Back to School event -- for ADULTS!!!

Some information from The SIxth Ward blog's friend, Zack Isaacs.

We want to announce a back to school event -- but not for the kids. Rather, it is for adults who need to finish their education, whether for high school, associate's or bachelor's degree.

Meet at the Greater Grand Crossing Libaryary, 1000 E. 73rd Street (73rd and South Chicago).

The tme and date is Saturday August 3, from2:30pm to 4:30pm.

Contact Zack with questions or to RSVP at 708-629-1933 .

More information at www.facebook.com/giftedtree

We hope you can make it out there!

Hospitality and Tourism Seminar for High School Teens

Students in grades 10 – 12 are invited to learn about careers in hospitality and tourism on Saturday, April 13, 2013. The career day will be held on from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Crear Memorial Presbyterian Church, 8100 S. Calumet. Pre registration is required. Register at EventBrite

Lincoln Park Zoo Summer Internship Opportunities

The Hurvis Center at Lincoln Park Zoo is offering Summer Internship Opportunities for high school students. The internships available are:

• Malott Family Zoo Intern Program (ZIP)
• Community of Conservation
• Career Explorers
• Observe to Learn
• Partners in ieldwork
• Research Apprenticeship Program
  

The application deadline is April 15, 2013. For more information Internships 

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Roosevelt Teen Entreprenuer Academy Accepting Applications

Roosevelt University, Walter E. Heller College of Business is offering an opportunity to incoming high school juniors and seniors who demonstrate an aptitude in the areas of math, science and technology along with an interest in entrepreneurship.

The entire program is free for your student, including meals and room and board. 

If you have not already done so, you can register students by logging on to  http://cvent.com/d/zcqvdm/4W  and completing the online application process.

Selected students will attend one of two five-day, green-technology focused Entrepreneurship Academy at Roosevelt University's new Wabash Building at  the Chicago campus

• July 14 - July 19, 2013  - Only 5 Spots Available
• July 28 – August 2, 2013 20 Open Seats

Application Deadline Has Been Extended Until Friday April 5, 2013

For more information about the academy, visit www.roosevelt.edu/business/academy

The Academy will be led by Master Certified Entrepreneurship Teacher, Scott L. Steward and successful green-tech business entrepreneurs. Students work in teams on a fundamental business case to determine the best way for a business to compete, identify capital needs to start a business and devise a plan for managing a business successfully.

Participants are provided with business cases, two days of instruction and necessary materials to assist them in the successful completion of the program. On the final day, teams give a 15-minute “investor pitch” to a panel of judges in a business plan competition setting. Tuition vouchers to Roosevelt University are awarded to the top team whose presentation is judged as having the most solid business strategy and potential for success.

Goal

The goal of the Roosevelt University Entrepreneurship Academy is to provide entrepreneurship training, innovative green technology awareness and life skills that empower young people and offer them unique opportunities and real-world experiences.

If you have any high school sophomores or juniors who you think will do well by participating in this experience, please nominate them today.

If you have any questions, please contact Scott L. Steward at scott@lifeunivercity.com or by calling 312-823-9367.

Town Hall Meeting: End Violence in Englewood

TOPIC:  WE CAN SAVE OUR CHILDREN

 

Englewood is in crisis!  Whether it is Robeson, Harper, Shields, Simeon, Nicholson or even Hyde Park or Church’s Chicken, our children sit at the epicenter of some form of gang conflict that is beyond our understanding, and young lives are at risk daily.  We lost 60 souls in 2011, and the number is rising in 2012.

 

On Saturday, March 31, 2012, Imagine Englewood if, Teamwork Englewood and other community partners will host a very important Town Hall Meeting to plan anti-violence strategies.  Among those serving on a special panel are Shango Johnson, Violence Interrupter for CEASEFIRE, State Representative Esther Golar, Mark C. Walsh, Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, Syron Smith, National Block Club University, John Paul Jones, Community Organizer, Cordell Payne, Safety Net Works, and David Moore, former 17th Ward Aldermanic Candidate.

