Category Archive

October 2011

  • Fulton School Celebrates Harvest Season with Truck Farm!

    As the harvest season draws to a close, students at Fulton Elementary got to do a little harvesting of their own when Farmer Tim and Farmer Sydney pulled up to the playground in with their Truck Farm! Students bundled up and gathered around the cheerful, painted truck. They stood on chairs so that they could…

  • Cubs Front Office Hits a Homer For UI Kids!

    Last Friday, a dreary winter-weather week finally broke, giving way to a sunny brisk afternoon. It almost felt like spring, and so it was no surprise that Wrigley Field was bustling with activity. More than 200 soccer players from seven different schools spread across the outfield grass at the Friendly Confines for an afternoon of…

  • Player Spotlight: Grecia, 3rd Grader at Pasteur Elementary

    Each week of the Work to Play soccer season has a special theme, ranging from Teamwork to Healthy Eating. The coach and the team discuss the theme at practice and the kids complete handouts that allow them the opportunity to share their learning with their coaches. Last week’s theme was Self-esteem. Self-esteem is how we…

  • UI’s Own Coach Jett Wins Coach of the Year Award, Meets Tony Hawk

    urban initiatives congratulates Coach Faye Stevens-jett for being honored with the Coach of the Year award from up2us, An orgAnizaTion thaT supports youth development proGrams that usE spoRts to improve the lives of kids across the country. coach jett, the atHletic Director and pe teacher at morton school of excellence, is a member of urban…

  • UI Kids Cheer Fire Onto Victory in Thrilling Season Finale!

     Urban Initiatives wants to thank Section 8 for inviting 150 members of our team to the Chicago Fire game versus the Columbus Crew on October 22nd. Because of Section 8’s support, participants from Daley, Nobel, and Walsh schools were able to travel to Toyota Park for the nail-biting season finale. The trip for our kids…

  • Brainstorming Solutions to Chicago’s Open Space Shortage

    The Chicago Tribune just released a comprehensive article about the city’s struggling open spaces, including some of the work that Urban Initiatives has been doing through the Healthy Places project. The article, which can be read here looks at 10 different ways to support Chicago’s “park poor” neighborhoods, including a project to enhance walking and…

  • State-of-the-Art Turf Fields Unveiled in UI Neighborhoods

    On a beautiful autumn Saturday, community members gathered around to watch the dedication of three new regulation-size turf soccer fields around Chicago. These fields are part of the “Take the Field’ initiative, which utilized both private and public resources to enhance Chicago’s open spaces, creating an environment where people can come together and celebrate their…

  • UI Branches Out with the Healthy Places Project

    This year, Urban Initiatives is proud to be the host organization for the Healthy Places project focusing in the New City Community! We will work in 5 community schools (some who already have our Work to Play Program, and some new recruits) to rally around the CPS Wellness Policy and initiate some projects to enhance…

  • Player Spotlight: Yeira, 4th Grader at Otis Elementary

     Yeira, a 4th grader at James Otis Elementary, loves being active. From the moment she climbs up the seemingly hundreds of stairs to the Otis gym on the fourth floor, Yeira’s energy and excitement is quite noticeable. Her commitment to the Urban Initiatives soccer team is evident each morning when she shows up to practice…

  • Rainy Day at Reavis Elementary

    getting out from under a rain-smeared morning into the Reavis gym, i found a warm fire at soccer practicE. the coaches were pumped, the players engaged. after some solid ball handling and passing work with coach Jenny, the players were ready for the Berger challenge: A 2 on 1 breakaway against Coach Berger. taking on…