The Work to Play Cup is almost here and we officially have all 24 of our Work to Play schools sponsored by some very generous and supportive sponsors. Thank you to each and every one of them!
This day of soccer, fun and friendship will bring over 700 of Urban Initiatives’ Work to Play 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders together at Midway Plaisance. We hope to see you out on the field Saturday, June 8th beginning at 10am!
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The Glenbrook North Varsity Girls’ Soccer Team recently paired up with 60 soccer players from Jahn and Goethe to run through a variety of skill based soccer stations. Goethe and Jahn soccer players all had the opportunity to polish up their dribbling, shooting and passing skills with the help of the Glenbrook North soccer players.
]]> Finishing the soccer drills with one full field scrimmage with all the soccer players gave the Work to Play students and opportunity to expel all of their extra energy and make some pretty impressive big kicks. Josue from Goethe was able to score an amazing goal and Kiara from Jahn told Coach Becca that she “made new friends today that were really good at soccer.” The inspiring Game Day ended with small group discussion about Respect where the Rachel Hirshman gave some great tips on how to be respectful student-athletes.All participants commemorated the day by taking a group photo then boarded the bus with big smiles and their healthy snacks of water, granola bars and apples.
You can see photos of this fun event HERE.
Urban Initiatives would like to thank Rachel Hirschman, the Glenbrook North Varsity soccer team, Coach Purdy and the Glenbrook North Athletic Department for giving Jahn and Goethe such a fun afternoon!
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On Tuesday May 21st Play with Potential hosted Race Day at James Otis World Language Academy. Students in grades K through 8 showed off their physical fitness and jogged around the school in order to raise money for their world language program.
]]> While the day looked to be plagued by thunderstorms, the rain held off and students enjoyed cool breezes as they chased their own best times. A few teachers ran alongside their students while others cheered and passed out congratulatory wristbands. Nearly every student finished the race. One sixth grader even removed her shoes after deciding they were only slowing her down in order to complete the last lap. This spring, we look forward to more fun events like these and hopefully, lots more races.You can see more photos HERE.
Urban Initiatives is thankful for its community sponsors:
Sana Vita Studio
Coalfire Pizza
Burger Baron Restaurant
Upper Crust Bakery Café
Grand Auto Center
Mahoney’s Pub & Grille
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On Friday, May 3rd Urban Initiatives kids from Sherman, Little Village Academy, Marquette and Greene participated in a fierce soccer match against the Chicago Inferno! This however was not an ordinary soccer match; this was 11 of the Chicago Inferno player’s vs. 100 of our Urban Initiatives kids! A rainy afternoon almost had us cancelling the event but thanks to our friends at the Chicago Indoor Sports Center we were able to move the event to indoors.
]]> This is the second year that Urban Initiatives has partnered up with Chicago Inferno and just like last year this one of a kind event made all the kids smile from start to finish. Coach Arnold from Sherman mentioned how impressed he was with the way the Inferno players kept all our kids engaged and excited.The Inferno players moved the ball around, played tricks and joked with the kids while they played. Our kids displayed courage as they challenged each pass and shot from the Inferno players.
Throughout the game they were all smiles and at one point with his hands on his hips Christian from Sherman school remarked “ Man these guys are fast!“
Urban Initiatives would like to thank Todd Short and the entire Chicago Inferno team for providing our kids with a memorable game day experience. We look forward to bringing 100 more UI kids to face off against the Chicago Inferno.
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It's that time once again! Head on over to the Summer Rummage Sale at Christ Church in Winnetka to find all sorts of amazing clothing, outdoor furniture, books and summer sports equipment all in great condition at very affordable prices.
We'll see everyone there on Saturday, June 1st from 8am to Noon!
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Week 5's Work to Play lesson is a time to highlight Respect. Work to Play students juggle a lot of different responsibilities during the soccer season. Being a member of the team means doing a fantastic job in and outside of the classroom. As a result of this, the student athletes on the Work to Play team are expected to treat one another with consideration and high esteem. Being teammates means being a part of the Urban Initiatives family. The Howe School of Excellence Work to Play team embodies this familial attitude of respect.
