The Daley Academy soccer team recently had the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills and most importantly their knowledge of healthy eating and living for Urban Initiatives’ largest funder, the J.R. Albert Foundation. After a great warm up led by Coach J, the Daley players showed everyone what unhealthy foods they need to stay away…
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…
Last week, amid the bustle of the school year’s end, soccer players from Nathanael Greene Elementary celebrated the end of their first season of the Work To Play program. Packed into a kindergarten classroom with tiny chairs, it was easy to see how much the Greene team had grown in the last eight weeks. Sitting…
On Thursday June 14th, Urban Initiatives hosted Nielsen Company, the global marketing and advertising research company, for a fun-filled day of service, sports, and healthy food at Prieto Academy on their Global Impact Day. Nielsen’s enthusiastic team began the afternoon by partnering with the Prieto students to complete a campus cleanup. After about 45 minutes, there was…
Is everyone ready to ROCK?!?! Join Urban Initiatives for This Must Be the Fundraiser! A special evening of music from This Must Be the Band! The Talking Heads Tribute Band is donating a live show to Urban Initiatives and all of our supporters.
On June 2nd, a sunny Chicago Saturday, seventy-five youth from all corners of Chicago descended upon Humboldt Park’s Allstate Field for an afternoon full of soccer, healthy food, and making new friends. These youth represented a rich array of faith traditions, coming from Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and non-religious families. This was the third Interfaith Cup…
HomeMade Pizza Co. loves helping the community as much as they love making great pizza. Urban Initiatives Junior Board Members Joseph Katelman and Kyle Rose took the initiative to put together the Four Cheese Fundraiser with HomeMade Pizza Co. Thanks to them, the evening raised $342 to provide busing for the final day of programming…
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…