 

We appeal to youth, community leaders, pastors, elected officials, as well as residents to attend this meeting to create an Action Plan to combat violence in the Englewood community.  Reducing gun violence and violent crime must become a community-wide imperative.  Our strongest voices must form a united front committed to meaningful changes in public policy. We can’t afford to keep losing our children.

 

The event will be held at Imagine Englewood if, 730 W. 69^th St., Chicago, IL, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  For further information, contact us at 773.488.6704; fax: 773.488.6705; email: jhill705@sbcglobal.net; info@imagineenglewoodif.org.  Food and Refreshments will be served.

 

Yours in Peace.

 

Jean Carter-Hill, Co-founder and Executive Director,

“Imagine Englewood if. . .!”

Advocate for Youth Empowerment & a Lead-free Englewood

 

 

Mission Statement

 

Imagine Englewood if’s… mission is to strengthen and empower the greater Englewood community through teaching local youth healthy living, lead awareness and positive communication skills. IEi… motivates youth and their families to seek a positive quality of life and encourages them to pursue positive change.

 

CAPCC To CPS- Richard Milburn Alternative High School Must Go!

This was the message that Keith Tate, President of the Chatham Avalon Park Community Council (CAPCC) told Chicago Public School(CPS) representative Jennifer Vidis, Deputy Director of Alternative Schools. While the focus of the meeting was to be on EZ Pawn, who decided not to attend the meeting, Roderick Sawyer, Alderman of the 6th ward invited Mrs. Vidis to come out and address the community. The uproar started last month when resident living near St. Clotilde Catholic Church (http://www.stclotildechurch.com/)noticed moving trucks full of supplies unloading these goods in the former elementary school. When they asked questions, they were rudely told by St. Clotilde and Milburn representatives it was none of their business. When the regular school schedule started they saw buses unloading students. Numerous attempts by residents and community organizations to find out information about this school went unanswered and finally when Alderman Sawyer inquired it was stated it was an alternative "safe" school for student ranging from the 6-12 grades who had been expelled from Chicago Public Schools (http://www.cps.edu/) who could be reinstated if they showed improvement in their behavior. Questions arose as to why the community wasn't notified by CPS, Chicago Archdioces( http://www.archchicago.org/)and St. Clotilde parish. Also, the community had questions about the students and the reason some were expelled because they noticed the school had armed security guards. CPS and the school's principal reached out to the Alderman after the story showed up on television and newspapers. The answers CPS gave were unacceptable to the community and they decided to send Ms. Vidis out to address the community's concerns. The Chicago Archdioces and St. Clotilde parish have yet to respond to numerous inquiries. Ms. Vidis was greeted by Mr. Tate with a straight forward and direct opening stating his displeasure with CPS, Chicago Archdioces, St. Clotilde parish over this matter. Mr. Tate stated CPS and Milburn's offer to create a community advisory council was far too little and way to late because this was something that should have been handled prior to the school's opening. Ms. Vidis stated that the CPS is mandated under State law to provide these young adults an education. A decision to move Milburn from the former Holy Angel's facility, because of health and safety concerns, were known back in early July. She further stated that the Chicago Archdioces offered Milburn the St. Clotilde location. These answers just fueled the anger of the crowd. Questions and comments from the audience ranged from the lack of disclosure from the Milburn, CPS and Archdioces parties who knew Milburn had to move from the former location. Also, that there have been allegations of residents witnessing a student engaging in indecent exposure and another skipping school. Also, it was asked why other Alternative and Charter Schools in the area such as Sullivan House,Charles Houston and Gary Comer locations were not considered. Ms. Vidis stated these students were not eligible to attend these schools because they were expelled from the CPS system and these schools are considered CPS schools. Also, Milburn won a competitive bidding process to offer this type of schooling. Per Milburn's website http://milburnschools.org/ they do not operate any other schools in Illinois. Lastly, after the call to void the Milburn contract and move the school, Ms. Vidis stated she would go back and speak with CPS legal counsel about the matter and would attempt to come up with some solutions to address the community's concerns. Also, the Chicago Police Department attended the meeting to address concerns over the violence that occurred this past weekend. A call by CAPCC to have the Chicago Public Library build a 15,000 sq ft building versus a 16,500 one and a half story building was brought up again. The final topic was cadidates introductions. Kari Steele stated she is runing for Water Reclamation District Commissioner. Two candidates made it public that they were running for 34th District State Representative seat that is being vacated by Constance Howard. Elgie Sims and Sondra Wortham both stated that they are in the running for the office and they join Paul Gregoire and Richard Wooten. The only question now is will Ms. Vidis come back out to Chatham for the Greater Chatham Alliance meeting and answer questions for those residents.