]]> Kadin and Jamir, real life cousins and two of the fastest soccer players on the Howe team, fall down while scrimmaging and taking big kicks on goals. However, they always help one another up. Kadin and Jamir show each other respect by taking the time to stop play and take care of another teammate. They are also great role models for the other Howe soccer players.Off the field, Howe soccer players are learning about respect too! After every soccer practice, Howe soccer players enjoy a healthy snack of water, apples and granola bars. Earlier in the season Howe soccer players would litter the wrappers and cores around the school grounds after they finished eating the post-practice treat. However, after Coach Jordan had a discussion with his team about respecting their community and the Earth Howe soccer players have made a conscious effort to appropriately discard their waste after practice. They even pick up other soccer players wrappers that aren’t their own, taking responsibility and showing respect for the Howe community.
Whether on or off the field, the Howe soccer team works together to create an atmosphere of respect. Way to go Howe School of Excellence!
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Urban Initiatives is enormously grateful to have partnered with Starbucks and Hyatt as a part of their Global Month of Community Service to make a difference in the Englewood community and the lives of Urban Initiatives participants. 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, and we know that these amazing volunteers benefited from their work in Englewood just as much as the residents and kids. A special thanks goes out to Paul Groshko, Starbucks Regional Director, for helping to build this growing partnership with Urban Initiatives.
On a beautiful Saturday on April 27th, Starbucks and Hyatt volunteers made their way down to Englewood to put in a good, full day of community service. The volunteers gathered at the historic field house in Sherman Park bright and early to hear inspiring words from Starbucks and Hyatt representatives and from partner organizations Urban Initiatives, Chicago Cares, Libby Elementary and ReBuild Chicago. Delicious Starbucks coffee and breakfast gave the volunteers the energy they needed to tackle their projects.
]]> The volunteers supported two projects with Urban Initiatives partner schools: a soccer tournament in Sherman Park with the soccer teams from Sherman, Libby and Daley and a beautiful mural project inside of Libby Elementary.The Urban Initiatives soccer players were fortunate enough to see the Starbucks and Hyatt volunteers transform into super fun coaches and cheerleaders! After warming up with a game of Junk Food Tag the kids were split up into small-sided teams and paired with two volunteer coaches for the soccer tournament. Special bonds were formed, as indicated by one Hyatt volunteer coach leading his team in a spontaneous chicken wing dance (baked, not fried of course!). The soccer tournament capped off with the Circle of Love and lots of endearing compliments from kid to volunteer and from volunteer to kid, including, "I really liked how positive you were with your teammates on the field - you even helped up a player from the other team when they fell down" and "You're the best coach I've ever had!"
Another group of more artistically inclined volunteers, although no less enthusiastic, covered Libby Elementary's hallways with beautiful murals that carry powerful and positive messages. Now, the Libby students will find it hard not to be inspired during a simple walk down the hallway!
The Urban Initiatives kids and their families are grateful to the Starbucks and Hyatt volunteers for making a difference in Englewood and showing that they are truly invested in the Chicago community.
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As Week 3 of the Urban Initiatives spring season just finished, it is absolutely fitting and necessary to highlight 2nd grade Sherman soccer player Samya Ray. Who is Samya Ray, you might ask, and why is she so special? Well, Week 3 of the Urban Initiatives soccer season is the Responsibility and Commitment Week, and Samya, though one of the youngest members of the team, has become an example of responsibility to the whole team.
