Get Your Ticket to the Camp Out For Kids 2011 Fundraising Event!
Purchase your ticket for the annual Camp Out For Kids fundraising event on December 8th! This fun event will be held at the new Frontier (1072 N Milwaukee).
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Chicago Fire Foundation Delivers Athletic Field to West Elsdon Community, UI Kids
The economic downturn has made times tougher for all people, not just in their household bottom lines, but in the public services they rely on. As some city agencies find themselves on the chopping block, a soccer coach looks to park funding and program delivery, both of which are crucial indicators of a city's health.
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Storck, Making a Difference in the Lives of UI's Kids
On November 3rd, volunteers from Storck USA, a candy company that makes favorites such as Werther's and Mambas, took time out of their busy schedules to be soccer coaches for the day at the Chicago Indoor Sports complex. With boxes of special edition Storck-UI shirts ready to be distributed, Storck volunteers awaited the arrival of soccer players from Otis Elementary and Tarkington School.
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Volunteers from Roosevelt University Are a Hit with UI Kids!
Stephanie Khio is the Assistant Leader of the Eleanor Roosevelt Society at Roosevelt University. She brought her group to the Chicago Indoor Sports Center on October 21st to volunteer with our teams from Attucks and Lloyd. The following is a blog post by Stephanie:
Being the Assistant Leader of the Eleanor Roosevelt Society (ERS) at Roosevelt University, contacting many different charities and organizations happens to be my biggest job. Our group focuses on achieving the goals of Roosevelt University - and Eleanor Roosevelt herself - in that we pertain to the goals of social justice and community outreach. After contacting many organizations, Urban Initiatives seemed the most promising, giving me detailed information of what our group would be doing. The mission of this organization grasped me, as well.
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FC United Girls Team Runs Soccer Skills Clinic for UI Participants
Urban Initiatives participants from Prieto Academy had a fantastic time at a soccer skills clinic hosted by the FC United U16 Girls Select team. The FC United girls did an amazing job of coaching and interacting with the kids. The Urban Initiatives participants were all smiles for the duration of the event. Even when a few bumps and bruises occurred the kids were up smiling, laughing, running and playing in no time. The FC United team ran a very well organized series of drills as well as small-sided games. At the end of the event one of the players asked her coach, "Can we come back tomorrow to play?" All in all, everyone had a fun-filled afternoon and the Prieto soccer team looks forward to coming back again in the future. Many thanks to the FC United U16 Select girls team!
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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 get a clear view of all of the veggies growing in the truck bed while Farmers Tim and Sydney held a discussion about food. Why do people need to eat food? Where does food come from? What parts of plants do we eat?
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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 soccer and Halloween crafting.
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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 see ourselves and how we believe others see us. It affects the way we treat ourselves, the way we treat others, and the kinds of choices we make. When we are proud of our actions, qualities, and relationships we will have high self-esteem. Grecia, a 3rd grader at Pasteur Academy, is very proud of herself.
Why? Because she is on the soccer team! Since joining, she has become a leader on the field and in the classroom; scoring goals and getting good grades. Grecia respects her teammates, coaches, teachers, and parents. Even her work-ethic has improved. After all, it took a lot of pride and hard work to make such a beautiful drawing! Congratulations, Grecia!
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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 Initiatives Coaches Corps (UICC). The goal of UICC is to enhance the character development, health education, physical fitness, and academic engagement in youth in the Chicago Public Schools.
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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 to watch the Fire's final game of the 2011 season - and a 3 to 2 victory over the Crew - was definitely one of Urban Initiatives' most memorable outings ever. The stands were packed with 20,237 fans and our kids fed off the relentless energy of the Section 8 die-hards! All the kids were on the edge of their seats with the game tied 2-2 late in the game. Then, in the 81st minute, Diego Chaves netted a close-range rebound to send the crowd into hysterics and seal the victory for the Fire. Ending the seaon on such a strong note certainly bodes well for the 2012 season, and Urban Initiatives cannot wait for what's to come!
Section 8 and the Chicago Fire have been tremendous supporters of our soccer-based youth development throughout Chicago, and Urban Initiatives is incredibly grateful to have such committed partners!
Read more about the Fire's thrilling victory here!
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