Now here's a volunteer opportunity at our neighborhood schools...

Courtesy of an e-mail blast from the Greater Chatham Alliance and perhaps an answer to a recent post. Let us know if you plan to be at any of these schools to volunteer!

Join The Black Star Project's Chicago High School Alumni Associations and Celebrate the opening of Chicago High Schools

In Chicago, alumni from our area high schools are invited to be at their old high schools on the opening day on:

Monday, September 6

Let's welcome students back to school and if you can, volunteer some time to make your old high school great again!!

All Chicago Alumni should call 773.285.9600 to become actively involved with their former high school.

Black Star Project Foundation will plan activities that improve schools and serve students.

These High Schools' Alumni are committed to making changes at the schools below. Why not join them!

Aquinas - Austin - Bogan - Bowen - Brother Rice - Calumet - Carver - Chicago Agricultural School - CVS - Collins - Corliss - Crane - Creiger - Curie - DeLaSalle - Dunbar - DuSable - Englewood - Farragut - Fenger - Hales Franciscan - Harlan - Harper - Harrison - Hirsch - Hubbard - Hyde Park - Jones - Juarez - Julian - Kenwood - Lane Tech - Leo - Longwood - Lucy Flowers - Manley - Marshall Mendel - Mercy - Morgan Park - Mount Carmel - Orr - Parker - Payton - Phillips - Providence-St. Mel Richards - Robeson -Roosevelt - Simeon - South Shore - Spaulding - St. Patricks - Taft - Tilden - Von Steuben - Waller - Washington - Westinghouse - Whitney Young

Catholic High Schools not in existence should call Black Star to request a Catholic High School to assist at.

The Black Star Project!

Announcing the 2011 Commencement Challenge Finalists

[VIDEO] Melody Barnes from the White House Domestic Policy Council in the video above announces the finalists of the "Race to the Top Commencement Challenge. None of these high schools announced in this video are in the City of Chicago or the State of Illinois. Here's more about this Challenge:

The Commencement Challenge invites public high schools across the country to demonstrate how their school best prepares them for college and a career, helping America win the future by out-educating our competitors and achieving President Obama’s goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.

The application includes essay questions and statistical information that illustrate how schools are promoting college and career readiness for all students while establishing a culture of student success and academic excellence. The winning school will host President Obama as their 2011 commencement speaker.

The White House has partnered with Viacom and the Get Schooled Foundation to launch the 2011 Commencement Challenge. In a video launching the challenge, Simon Boehme, the salutatorian from last year’s winning school - Kalamazoo Central High - and current freshman at the University of Michigan, came to the White House to discuss the Commencement Challenge with President Obama. Watch the video above and check out the expanded version here.

It would be nice to see both of our ward high schools Robeson & Harlan be considered close enough to be finalists in this challenge. Also since the faculty at Harlan like to advertise the fact that three of their students have went to the White House this is something that would be worthwhile for them. Especially if they want to emphasize the importance of going to college.

I'm still trying to figure out if the "grand prize" is a visit and/or commencement address by the President of the United States to the winning high school. Hopefully next year the students at Harlan Community Academy High School will consider getting involved in this contest. That is if they haven't already.

The last link in the quote is of Kalamazoo Central High School talking about their experience in winning the 2010 contest. [VIDEO]

Will this be Harlan or any other city high school next year. Can we have a city high school as a finalist or semi-finalist.

