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.
Urban Initiatives’ soccer programming creates a multi-year growth pathway from Pre-K through 8th grade, using play-based activities and leadership opportunities to develop students into confident athletes and community leaders.
Faraday Elementary families partnered with Common Threads to learn nutritious, affordable cooking techniques, building healthy community connections and empowering students to bring new culinary skills home.
Field Days are right around the corner!
The Urban Initiatives team joined Chicago community leaders at the Laureus Town Hall to collaborate on advancing play equity through strategic discussions on public space activation, girls’ sports engagement, and coach development.
Urban Initiatives hosted DePaul University’s Hay Scholars for an immersive visit that bridged the gap between academic leadership and the nonprofit sector through sport-based play, speed networking, and candid conversations about purpose-driven career pathways.
Urban Initiatives’ Offsite Huddle at Adams Street Partners showed student captains how the teamwork and leadership they build through play are the same skills needed to lead in a professional boardroom.
Urban Initiatives’ Coach Apprenticeship Program is building a local leadership pipeline in North Lawndale, with 40% of participants transitioning into new jobs or education within three months of completing this “learn-and-earn” sports mentorship.
We are thrilled to announce that Urban Initiatives has been selected as a Young Futures Innovator (YF Innovator) and grant recipient of the Oops!… AI Did It Again Challenge!
