There is a quickly growing group of powerful and passionate adults in Chicago that are getting behind a movement and mission serving a matter near and dear to their hearts – their kids! Urban Initiatives had the great privilege of celebrating this group, the amazing and committed Urban Initiatives parents, last Thursday evening in our first ever Fam Appreciation Night.
The event featured delicious fare provided by Limelight Catering in the gorgeous Revel Fulton Market venue. The Revel Group hosted Urban Initiatives and our family members in a memorable evening that captured what Urban Initiatives is all about – building powerful relationships built on fun, trust, and working together to positively impact lives and communities!
Urban Initiatives took this opportunity to recognize several key players who have been instrumental in the growth and impact of our programs. Three Daley parents, Martina Arrellano, Maria Salazar, and Rosa Cervantes, were honored with the Most Valuable Parents Award. These three mothers have been supporting the Daley team and building a culture of health and respect with Urban Initiatives for over seven years now and set the bar high for what involved and engaged parents can accomplish. Brandy McMahan, highly involved parent and coach of Lawndale Community Academy, was our honored parent speaker for the event, beautifully inspiring and challenging us with words of heartfelt wisdom. Urban Initiatives was also privileged to honor Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. of the 27th Ward with our Kickstart Award! Alderman Burnett was a key supporter in the early days of Urban Initiatives in the Cabrini-Green community and was an early Board Member. It is no wonder Urban Initiatives has seen such growth and success with teammates like these!
This event was a vibrant celebration of Urban Initiatives parents for the tireless effort they put in as impactful adult role models in the lives of their children. Urban Initiatives would not be what it is today if it had not been for the countless hours of care and commitment poured in by parents over the years. At this spectacular event, we were able to thank over 100 family members from all across Chicago for their consistent partnership. It is an even greater pleasure to think about the many years of partnership that are yet to come as even more parents join Urban Initiatives as advocates of teamwork, respect, healthy decision-making, and community empowerment. Urban Initiatives’ partner parents are the true leaders carrying this message to their communities and reinforcing it in the lives of their children and families.
We couldn’t put it better than one of the parents present, who eloquently summed up the spirit of the event: “I am a proud UI parent because as a parent and family we are a part of something bigger than us and as parents we are guiding our children in the right direction by being a part of UI!”
We could not be more grateful for our Urban Initiatives parents. We are truly fortunate to have them as our biggest fans, and we are theirs. UI Parents, we thank you, and we love you!
UI would like to give the BIGGEST THANK YOU EVER to Britt Whitfield, Revel Group and Limelight for hosting and donating everything to make this event possible!
