Category Archive
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 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…
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…
In addition to the Work to Play Program, Urban Initiatives was able to implement a project called Healthy Places. Through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control, we were able to expand our presence in 4 partner schools on the South Side. Working with school administrators, teachers and parent groups, we formed Wellness Committees…
Last week, amid the bustle of the school year’s end, soccer players from Nathanael Greene Elementary celebrated the end of their first season of the Work To Play program. Packed into a kindergarten classroom with tiny chairs, it was easy to see how much the Greene team had grown in the last eight weeks. Sitting…
On June 2nd, a sunny Chicago Saturday, seventy-five youth from all corners of Chicago descended upon Humboldt Park’s Allstate Field for an afternoon full of soccer, healthy food, and making new friends. These youth represented a rich array of faith traditions, coming from Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and non-religious families. This was the third Interfaith Cup…
HomeMade Pizza Co. loves helping the community as much as they love making great pizza. Urban Initiatives Junior Board Members Joseph Katelman and Kyle Rose took the initiative to put together the Four Cheese Fundraiser with HomeMade Pizza Co. Thanks to them, the evening raised $342 to provide busing for the final day of programming…
As of today, Urban Initiatives serves 4,785 kids across 23 schools in communities like Englewood, Roseland, Cabrini-Green, Humboldt Park, Pilsen and North Lawndale. The reality our kids face everyday isn’t the same as what other youth around Chicago or it’s outlying suburbs encounter in their own communities. The constant sound of sirens and loud cracks…
"Howe do you feel?""Good!""Howe do you feel?""Good!""Howe do you feel?""Real Good!" It’s Game Day. Vashon Jordan, head coach at Howe Elementary, expects the soccer team to have a great attitude before they play Lloyd Elementary. Shin guards, black shorts, and a crisp, white shirts embroidered with the Urban Initiatives logo completes their uniform. The team…
Urban Initiatives is enormously grateful to have worked through Public Allies to bring the Starbucks Community Service team to work at our Englewood partner schools. We are excited about the possibility of continuing this partnership to support our beloved schools. Urban Initiatives values opportunities for people to experience different communities, ideas, and ways of living,…