Category Archive
Attention Urban Initiatives supporters! You can help CPS provide Back to School kits to the neediest kids in our district. Via Chicago Public Schools’ partnership with Groupon, for only $11 you can purchase a year’s worth of supplies so kids can start the year off right on the first day of school. Visit http://www.groupon.com/deals/grs-chicago-public-schools to participate, and…
Urban Initiatives aims to motivate Chicago’s children to improve their academic performance, physical fitness, health and character through our sports-based youth development programs. Through the Work to Play Program, Urban Initiatives collaborates with teachers, school staff, parents and principals to make sure the youth we serve take ownership and pride of their commitment to being…
As families from Daley, Walsh, Greene, Nobel and Pasteur walked up the stairs they laid their eyes on a familiar sight but at an unordinary location. This past Saturday, the Chicago Cubs hosted UI kids and their families for The Friendly at the Confines. Italian powerhouse AS Roma matched up against Polish premier team Zaglebie…
This blog spends a lot of time chronicling the qualitative impacts of the work that Urban Initiatives does to support whole-child development with CPS students. These stories keep us inspired and creative, but they are also backed by real statistics of tremendous output and impact for the kids we work with. Without further ado (drum…
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…
This spring, SIX Urban Initiatives partner schools were recognized for successfully completing the HealthierUS Schools Challenge and making healthy school environments a priority! The HealthierUS SchoolsChallenge looks at school policies about classroom rewards and celebrations, fundraisers, nutrition education for students and families, and opportunities for physical education and physical activity throughout the school day. Urban…
This spring, two Urban Initiatives soccer teams got the chance to visit Wood Street Urban Farm not only to learn about where fruits and vegetables come from and how they keep us healthy, but to taste them too! Located in the Englewood neighborhood, just a mile away from two Urban Initiatives schools – Sherman School…
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…
While Chicago prepared to welcome world leaders for the NATO summit, Urban Initiatives sent an envoy of three schools to form a soccer-playing alliance with the Spartan FC! Over 200 young soccer players spread out across 14 fields for pickup games with new friends at Wood Oaks Park in Northbrook, IL. Older Spartan players participated…
This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week, and for Urban Initiatives, this means a big thank you to all of our teachers who serve as On-Site Program Directors (OSPD), Assistant Coaches, and those that fill out our Work To Play forms every week. We could not have such a successful program without them! We want…