Our Candidate's Questionnaire

There have been several candidate forums for the 6th ward Alderman and the newspapers have had questionnaires and made endorsements.

All this is fine but the issues most important to the residents of the 6th ward have gone unanswered. Residents can't say they are scared to walk down 79th street, most residents kids go to schools in the neighborhood and most buy groceries in the area. The candidates have been given a pass on having to talk about the ward and been given the opportunity to be attorneys and police officers and street preachers.

In the real world the residents are not going to search YouTube and Vimeo to get answers. They do not want to get answers from "social media experts".

So our questions have come from YOU and your concerns. We sent the questionnaire to every candidate and all acknowledge but only two return the questionnaire. So the answers to the questions are from candidate Freddrenna Lyle and Roderick Sawyer.

Questions for the Candidates] Final

Please comment and let your feeling be known.

Let's Get Pass Superman and Create Great Schools

Last year I attended the Chicago Public Schools High School Fair and noticed that the prospective students were gathering around the Selective Enrollment/Magnet Schools and the Military Academies. This year I attended the open house for Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences(CHAS). There were over 350 parents/guardians in the school's band room. The principal stated that he only had 150 spots open and some of those spots were restricted. Also, that students would not be notified until February- March if they were even eligible. The eye opener came when he mentioned that there were over 1800 applications last year and he expected that number to increase this year.

As we were waiting to take a tour I saw the jockeying by some teachers who brought students to the open house and it made me ask the question were they doing this for all their students? In the end, I asked did this process make sense and who really wins when high enrollment becomes a mathematical formula? It doesn't appear students win here when they are forced to go on a wild goose chase to get into high school.

If someone sees this as beneficial, please comment.

Does GCA understand education? I don't think so

I received an email from the Greather Chatham Alliance(formerly WIM) and it was nothing less than a fear mongering letter on the state of our local schools. After reading the letter I looked at the data they were basing their opinions on. The document you see has several omission such as it doesn't list Burnside, Gillespie and McDade. BTW, McDade was named one of the best elementary schools in the city by Chicago Magazine. Also it doesn't list Harlan on the High School side.

Why hasn't GCA been involved in the education conversation in the ward? Why all of a sudden now? Why did their former president call Dixon students"dirty little thieves"? What do you think.

Again, we would love to hear what the candidates have to say.

Trend in ACT scores shows growing racial gap

Well the trend this year for Illinois' high school seniors are low in general. It's only decreased by one-tenth (.1), so this small number may not be that big of a deal. An expert was quoted in the article as saying: "This year's decline, though small, is "statistically significant,'' but given Illinois' slow but steady increase since 2006, 'I don't think that's a drop that I would be concerned about yet,' said ACT spokesman Ed Colby."

At the same time this ought to be a concern:

While white Illinois seniors saw their average ACT scores rise from 22.0 five years ago to 22.4 in both 2009 and 2010, the state's African-American students saw their scores go in the opposite direction.

The average African-American Illinois senior scored 16.9 in 2006, compared to 16.8 in 2009 and 16.7 in 2010, new data released today showed.

Illinois' Hispanic scores dipped from 18.2 last year to 18.0 this year, but were up slightly from five years ago, when Illinois Hispanics averaged a score of 17.9.
...
The growing gap comes even though the No Child Left Behind Law has stepped up pressure on schools to close such gaps on state tests, which in Illinois includes the ACT.

African-American students stand to benefit if Illinois wins its bid for $400 million in Federal Race to the Top funds, Fergus said, because part of the money would bankroll the "turnaround" of low-scoring schools, many of which serve minority students.

Well let's be sure some of our black high school seniors, will score well enough on the ACTs to be able to get into college. Or at the very least let's be sure they are ready for college.

Chicago readies health care high school

You know this was the first year for a magnet engineering program at Harlan, perhaps in some of our neighborhood schools we could include a health-care profession program as well. Who says we should only institute such programs in newly constructed high schools?

Chicago Public Schools this fall will open the city's first charter high school specializing in health care, a move local hospitals hope will help relieve chronic workforce shortages.

