The third year of the Community Member to Coach program in North Lawndale empowered twenty-five youth apprentices with essential job readiness skills and financial literacy through an eight-week experiential learning curriculum that combined sports coaching training with real-world application at community events.
Urban Initiatives and Advocate Health launched the “Pathways to Purpose” pilot program, a six-week paid internship that introduces high school students to high-demand healthcare careers through mentorship, hands-on training, and professional skill development.1
Urban Initiatives partnered with Chase to provide Chicago Youth Works interns and Coach Apprentices with interactive financial literacy workshops, equipping them with essential money management and credit-building skills for their future careers.
At the 2026 Illinois AfterSchool Network Annual Conference, UI facilitated a workshop on supportive, healing-centered environments to equip educators with strategies that foster youth resilience, emotional regulation, and personal growth.
Urban Initiatives’ four-member Operations team manages the critical finance, human resources, data infrastructure, and culture systems required to sustainably deliver sport and play programming to over 100,000 Chicago youth annually.
The annual Community Play Cup brought together over 1,000 students, families, volunteers, and staff to celebrate a year of impact through soccer, shoe giveaways, and screen-free community connection.
Urban Initiatives and Chicago Stars FC partnered to deliver the Goal Getter P.E. program to elementary students, highlighted by inspiring school visits and scrimmages with professional midfielder Leilanni Nesbeth.
On May 4, 2026, nearly 50 CPS middle school students gathered at Humboldt Park’s Little Cubs Field for the Cubs Jr. All-STAR Game, celebrating leadership, sportsmanship, and cross-neighborhood connections through friendly games and social-emotional learning reflections.
Two middle school captains from Avondale Logandale visited Shore Capital Partners to explore the professional world and discuss how being a “learning leader” means having the courage to grow alongside your team rather than having all the answers.
The 2026 Game On Gala was a huge success, raising $1.5 million for the “Pipeline of Access” while featuring a historic Fireside Chat with Laura Ricketts and Nadia Rawlinson and a powerful keynote by honoree Patrick Gallagher.
Through a partnership at Piccolo Elementary, The Bloc uses boxing and mentorship to help middle school students develop discipline, emotional control, and lasting friendships in a safe environment that redirects their energy toward personal growth.