]]> When visiting a Sherman practice, there are certain things that are basically guaranteed. First, the Sherman team will be having lots of fun as they play soccer. Second, the soccer players will happily receive their post-practice snack, consisting of a bottle of water, a granola bar, and an apple. And finally, Samya will undoubtedly be there with a big smile on her face and a great attitude.Samya did not miss a single practice in the winter season, making it to practice even through the cold, dark, and snowy mornings. She has kept up her perfect record this spring, showing up to practice on time and ready to play and learn. While setting up a drill at last week's practice, it was no surprise to Coach Brendan to find that the player who approached him asking if she could help set up was, of course, Samya Ray. Urban Initiatives is so proud of players like Samya who take the principles they learn at practice, like responsibility and commitment, and apply them to all areas of life. Way to go, Samya!
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On Sunday, April 21st Northwestern hosted Loyola, DePaul and UIC for the annual and always thrilling Chicago Cup. The college coaches invited the Urban Initiatives soccer teams from Jenner, Gunsaulus, Greene and Tarkington to not just watch the exciting matches but to partake in a pre-game World Cup Walk and halftime soccer skills drills with the college players. It was truly an unforgettable experience for the kids!
]]> The kids were amazed by the level of skill, hustle and sportsmanship that the college players displayed throughout the tournament. The college players are the definition of what it means to be a "student-athlete" and they represent positive role models for the Urban Initiatives kids to look up to.A huge thank you goes out to Loyola's Coach Jones, Northwestern's Coach Lenahan and Assistant Coach Babst, DePaul's Coach Blazer and UIC's Coach Phillips for bringing our kids to the Chicago Cup. The coaches went the extra mile by covering a significant portion of the busing costs to get our kids all the way up to the beautiful Lakeside Field in Evanston. Their generosity shows that these distinguished coaches are committed not just to the decorated teams they coach, but also to the larger Chicago community including the ever-grateful Urban Initiaitives youth!
You can see more photos HERE!
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To kick-start the spring season of the Work to Play Program, Cubs Care renewed their support of the Work to Play Program at Friedrich L. Jahn School in the Hamlin Park neighborhood and Dr. Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy in the Belmont Craigin neighborhood. The health and education soccer teams at these schools are, for the third year in a row, fully funded because of a generous grant of $45,000 through the Cubs Care, a McCormick Foundation fund! It's long-term partnerships like these that help Urban Initiatives sustain our programs at current partner schools, enabling us to make a long-term impact on the kids we serve in areas of health, academic performance, and character development. It is truly a team effort, and we are so thankful for their continued support.
]]> Urban Initiatives was also thrilled to participate in the 2013 Chicago Cubs' Grants Award Luncheon at the United Club at Wrigley Field. At the luncheon, Laura Ricketts the Chair of Chicago Cubs Charities and Cubs Outfielder David DeJesus distributed the checks for the generous grants awarded to 36 organizations this year by Cubs Care a McCormick Foundation Fund and Chicago Cubs Charities. Urban Initiatives' very own Jim Dower was invited to take the podium to express our gratitude to the Cubs, the McCormick Foundation, and the Ricketts family for their tremendous support of our work over the years. We were honored to be in a room with other organizations that are doing incredible work throughout our city.Later that evening the Cubs Care graciously invited the Urban Initiatives staff and Isaac Diaz, a 4th grade Work to Play soccer player from Prieto, to watch the Cubs take on the San Diego Padres. During a pre-game presentation, Isaac and Coach Cris received the opportunity of a lifetime. They were asked to step onto legendary Wrigley Field as Urban Initiatives representatives to be acknowledged as a 2013 grant recipient. Once the Urban Initiatives team settled into their seats, Isaac cheered loudly each time his favorite player Anthony Rizzo came up to the plate and hit the ball. He also cheered each time a Padres batter was struck out by Cubs pitcher Scott Feldman—all 12 of them! Isaac and the entire Urban Initiatives staff had a great time watching the Cubs defeat the Padres 6-2!
Urban Initiatives would like to thank Cubs Care, a McCormick Foundation fund, Chicago Cubs Charities and the Chicago Cubs for their support of our mission to keep Chicago’s underserved youth healthy and active!
