The 14th Annual Urban Initiatives Halloween Bash was a huge success. For the third straight year, Chop Shop and 1st Ward Events welcomed us back to not only have a ton of fun but to support UI’s sports-based youth development programming. Over 400 friends joined us for what some call, “The best Halloween party in…
The weather had begun to cool, but the chill in the air did not stop Urban Initiatives’ Work to Play students and a group of volunteers from PwC from traveling to Chicago Indoor Sports on October 21 for a Friday afternoon Game Day. Participants from Claremont, Davis, Greene, and Morrill played in three rotations of…
On a beautiful fall afternoon, four volunteers from Motorola Mobility joined Goethe Elementary’s Work to Play squad for a series of scrimmages at Haas Park in Logan Square. The Goethe students were excited for the scrimmages – they had worked hard in practice and in the classroom all week, and this afternoon of friendly competition…
On Sunday October 9th, 14 runners representing Team Urban Initiatives participated in the 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Since early this Spring, these runners not only dedicated their time to training for the event, they dedicated their time to fundraising to support Urban Initiatives’ sports-based youth development programs. “Urban Initiatives teaches students how to be…
On Thursday October 6th, Urban Initiatives and the UI Board of Directors hosted the Plant a Seed Breakfast at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel. Members of the Chicago business community gathered to learn about and reflect on how UI is using the power of sport and play to effect social change. After welcome remarks from…
It had been cold and rainy all day, but the gloomy weather did not deter the dedicated group of volunteers from William Blair that came to Garfield Park to serve as assistant coaches to Urban Initiatives’ participants on their first game day of the year. Students in UI’s Work to Play and Take the Lead…
Urban Initiatives Associate Board Executive Committee member Ashley Dobbins shares her experience at this years Multicultural Cup with Morton, Lawndale, and Goethe! Sports and play are a common vehicle that is known and enjoyed throughout the world. It’s a thread of commonality that ties together cities, countries and cultures around the world. It’s the same…
125 Team Captains! Our first Take the Lead retreat had the highest attendance in Urban Initiatives history. The Take the Lead Program challenges 5th-8th grade Team Captains to achieve academic growth and leadership ability through play and sport. Through Take the Lead, Team Captains engage in Work to Play practices, monthly mentoring, and five off…
14 Team Urban Initiatives runners have been training hard since this past Spring for the 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. We are excited to introduce you all the members of Team UI and learn a little about why they signed up to run 26.2 for thousands of UI kids across Chicago. Who are you?…
On Saturday September 3rd, Urban Initiatives was invited by the Meyer Racing and Meyer Sprint for Charities team for a night out at the race track to watch some awesome sprint car racing. The UI team rode to Wisconsin in style to watch Meyer Racing driver, Todd Lehr, on the track in the number 16 car. The…
14 Team Urban Initiatives runners have been training hard since this past Spring for the 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. We are excited to introduce you all the members of Team UI and learn a little about why they signed up to run 26.2 for thousands of UI kids across Chicago. Who are you?…
