daily “camp” is staffed by Urban Initiatives coaches and enhanced by partnerships with Chicago Cubs, After School Matters, Common Threads, and others.

  • UI Commits to Unity and DEI Statements

    During the 2017–2018 school year, Urban Initiatives made a commitment to prioritize our efforts to foster unity, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). We believe these values are critical to our mission. Developing a plan and actions to be proactively an anti-oppressive and anti-racist institution is foundational in our work.

    UI Commits to Unity and DEI Statements