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Urban Initiatives is excited that The Adair Group chose us as one of their T-Shirt Causes! They donated 5 dozen t-shirts for the Work to Play Cup on Saturday, June 8th. Check out their website, www.theadairgroup.com, and see all the awesome products they have. Keep them in mind for all your affordable and reliable t-shirt needs for upcoming events. Our staff and volunteers will be hard to miss at the Work to Play Cup with these t-shirts. Next time you see them, they will be sporting the Cup logo. Thanks Adair Group for helping make this happen and supporting Urban Initiatives!
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Ever wonder what it's like to volunteer with Urban Initiatives? Well, UI Junior Board members and volunteers Catie and Ashley share their experience with you during their time with the Jahn team. Catie and Ashley joined the UI and Jahn team this past Fall and continue to attend practices as regularly as the Jahn players do. With the Fall and Winter Work to Play seasons in the books they are committed to finishing the year strong as they bring a little bit of extra sunshine to the Spring season!
The following was written by Coach Catie and Coach Ashley.
]]> BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.It’s dark. It’s cold. There isn’t even a 7 on the clock yet and I’m sure there’s snow on the ground. “Beep, beep, beep, beep,” my phone echoes the louder ones coming from across the room. It’s an emoji-less text from down the hall that simply reads, “Are u up?”Yes, I was and so was she. I drag myself from the warmth of my blankets and take a few cold steps towards the alarm clock, an hour before I usually start hitting snooze on a regular weekday. A few minutes later, we both emerge from our rooms, bundled in sweats, earmuffs, gloves and running shoes. We mutter a few sentences to each other that mostly center around the words “cold,” “tired,” “early” and “so tired.”
Two taps of our CTA passes later and we’re at Jahn World Language Academy. We walked through the empty quiet halls adorned with art projects and I can’t help but smirk to myself proudly for every Spanish poster I can translate. We get to the gym and flip the 12 switches to turn on the lights. Then we can hear them, bounding up the stairs, full of excitement. The students race through the doors pushing the goals in and across the floor, which always seems to be an exhilarating footrace to the end line. Giggles fill the gym, making it brighter than 12 light switches ever could.
I glance up at the clock and see that 7 I was looking for an hour ago and we make our way to the center circle to start stretching. “To the right. 1, 2, 3….” Coach Guerra instructs the team and we follow. A few drills, games, the 5-Finger Contract review, and about 30 ricocheting soccer balls later and we can’t believe practice is already over.
As we walk through the schoolyard towards the bus, our earlier conversations of negativity were long forgotten. The energy and enthusiasm of the students were infectious and we can’t help but to smile and recount every moment we saw a child confidently use the step-over move we taught him the week before, master a left-footed, sweet-spot pass, or race to get in line to play one of the team’s favorite games, Star Wars.
Those are the rewarding moments that get us up in the morning, no matter how cold or dark or long the commute. Those are the moments that remind us how fortunate we were to have the coaches and mentors that volunteered to help us grow. It’s for each of those moments that we believe in Urban Initiatives and are grateful to be a part of an organization that empowers youth to strive for their full potentials.
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Urban Initiatives Mentor Coaches Xzavier, N’Dia, Shamar, Travis, Joel and Chevaughn all experienced their first Bulls game at the United Center this season. These Mentor Coaches were chosen because of their commitment to the Work to Play teams at their school as they focused on their studies. Read below about the great time each Mentor Coach had at their first Bulls game.
]]> Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ersShamar and Travis from Jenner couldn’t be happier as they attended their first ever Bulls game with Coach Simba. Being so close to the action made Shamar and Travis feel like they were apart of the Bulls team. Shamar and Travis are great role models at Jenner and always encourage their younger teammates to try their hardest and to never give up. Since they have become great teachers in their own right, they were able to chat with Coach Simba about strategy and maneuvers Bulls players should be doing in order to be playing their hardest. They both had so much fun at the Bulls game and couldn’t wait to tell their friends about it.
Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trailblazers
N’Dia Palmore, a sixth grade Mentor Coach at Morton attended her first Bulls game with Coach Becca. N’Dia, who has two younger siblings on the Work to Play team is a great older sister and role model for the Morton soccer players. During the Bulls game Coach Becca had the pleasure of learning more about N’Dia and her interests outside of the soccer field. N’Dia is an extremely bright student who loves reading mystery novels and excelling in the classroom. As the Bulls fought to maintain a lead N’Dia showed her true Mentor Coach attitude by never giving up on the Bulls. N’Dia rooted for a comeback the entire game- she showed great faith and perseverance in the way she remained eternally optimistic about the Bulls. During the game she told Coach Becca the ways that she would encourage the Bulls if she was in charge and would tell the team to “think more about passing and teamwork and less about scoring points and winning” Coach Becca was humbled to be able to learn about these attributes of N’Dia and knew that she would have not had this opportunity if it wasn’t for the Bulls game to bring them together.
Chicago Bulls vs. Phoenix Suns
Tarkington’s Mentor Coach Xzavier was really excited when he received an invite from Coach Noah to go to his very first Bulls game. He also got to spend some time with UI’s Executive Director Jim Dower and walk around the United Center! Xzavier had so much fun watching his favorite team in action. He saw first hand how Bulls players use teamwork on the court as well as respect for their opponents, the very same lessons that Xzavier learns each week during Work to Play practice.
Chicago Bulls vs. Dallas Mavericks
Mentor Coach Joel from Prieto received the opportunity of a lifetime. Being a hard working student and dedicated Mentor Coach to the Work to Play soccer team at Prieto, Joel earned himself a ticket to his very first Bulls game. Upon entering the United Center, Joel's smile reached ear to ear and his eye lit brightly at the sights and sounds around the stadium. Joel posed along side the world renown Michael Jordan statue along with the 6 NBA trophies the Bulls won during the 90's.
Once it was time for tip-off Joel couldn't believe his eyes when he first set his sights on the court. It was his first game ever and he was ready to enjoy every second of it. During the game Joel asked tons of questions but also added his own thoughts on why the Bulls were struggling to slow down the Dallas Mavericks in transition. At halftime Joel was hungry for a snack but when he made a visit to the concession stand he only encountered unhealthy food. He ask Coach Cris if there was any healthy food available because he didn't want to eat any junk food with soccer practice the next morning. Joel and Coach Cris embarked on a journey around the United Center in search for healthy food. Right before the game would resume from intermission, a deli was discovered with healthy salads. Joel enjoyed his salad during the rest of the game as he watched the Bulls defeat the Dallas Mavericks.
Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Coach Brendan had the incredible privilege of taking one of his most senior Mentor Coaches, Chevaughn Watson, to his first Bulls game. It was actually the first Bulls' game experience in the United Center for both Coach Brendan and Chevaughn. Chevaughn has been a consistent leader and role model on the Urban Initiatives soccer team at Reavis Elementary School, and he always tries his hardest to assist the coaches and motivate the younger players. Because of this remarkable commitment, Chevaughn earned himself a seat watching the Chicago Bulls take on the Philadelphia 76ers. Coach Brendan has seen what a smart and talented young man Chevaughn is at practice, but after talking with Chevaughn and learning much more about him at the Bulls game, Coach Brendan truly saw that he stands out amongst his peers as someone who is incredibly intelligent but also uniquely caring and generous towards others, especially for someone of his age. Chevaughn told Coach Brendan about how he likes to befriend classmates who are misunderstood by others and he believes that people need to talk more about unity and pursue it in their communities. Urban Initiatives and Coach Brendan are proud to have such a great role model on the team!