The school, which recently used a lottery system to enroll a freshman class of 160, will have a heavy emphasis on math and science. Juniors and seniors will be able to earn credits by shadowing hospital workers and interning as assistant nurses and in other professions.

Planners aim to prepare students for health- and science-related college programs and certify them for entry-level jobs in health care, such as pharmacy technicians or assistant physical therapists.
...
The Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy will set up shop temporarily on the Chicago campus of National-Lewis University, at 122 S. Michigan Ave. It will seek a permanent site in the Pilsen neighborhood.

Instituto del Progreso Latino and the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council, a trade group of hospitals and other medical providers, applied to CPS to form the school. It’s one of nearly 100 city schools formed under Renaissance 2010, the city’s six-year-old plan to open innovative schools in poor neighborhoods.

Englewood Charter school gets all its seniors into college - chicagotribune.com

A positive story about Englewood! All the young men of Englewood prep have been accepted into 4 year colleges!

Great to hear! Now, the battle isn't over...they need to actually finish & get their degree to really make some changes in their lives. This will take continued support and work. But congratulations of all of them passing this huge milestone.

Click the link below for the full story from today's Tribune.

Charter school in tough neighborhood gets all its seniors into college - chicagotribune.com

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Learn about Chicago's new public schools at: The 3rd Annual New Schools EXPO on January 30.2010

Presented by: Parents for School Choice & the Chicago Public Schools
What:
A showcase of Chicago's newest public schools, including charter schools and Renaissance 2010 schools.
New elementary and high school campuses created through Renaissance 2010 or pre-existing charter schools will be in attendance.
When:
Saturday, January 30, 2010 9:30am - 2:00pm
Where:
Soldier Field (Indoors) 1410 South Museum Campus DriveUnited Club Level One (indoors)



What to Do:
Meet new school leaders
Apply to new public elementary and high schools
Talk to other parents who are exploring the new schools
Attend workshops such as: What Makes a Quality School, From a Parent's Perspective, and more!

Participating Schools:
For a full listing of schools participating in this year’s EXPO. http://www.parentsforschoolchoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=46

What to Bring with You:
If you plan to apply to schools directly on-site at the EXPO, you are strongly encouraged to bring photo copies of the following identification items with you:
Student birth certification or legal guardianship papers
Student social security card
Parent/Guardian license or ID card (not valid for proof of residency)
Parent/Guardian proof of Chicago residency (i.e. utility, mortgage, medical card, bank statement, check card, voter registration card. No rental leases or cell phone bills accepted)
Many participating schools require this information when applying to prove that you and your child reside in Chicago. Without these items you may not be able to fully complete an application at the event.

Cost: FREE
FREE admission, FREE parking, CTA accessible

Get Involved: If you would like to get involved in the EXPO as a sponsor, volunteer or community partner, please contact Karen Corken at.Getting There:

By Public Transportation
Soldier Field is easily accessible by both CTA bus and train.

Take the CTA Green, Orange or Red line train to Roosevelt where you can pick up a free shuttle to Soldier Field.
Take the #12 Roosevelt bus to the Shedd Aquarium bus stop and walk 0.3 miles to Soldier Field.
Take the #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express bus to the McFetridge & Park District Building stop and walk 0.3 miles to Soldier Field.

By Free Shuttle Bus
Free shuttle buses will be running back and forth from the Roosevelt L stop between 9:30am and 2:30pm.

By Car
FREE parking will be available in the South Garage which is adjacent to the EXPO venue.

The Princeton University Summer Journalism Program

Information courtesy of TUCC Higher Education Corp.

The application for summer 2010 is available here.
What is the Princeton University Summer Journalism Program? We welcome about 20 high school students from low-income backgrounds every summer to Princeton's campus for an intensive, 10-day seminar on journalism. The program's goal is to diversify college and professional newsrooms by encouraging outstanding students from low-income backgrounds to pursue careers in journalism. All expenses, including students' travel costs to and from Princeton, are paid for by the program. Students who attend the program come from across the country. Bios of our students from this past summer can be found here. The program will enter its ninth summer in 2010.

