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…
While Chicago prepared to welcome world leaders for the NATO summit, Urban Initiatives sent an envoy of three schools to form a soccer-playing alliance with the Spartan FC! Over 200 young soccer players spread out across 14 fields for pickup games with new friends at Wood Oaks Park in Northbrook, IL. Older Spartan players participated…
"Howe do you feel?""Good!""Howe do you feel?""Good!""Howe do you feel?""Real Good!" It’s Game Day. Vashon Jordan, head coach at Howe Elementary, expects the soccer team to have a great attitude before they play Lloyd Elementary. Shin guards, black shorts, and a crisp, white shirts embroidered with the Urban Initiatives logo completes their uniform. The team…
Urban Initiatives is enormously grateful to have worked through Public Allies to bring the Starbucks Community Service team to work at our Englewood partner schools. We are excited about the possibility of continuing this partnership to support our beloved schools. Urban Initiatives values opportunities for people to experience different communities, ideas, and ways of living,…
This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week, and for Urban Initiatives, this means a big thank you to all of our teachers who serve as On-Site Program Directors (OSPD), Assistant Coaches, and those that fill out our Work To Play forms every week. We could not have such a successful program without them! We want…
Urban Initiatives has been fortunate to be a beneficiary of Christ Church Winnetka’s Rummage Sales for the past several years. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with them again! Come outto the sale to find a selection of lots of great stuff to support local charities. We hope to see you there.
“Hey Coach Andy,” David said, bouncing into practice on Monday morning. “Someone threw trash all over the field again.” The coach expressed his similar disappointment, but that didn’t stop David. “If you need someone to clean it up again, I would be delighted.” David was referring to the park cleanup two days before in Cornell…
The following blog was written by Urban Initiatives volunteer Kevin Nied. I have known Jim Dower and Dan Isherwood for about 6 or 7 years as they coached my daughters on the Wilmette Wings soccer club beginning back in their U9 or U10 days. I have volunteered at a few of the Crosstown Classics throughout…
On April 10th and 11th Urban Initiatives partnered with Coach Across America to help launch an initiative in which Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) will commit $1.3 million dollars in 2012 to the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA to fund and place 250 coaches in five U.S cities, approximately 40 of which will be in Chicago.…
A great group of volunteers from PwC recently received the opportunity to run around and talk about teamwork with Work to Play soccer players from Walsh, Attucks and Morton at Chicago Indoor Sports. PwC volunteers rode a bus together to the Indoor Center, giving them a taste of the experience our players receive on game…
“This is my first Cubs game!” shouted 3rd grader Jocelyn from Dr. Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy, as she walked off the school bus that just transported her Work to Play soccer team from Elmwood Park to “The Friendly Confines.” Jocelyn along with over 300 Urban Initiatives players from Attucks, Claremont, Sherman, Tarkington, Nobel,…