News

  • Around Town With Work To Play

    The Work to Play Program was featured on the WGN Morning News during their Around Town segment with Ana Belaval. WGN set up shop at Dr. Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy where On Site Program Director John Laughlin and Assistant Coach Drago Petrusic ran one of their patented morning practices.

  • 15 Years Of The Chicago Fire

    On the evening of Monday, October 8th 2012, Fire fans will gather together with special guests from past and present to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club and honor the team’s heroes at the Chicago History Museum. Fire legends including Peter Nowak, Chris Armas, Lubos Kubik, Frank Klopas, Jesse Marsch, Diego…

  • Turtles, Cubs and UI Families – A Perfect Sunday Afternoon

    The Chicago Cubs invited Urban Initiatives families to their baseball game on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. And what a game it was! In an exciting back-and-forth slug fest that saw six home runs, the Cubbies prevailed 13-9. The victory was due in large party to Anthony Rizzo’s two home runs, one of them being…

  • A Letter From UI Supporter Paul Damato

    I had the pleasure of working with Urban Initiatives last spring as an assistant coach at one of their schools. I read all I could about the program, but nothing compares to actually going to one of the schools and coaching the kids.

  • Daley Students Play With Potential During Recess

    As part of a new partnership with Urban Initiatives as a result of the longer school day, Daley school now offers an engaging recess program called Play with Potential. For twenty-five minute sessions, children have the opportunity to engage in active play, learn new games, build social skills, and take a much-needed mental break from…

  • Kicking Off The 10th Year Of Work To Play

    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…

  • Meet The New Program Associates

    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…

  • Help UI Kids Start The School Year Right

    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…

  • A Letter From The Principal

    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…

  • Friendly at the Confines

    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…