For Schools
We Design Programs that Help Youth Grow
Who We Help
Meeting the Need Where It Counts
Nearly 90% of youths served by UI are from low-income families. With sports and play increasingly reserved for the privileged, we fill a crucial gap for students at Chicago Public Schools. Our programs help youth develop social-emotional learning (SEL) skills through peer-to-peer play in safe team environments led by caring adults, teachers, staff, neighbors, and parents trained in SEL-based coaching skills.
54%
Hispanic/Latino
38%
Black/African American
4%
Asian/Pacific Islander
4%
White & Other
Our Programs
Designed for Students, Families and the Adults that Support Them
Urban Initiatives programs are designed to provide and uplift healing-centered environments where youth build critical social-emotional learning skills that will translate to the classroom and beyond.
Recess Program
UI’s Recess Program enhances and enriches the value of recess as a vital break from the demands of the academic day.
Professional Development Workshops
These workshops create a connected, fun, and supportive environment that enhances your team’s ability to follow through on school-wide SEL.
OST Soccer
Out-of-school-time programming for 2nd-4th graders that uses soccer as a tool to support SEL and soccer skill development.
Summer Camp
This program emphasizes team sports and activities, health education, social-emotional learning development, and lots of active play!
Pre-K Soccer
The Pre-K soccer program is based on our traditional OST soccer program, utilizing a curriculum geared toward younger students.
Take the Lead
Our leadership development and high school readiness program that offers middle school students the opportunity to serve as Team Captains for younger students.
Parent Workshops
UI takes best practices from our 20 years in sport- and play-based youth development to create fun and meaningful experiences for adults and kids.
Coach for Success
Coach for Success (CFS) is our college and career readiness program for 9-12th grade students, preparing youth for success in high school and beyond.
Our Reach
Serving Chicago Schools
We’ve served over 100,000 students since our founding, and by 2025, we aim to serve that many each year. We never stop looking for potential partner schools. Our list of school year 2023/2024 schools include:
Barnard
10354 S Charles St.
Barry
2828 N Kilbourn Ave.
Barton
7650 S Wolcott Ave.
Bateman
4220 N Richmond St.
Bond
7050 S May St.
Brenneman
4251 N Clarendon Ave.
Chalmers
2745 W Roosevelt Rd.
Christopher House
5235 W Belden Ave.
Claremont
2300 W 64th St.
Clay
13231 S Burley Ave.
Clinton
6110 N. Fairfield Ave.
Cooper
1624 W. 19th St
Daley
5024 S Wolcott Ave.
De Diego
1313 N Claremont Ave.
Dulles
6311 S Calumet Ave.
Esmond
865 W Montvale Ave.
Faraday
3250 W Monroe St.
Foster Park
8530 S Wood St.
Frazier
4027 W Grenshaw St.
Goethe
2236 N Rockwell St.
Goudy
5120 N Winthrop Ave.
Greeley
832 W Sheridan Rd.
Greene
3525 S Honore St.
Gregory
3715 W Polk St.
Gresham
8524 S Green St.
Grissom
12810 S Escanaba Ave.
Gunsaulus
4420 S Sacramento Ave.
Harold Washington
9130 S University Ave.
Hendricks
4316 S Princeton Ave.
Henry
4250 N St. Louis Ave.
Jahn
3149 N Wolcott Ave.
Jensen
3030 W. Harrison St.
Julian High School
10330 S Elizabeth St.
King ES
644 W 71st St.
Kozminski
936 E 54th St.
Leland
512 S. Lavergne Ave.
Libby
5300 S Loomis Blvd.
Little Village
2620 S Lawndale Ave.
Lloyd
2103 N Lamon Ave.
Logandale
3212 W George St.
Lovett
6333 W Bloomingdale Ave.
Manierre
1420 N Hudson Ave.
Marquette
6550 S Richmond St.
Mays
6656 S Normal Blvd.
McCormick
2712 S Sawyer Ave.
McDade
8801 S Indiana Ave.
McNair
4820 W Walton St.
Mitchell
2233 W Ohio St.
Monroe
3651 W Schubert Ave.
Morton
431 N Troy St.
New Field
1707 W Morse Ave.
Nicholson
6006 S Peoria St.
Nixon
2121 N Keeler Ave.
Nobel
4127 W Hirsch St.
NTA
55 W Cermak Rd.
Oakton
436 Ridge Ave., Evanston
Otis
525 N Armour St.
Parker
6800 S Stewart Ave.
Pasteur
5825 S Kostner Ave.
PECS
6515 S Ashland Ave.
Perkins Bass
1140 W 66th St.
Piccolo
1040 N Keeler Ave.
Portage Park
5330 W Berteau Ave.
Prieto
2231 N Central Ave.
Pullman
11311 S Forrestville Ave.
Randolph
7316 S Hoyne Ave.
Ravenswood
4332 N Paulina St.
Reavis
834 E 50th St.
Rhodes
3701 Davis St., Skokie
Sherman
1000 W 52nd St.
Shields
2611 W 48th St.
Spencer
214 N Lavergne Ave.
Stevenson
8010 S Kostner Ave.
Stone
6239 N Leavitt St.
Tarkington
3330 W 71st St.
Vanderpoel
9510 S Prospect Ave.
Westcott
409 W 80th St.
Walsh
2015 S Peoria St.
Zapata
2728 S Kostner Ave.
Ward
2701 S Shields Ave.
Want your school to partner with UI?
We’d love to work together in the 2024-2025 school year! Please ensure you have reviewed the SY24 Program Guide for a comprehensive catalog of our program offerings, then complete our form.