Let’s hear about recess at Lawndale from the perspective of new REC Coordinator, Shy! So far my job has been a whirlwind of chaos but I have enjoyed every moment, good and bad. What do you like best about your job? The kids. Every day I get the chance to hang out with some of the…
Urban Initiatives is happy to welcome one of its two newest Work to Play partner schools Nixon Elementary. Located in the Hermosa community, Nixon Principal Mr. Gerald Paul Byers really shows how much he cares for his school and his students by being just as committed as they are. OSPD Jason Bohrer teaches the Work…
The days leading up to October 1st seemed to double in length for the kids on Little Village Academy’s Work to Play team. They couldn’t wait for the night they would get to visit a university campus just minutes away from their neighborhood. University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is a quick commute from the…
Earlier this year, the Union Pacific Foundation rolled in as a new Champion Partner for the Work to Play program! With a financial contribution of $15,000, the Union Pacific Foundation committed to supporting the Work to Play program at Morton School of Excellence. Their generous contribution will fully cover all programmatic costs at Morton for…
Time to start picking out your most frightening costume! Please join Urban Initiatives for the 12th Annual Halloween Bash. This year will be bigger and even better. Location: 1st Ward Events at Chop Shop 2033 W North Ave Chicago, IL 60647 Tickets: http://bit.ly/1xpU4T4 $50 in advance, $60 at the door Ticket includes open bar (domestic beer, house wine, well…
On Friday, September 26, seventeen volunteers from Deloitte left the office for an afternoon and brought their skills to the classrooms and soccer field at Walsh Elementary. After a quick intro from Walsh’s Assistant Principal, Mr. Alstadt, the volunteers split into groups and headed to three third grade classrooms, where they would be talking to…
Play with Potential REC Coordinator Rose Phinick shares her recess experience. If you begin typing “Cornell Square Park” into the Google search engine, the word “shooting” is automatically suggested to complete the search phrase. Pages of news blotters cover the tragic shooting that took place last September, leaving thirteen people (including a three year-old child)…
During the first week of the Work to Play program both Libby and Daley soccer players were surprised by a visit from Chicago Fire Captain Jeff Larentowicz. His first stop was Daley Elementary in the Back of the Yards community. The Captain and UI Executive Director, Jim Dower, toured the practice field at Cornell Square…
The 3rd annual Multicultural Cup brought out the best in everyone. Over 100 boys and girls from three schools and three different neighborhoods trekked to Haas Park in Logan Square for a very special Work to Play Game Day. The local Work to Play school Goethe hosted their friends from Jahn and Morton for a…
Team Captains from our Take the Lead program kicked off the start of the new school year with the first retreat of 2014. Over 50 captains from all over the city came together at Nathanael Greene Elementary, in the McKinley Park neighborhood, to build upon their leadership skills. The day started with a few icebreakers…
Since the 2010-2011 school year, Urban Initiatives’ Work to Play program has teamed up with AmeriCorps to help make a long lasting impact on thousands of kids in various Chicago schools and communities. As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of AmeriCorps we would like to thank every Urban Initiatives Coach that has dedicated a year,…