The following was written by Chevaugn after his first Bulls game:
I came home from school after a long day. My mom told me that someone wanted to talk to me on the phone, I was anxious of who was on the phone. I got a phone call from my soccer coach, Coach Brendan; I was told because of my hard work, commitment, and dedication to my soccer team and to my younger soccer players as a mentor coach, I was asked if I wanted to attend a Bulls game. I was really excited because this was my first Bulls game. At the game I had a wonderful experience as I saw Joakim Noah recorded a triple double and a couple of great plays from the Bulls players. At the end I got to see the statue of Bulls' historic player Michael Jordan. This was a wonderful experience for my first game. I thank Coach Brendan and the Urban Initiatives team for giving me the opportunity. This was truly a wonderful experience.
Urban Initiatives, the Mentor Coaches and their families would like to send a huge THANK YOU to Beth Denicolo for donating her Bulls tickets. These Mentor Coaches now have a memory that will last a lifetime.
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Since the beginning of her term with Urban Initiatives as a coach with Coach Across America, Becca Martinson has completely dedicated her time, energy and talents to help combat the alarming levels of obesity in Chicago’s children. She has been especially effective at Nobel Elementary School where she not only coaches but also partners with the school and the community to foster a culture of health and wellness.
]]> One relationship that she has initiated and maintained with a student speaks to the level of her engagement and impact. Jimmy, a third grader who is a soccer player on the Urban Initiatives team, could not find the motivation to push himself and excel in the area of physical fitness due to the debilitating teasing and bullying other kids directed his way. His drive to live a healthy lifestyle was consistently flattened by others, and their negative comments on his weight left him with crushed hopes. However, Becca has used the connection she made with Jimmy to encourage him every time she is at the school. Her dedication to create a safe environment on the soccer team led Jimmy’s peers to respect and cheer him on. Becca also directly involved Jimmy’s parents and older brother in his desire to achieve the goals he set for himself both on and off the field.Aside from the opportunities she helps create for kids like Jimmy, Becca also offers an invaluable skill set. With a natural talent for organization and task management, Becca is also an inspiring and creative thinker. She has been foundational in defining Urban Initiatives’ approach to partnering with schools on Chicago’s Healthier Schools Campaign for the next year. We now have a more clearly planned timeline for the next coach that is placed in a school to work with this campaign. One of our most effective initiatives within that campaign, the Cafeteria Waste Contest, started with her idea of encouraging kids to finish everything on their plate during lunch! She has also actively discouraged many of her soccer players at other schools from consistently resorting to corner stores for unhealthy snacks.
These are just a few of the stories that point to Becca’s influence and impact on both Urban Initiatives as an organization as well as Chicago’s youth and their health.
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A truly effective coaches’ advice is so effortless and genuine that even when they are meticulously perfecting your soccer techniques or working out a conflict you are having with a friend you don’t realize that they are coaching you. Coach Brendan McAlpine carries around a full toolbox of coaching tips that he flawlessly utilizes on and off the field.
]]> Working primarily in the Englewood and Bronzeville communities of Chicago Coach Brendan provides Work to Play students with a safe space to come play and learn about soccer and healthy lifestyles. Chicago public schools, like the ones Coach Brendan works at exist in communities’ plagued with gang violence and intrapersonal conflicts. This violence permeates into our school communities. Coach Brendan sees this as an opportunity to combat these injustices and educate his students about alternative was to respond and react to violence.During a morning soccer practice two Work to Play soccer players began pushing each other and fighting over a phone. Coach Brendan stepped in and guided them through the conflict. He turned a physical altercation into an opportunity to learn about the value and powers that words carry. Through his coaching, Brendan’s players were able to verbally work through a conflict and strengthen their individual relationships with one another and subsequently strengthen their relationship as teammates. Building dynamic teams by investing himself in individual relationships with his players allows Coach Brendan to be an agent of change. Coach Brendan led a reflection about the long and short term effectiveness of physical violence in comparison to open conversations. By consistently holding his students accountable for their actions and providing them alternative ways to express emotions. Coach Brendan reduces the presence of youth violence. Giving his players the tools to think critically before they act has significantly lowered the number of incidences like this one at practices and during the school day.
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