News

  • A Groupon Getaway to Jenner

    Last Friday, on a beautiful October afternoon, a team of amazing volunteers from Groupon headed out to Seward Park for a game day with kids from Jenner and Walsh. As the Jenner players emerged from school, they shouted with excitement and rushed to greet their new coaches. While the two teams waited for the players…

    A Groupon Getaway to Jenner
  • From Futbol to Football

    Urban Initiatives Work to Play students and families from Gunsaulus and flag football all stars from Pasteur Elementary diversified and honed their athletic skills by participating in a football clinic graciously put on by the Menomonee club.

    From Futbol to Football
  • Fulton’s First Field Trip

    The Fulton Work to Play team and their families suited up in their Urban Initiatives Nike jerseys to go cheer on the DePaul University men’s soccer team on Saturday October 12th at Wish Field.

    Fulton’s First Field Trip
  • Crosstown Classic with the Wilmette Wings

    On Friday, October 4th soccer players and family members from the Hamlin Park, Austin and McKinley Park communities traveled up to Wilmette for the 13th Crosstown Classic with the Wilmette Wings. The Crosstown Classic gives Urban Initiatives soccer players the chance to travel outside their community so they may become familiar with all of the…

    Crosstown Classic with the Wilmette Wings
  • Mercedes Benz USA Races Around the Soccer Field

    A volunteer day unlike any other , happened on Friday, September 27th when Walsh, Daley and Ward revved their engines by getting their hearts beating and feet moving during game day with Mercedes Benz USA volunteers. 90 students from Back of the Yards, Chinatown and Pilsen had the opportunity to make new friends, practice new…

    Mercedes Benz USA Races Around the Soccer Field
  • Multicultural Cup Brings the World to Urban Initiatives Kids

    On Saturday, September 21st over 90 Urban Initiatives boys and girls from three different Chicago communities came together for the Multicultural Cup at the Haas Park soccer field. The Urban Initiatives Multicultural Cup uses soccer as a tool to introduce Work to Play program participants to the abundance of cultures that exist around the world.…

    Multicultural Cup Brings the World to Urban Initiatives Kids
  • A Wild Ride as Board Chairman

    After almost four years of dedicated leadership, Ron Redd, Director at BMO Capital Markets and long time Chairman of Urban Initiatives’ Board of Directors, is passing the Chairman’s torch.

    A Wild Ride as Board Chairman
  • “Sweaty Fun” In West Englewood

    “Coach Stephanie, let’s play volleyball tomorrow”. said a seventh grader. “no, let’s play ultimate football,” another chimed in. requests like this and many more continue to come from the students at claremont math & Science academy. Play with potential is A New undertaking with the claremont comets and is already making a deep impact in…

    “Sweaty Fun” In West Englewood
  • Chicago Sky Give an Assist to Urban Initiatives

    Forty children and parents from Goethe Elementary School were treated to a thrilling evening of basketball on September 11th when the Chicago Sky welcomed the Phoenix Mercury to town. Families were filled with excitement from the moment they entered Allstate Arena, until the final buzzer sounded. The children were so focused on the game that…

    Chicago Sky Give an Assist to Urban Initiatives
  • Coach Jeff Shares His Week 1 Work to Play Experience

    After weeks of preparation, hours of inflating soccer balls, sorting jerseys and making school visits, the 2013-2014 Work to Play season officially kicked off at 26 schools! Hooray! As a newcomer to the program, this being my 5th week on the staff, I was a little overwhelmed by how much was going on. There was…

    Coach Jeff Shares His Week 1 Work to Play Experience
  • Chicago White Sox Hit a Homerun for Urban Initiatives

    Over the course of the first three days of the fall season Urban Initiatives’ new Program Associates took six schools to The White Sox series versus the Detroit Tigers. Urban Initiatives coaches led bubbling busloads of kids to U.S. Cellular Field where they led their schools in cheers for the hometown team.

    Chicago White Sox Hit a Homerun for Urban Initiatives