Through the Coaches Lab Project at Wintrust Arena, 16 Coach Interns—most of whom grew up in Urban Initiatives programs – are developing essential workforce skills and foundational Coach Behaviors to step into paid leadership roles as community mentors across Chicago Public Schools.
Equipped with foundational Coach Behaviors through intentional pre-event training, our volunteers step onto the field to provide the emotional safety and encouragement that turn everyday play into lasting social-emotional growth for Chicago youth.
The Associate Board unites 120 young professionals who pair more than $300,000 in annual fundraising with hands-on sideline mentorship, proving that when caring adults show up consistently, they build the trusting environments and generational pathways Chicago youth need to thrive.
Through Urban Initiatives’ Take the Lead program, middle school Captains discover their own strength by stepping into responsibility, using sport and mentorship to welcome younger peers and create a lasting ripple effect of inclusion and confidence.
Reflecting on our October 3 Connection Cup at the Midway Plaisance
Funded by the Steans Family Foundation, Urban Initiatives’ summer 2026 Community Member to Coach program equipped 25 North Lawndale youth with paid coaching, financial literacy, and career development training while bringing together over 700 residents across four community play days.
This summer, Urban Initiatives’ Summer of Sport engaged 470 young people across 17 Chicago sites over five weeks, using sports sampling and intentional coaching to build skills like teamwork and resilience alongside strong attendance, safety, and enjoyment outcomes.
Urban Initiatives, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, intends to apply for the FY27 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant to provide academic enrichment, sports and play programming, and family engagement opportunities across seven elementary schools.
The third year of the Community Member to Coach program in North Lawndale empowered twenty-five youth apprentices with essential job readiness skills and financial literacy through an eight-week experiential learning curriculum that combined sports coaching training with real-world application at community events.
Urban Initiatives and Advocate Health launched the “Pathways to Purpose” pilot program, a six-week paid internship that introduces high school students to high-demand healthcare careers through mentorship, hands-on training, and professional skill development.1
Urban Initiatives partnered with Chase to provide Chicago Youth Works interns and Coach Apprentices with interactive financial literacy workshops, equipping them with essential money management and credit-building skills for their future careers.
At the 2026 Illinois AfterSchool Network Annual Conference, UI facilitated a workshop on supportive, healing-centered environments to equip educators with strategies that foster youth resilience, emotional regulation, and personal growth.