What is the program like? Classes at the program are taught by reporters and editors from The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Republic, The New Yorker, CNN and ABC News, among other media outlets. Students tour the Times and CNN; cover a professional sports event (in past years, a Yankees, Mets, Jets or Liberty game); cover news events in the Princeton area; film and produce a TV segment; and report, write, edit and design their own newspaper, The Princeton Summer Journal, which is published on the program's last day. The program is also designed to give students a taste of what life is like at one of the best colleges in the country—students live on campus and eat in one of the university's cafeterias—and to prepare them to apply to top schools. Students meet with Princeton's top professors as well as the school's president and its dean of admissions. Students attend seminars on every aspect of the college admissions process. They also take a practice SAT and attend an SAT class taught by Princeton Review. The program's 2009 schedule can be found here. After students return home, program staff remain in contact with them, assisting them during the college application process and helping them to apply for journalism internships once they are in college.

What have our students accomplished? More than 165 students have graduated from our program during the past eight years, and many return each summer to serve as mentors to our current students. We are proud of their academic and journalistic accomplishments. Four of our alumni are currently enrolled at Princeton. Others have gone on to Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, the University of Pennsylvania, Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, Georgetown, Bowdoin, Johns Hopkins, the University of Virginia, New York University and many other selective schools. Their work has been published in college newspapers across the country, including The Daily Princetonian, The Yale Daily News, The Brown Daily Herald, The Columbia Spectator, The Cornell Daily Sun, The Middlebury Campus and The Bowdoin Orient. Our alumni have also landed jobs or internships at The New York Times, The New Republic, The Miami Herald, The New York Daily News, The Dallas Morning News, The Star-Ledger, The Philadelphia Daily News, NBC and CBS, among other outlets. Alumni reflections on the program can be found here.
Who is eligible? This program is intended for low-income students with excellent academic records who are committed to pursuing a career in journalism. To apply for the program, you must meet the following qualifications:- You must currently be a junior in high school.- You must live in the continental United States.- You must have at least an unweighted 3.5 grade point average (out of 4.0).- You must have an interest in journalism.- The combined income of your custodial parent(s)/guardian(s) plus child support payments, if any, must not exceed $45,000. (Note: This program is for students from under-resourced financial backgrounds. If the combined income of your custodial parent(s)/guardian(s) plus child support payments, if any, exceeds $45,000 and you still wish to apply, you may attach a statement explaining why you believe your family qualifies as financially under-resourced.)
Who runs the program? The program was founded, and is still directed, by four Princeton alumni from the class of 2001—Richard Just, Michael Koike, Gregory Mancini and Rich Tucker—who wanted to diversify the world of journalism. It is staffed by professional journalists, young alumni of Princeton, current Princeton students, and students who attended the program in past summers. Except for one student intern who is hired annually to help coordinate the program, everyone associated with the program is a volunteer. More information about the program's directors can be found here.
Who funds the program? The program is funded entirely through the generosity of donors, mostly Princeton alumni. In 2009, we received 275 applications, but, because of funding limitations, we were able to accept only 23 students. We receive so many applications because we are, to our knowledge, the country's only high school program that seeks to propel low-income students into professional newsrooms by combining journalism education with intensive college admissions preparation—and pays all the expenses of students who attend. Every year, with guidance from the program's staff, our students apply to, and are accepted at, the country's best colleges, where they go on to write for top student papers and earn internships at the nation's most influential newspapers, magazines and television stations. This year, we could have filled our class many times over with outstanding students. We would like to increase our class size to meet the extraordinary demand among low-income students for spots in the program, and we are therefore currently seeking a donor to help us expand the program in future years. More information about how to donate to the program can be found here. If you are considering a donation and would like more information about the program, the best way to reach us is via email at sjp@princeton.edu. You can also leave a message at 609-258-8046. During the academic year, no one answers that line, but we check the voicemail regularly. If you leave a message, we will return your call.