Some Urban Initiatives participants

"I never thought they would love it so much and it would grow into this. But I knew if Ish and I went down there and did something with these kids, it was going to be to a benefit. They were going to value it."

Jim Dower, Executive Director and co-founder

"There was never a driving force to create a soccer prodigy from this program. The idea was to get these kids to buy into the classroom. We wanted them to realize that education was their passport to success."

Daniel Isherwood, Executive Director and co-founder

Board of Directors

James Dower

Executive Director and Co-Founder

Jim Dower, the son of a Chicago Public School teacher, attended Franklin School, a public fine-arts magnet school on the Near North Side. From his personal experience playing soccer and watching other kids develop through extracurricular interests, Dower understood the impact that safe, structured activities can have on children’s overall education. Upon graduating from the University of Iowa, he and longtime friend Daniel Isherwood started substitute teaching at Byrd Academy in Cabrini-Green and soon recognized the potential for bridging the achievement gap through an extracurricular soccer program tied to classroom performance. The two men started with 16 soccer players, buying nutritious snacks for the kids out of their own pockets to teach them the importance of healthy eating. Dower serves as on-site director at Schiller School, where he emphasizes the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship while motivating youth to excel in the classroom. Dower also is in his fifth year as a professional soccer coach for the Wilmette Wings Soccer Club.

Daniel Isherwood

Executive Director and Co-Founder

Dan Isherwood started playing soccer in preschool and hasn’t stopped. He and co-founder Jim Dower played soccer at Loyola Academy, and the skills and character traits the two learned from that experience helped to shape Urban Initiatives. Isherwood, a University of Iowa business graduate who dreamed of launching his own venture, found a way to combine his passion for soccer with his concern for at-risk kids through the not-for-profit Urban Initiatives. Isherwood serves as the on-site director at Jenner Academy for the Arts, spending time in the classroom or cafeteria as needed to supplement the health, fitness and character education delivered on the soccer field. As a professional coach, Isherwood brought his Wilmette Wings U10 boys to a Triple Crown victory in 2007, winning division, tournament and indoor league championships. This past fall, his Wings U12 Premier boys team won first-place in the top U12 division of the Illinois Youth Soccer League.

Connie Devers Falcone

Director of Finance and Development

Connie Falcone met Dower and Isherwood on the suburban soccer fields where the two men coached her children. Prior to joining Urban Initiatives, Falcone served for 12 years as executive vice president at Devers Group Inc., where she co-founded the firm’s private equity investment practice and specialized in early stage, high tech private equity deals. An attorney, Falcone practiced for three years at a Denver law firm specializing in general civil litigation. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College, a law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Falcone currently serves on the Peacebuilders Advisory Board at the Catholic Theological Union, the Board of Trustees of LaLumiere School in LaPorte, Ind., and the Service Board of the Midwest Palliative Care Center & Hospice of the North Shore.

Bill Considine is President of Considine Financial. Bill has been associated with a number of charitable organizations over the years, including an active Board role for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

James Crimmins teaches advertising and consumer behavior at the DePaul University where he has been Executive in Residence for the last year. He was formerly Chief Strategic Officer of DDB Chicago and Worldwide Brand Planning Director.

Jim Curtin is a central defender for the Chicago Fire. Jim has been the cornerstone of the Fire's defense throughout the past five years winning the 2003 U.S. Open Cup and starting the 2004 All-Star Game. He is also the Director of Coaching for the Chicago Kickers.

T.J. Dammrich is an Associate at Grippo & Elden LLC, specializing in commercial litigation and insurance coverage matters. T.J. went to high school at Loyola Academy with Jim and Dan and helped coach while in law school at Northwestern University.

Helen Friedli is a Partner in McDermott, Will & Emery, where she serves on the executive and management committees and as managing partner of the Chicago office.

Neil Hirshman is a partner at Kirkland & Ellis. Neil has coached all three of his children in both soccer and basketball and was part of the initial group of Big Brothers, Big Sisters at Harvard Law School.

Ron Redd is Vice President at BMO Capital Markets.

Ben Rodman is a Managing Director at Chicago investment bank, BMO Capital Markets. Mr. Rodman also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Kohl Children's Museum.

Janice A. Smith is the President and Founder of J.A. Smith & Associates, Inc., Residential Brokerage.

Stephen Wetzel is a partner at Executive Pro Search, Ltd. and also serves on the board of the Young Executives Club.

Key Funders

A. Montgomery Ward Foundation
Columbia College – Center for Community Arts Partnerships
Credit Suisse
Devers Group
Galter Foundation
J.R. Albert Foundation
Kraft Employee Fund Chicago
Opler Family Foundation
Nike, Inc.
Social Venture Partners Chicago
Springboard Foundation
Winslow Family Foundation

Collaborative Non-Profits

YMCA Chicago
Fourth Presbyterian Church
B.U.I.L.D.
Art Therapy Connection
Highsight

Community Leaders

Jesse White is the Secretary of State of Illinois

Larry Sufferdin is a Cook County Commissioner

Walter Burnett Jr. is the Alderman of 24th ward

Tutoring Organizations

Cabrini Connections
Progressive Tutoring
Newton Learning Systems
Cabrini Green Tutoring Program