The humanities consist of disciplines such as history, art, gender studies, music, philosophy, religion, and much more. It fosters critical thinking and authentic appreciation of the human experience. However, institutions have challenged the importance of humanities and cut funds for its development. The humanities are essential to understanding what it means to be human, motivating us to question assumptions about ourselves and the world around us, and encouraging broadening one鈥檚 focus to other practical implications.

In my personal experience as a double major in Neurobiology and Philosophy, the humanities have allowed me to grow my interest in self-awareness, such as considering how it can be altered in varying mental states (i.e. emotions). This developed when I was enrolled in my first philosophy class, Philosophy 101. A couple of our discussions revolved around social differences and inequity where minority groups had the space to share our experiences of prejudice. I shared my story as a Latino who grew up in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and my feelings of being isolated in a predominantly white population at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In spite of this feeling of exclusion, I carry a chain in my bookbag given to me by my grandmother, which allows me to feel a sense of comfort and belonging. This reflection, along with insights from my classmates in Philosophy 101, has driven me to consider how emotions can affect our self-awareness and actions. Hence, I majored in philosophy to further explore my interests from a cultural standpoint instead of limiting myself to STEM.

The humanities disciplines can teach skills that have increased in demand in our evolving workplace. For example, philosophy has encouraged me to engage in public speaking and learn how to communicate effectively. Since joining the McNair Scholars program, I’ve been able to develop my research skills at the Center of Sleep and Consciousness lab. Under the mentorship of Dr. Cirelli, I am contributing to the testing of the SHY hypothesis. We study synaptic plasticity and the changes that occur between sleep and wake. In the lab, I learned how to reconstruct neural cells from 2D images obtained from mice subjects using electron microscopy. Despite facing challenges with effective communication as an introvert, my philosophy courses have offered various opportunities to practice my public speaking and hone my argumentation skills.听 This has given me the courage to present my contributions at the University of New Mexico McNair Scholars Conference.

As a third-year student interested in graduate school, philosophy has allowed me to explore the relevance of neurobiological research from an interdisciplinary perspective. For example, my interests in neurobiology are based on consciousness and how altered states of awareness can influence one鈥檚 actions. My engagement with the humanities plays a crucial role in expanding the scope of my research interests to other real-world scenarios. Philosophy, with its emphasis on ethics, has provided me with insights on the challenges faced by neurodegenerative disease patients within prisons. This interdisciplinary perspective not only prompts me to question the molecular and structural aspects of neurodegenerative diseases but also the ethical implications within the treatment and care of these patients. I am interested in how we can improve correctional facilities to accommodate neurodegenerative disease patients, and to what extent we can decide if a patient is conscious enough to coexist in our social environment.

The humanities have provided me with a newfound perspective on the importance of learning about human experience and action. Furthermore, it allows me to expand the scope of my research interests to other real-world implications. I would advise other students to engage in the humanities, and institutions to encourage its development.

Learn more about how 海角乱伦社区 supports students in their college years.

The post Scholar Opinion: Humanities Majors Lend New Perspectives, Not Limited Outcomes appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

Education has also become a booming business, but it did not follow the same growth pattern. We still follow outdated rules, expectations and methods for teaching that bring little benefit to the society as a whole. In today鈥檚 America, we see a spectrum of education not even close to the exponential development of the industrial world. At Chicago Public Schools, students are jammed in place, lacking opportunities to become future presidents, Nobel Peace Prize recipients, doctors and more. As a former CPS student, I fell short of the motivation, promises and aspiration of .

One teacher said, 鈥淚f you continue to work like this you will be somebody,鈥� but my progress was soon undercut by underfunding and social stigma. With high grades and a near perfect curriculum in middle school, the people who wanted the best for me discouraged me from reaching higher because they feared my lack of monetary and social support would keep me from being the . The schools around me were not designed to support students with exceptional grades and lofty goals鈥� To find a school that did, you鈥檇 have to go miles away. So, my counselor chose a school for me which was not the best . In the end I was the only one sent to Westinghouse College Prep, instead of aiming higher to Lane tech or Jones because of his fears of distance and assumptions about my social background. It became clear that the support was in spirit but could not come to life. Factors which we couldn鈥檛 control made decision for us.

In high school I looked around and compared my experience with students at other schools. I saw differences mostly attributed by two factors: neighborhood, and the phrase 鈥淪elective .鈥� Why do we support a system in which each person receives less or more based on a single test, which does not correctly analyze all their weaknesses and strengths These tests do not challenge creativity, innovation, discipline and so on, Therefore, fall under the radar. They only test math and readings skills across every CPS level. I believe that every CPS school is not at the same level because they are not all funded the same and are build on equality not equity.

In our system, this is the 鈥渇airest鈥� way to assess someone that has little compared to someone that a lot. Students in low-income households have greater family responsibilities, higher financial duties and are not offered the same support. Some may claim they have the same resources as other kids, but they are forgetting they lack more than just resources. They lack guidance, vision and opportunities to stay away from already negative neighborhoods. Low-income neighborhoods like Little Village, Pilsen, Back of the Yards, and others have seen the effect of favoritism and bias in education. Underfunding has led students to break down against external factors that motivate them to stop their pursuit in education and follow a less healthy way of life. We already know that social media, culture, environment, family, and other factors affect the performance of the students. The purpose of education is not to create consumers, rat race or workaholics but It should steer individuals away from an unhealthy lifestyle, open new frontiers, and enable bigger innovation. They should bring inspiration, hope and reward for society. Create a brighter future and bring solutions for future generations. 听Selective enrollment claims to give 鈥渟marter鈥� students the opportunities they deserve, but they make it seem as though the smart students only live on the North Side or city center. 听Even if a South or West Sider makes the cut, those schools are far from most low-income students. The worst part is, Chicago gives these schools t more resources than other schools, which puts students even further behind in the whole college process. The unfairness in selection at the end of eighth grade results in unfair college admissions decisions, because students who don鈥檛 attend a selective enrollment school are seen as doing lesser work. In reality, they covered the same material as selective enrollment schools 鈥� they just had fewer resources while they did the work.

A former student has said 鈥淐PS has a 60% college enrollment rate, which is lower than the state average of 64%. Things must change if we want those numbers to climb鈥� . In analyzing data, Illinois is reaching a higher level of education than its largest city. How is it possible that the largest city in Illinois has a lower college graduation rate than the whole state? Is Chicago responsible for bringing down the average score? To answer these very difficult questions we can keep looking for data; we already looked at race, neighborhoods, culture, imaginary boundaries, and more. But CPS students and alumni are not just a number. They are individual people that are living lives, going against the grain of underfunding. The only solution is to fund low-income schools and make the education system truly fair.

The post From a Scholar: Education at CPS hasn’t kept up with the times appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

It is a rare and lucky thing to know what you want to do from a young age. For Chicago Scholar Rafael Mena, Civil Engineering has been his passion from a young age 鈥� he even chose his high school with it in mind.听听

With advice from his teachers and friends in the program, Rafael joined 海角乱伦社区 and quickly found value in our college matching program. Not many universities offer Civil Engineering degrees, and even fewer were close to home. But the University of Illinois, Chicago ended up being a perfect fit. 鈥淭he big thing I learned was that you don鈥檛 have to go to the best college, you have to go to the best one for you,鈥� said Rafael.听听

Coming into a program that centered a future oriented lens was impactful. It helped to not only think about getting to college but getting the most out of college to best prepare for the professional world. Starting early gave Rafael the time and space to figure out what was best for his future.听听

But the transition from high school to college wasn鈥檛 easy. College was significantly more rigorous that his high school program and a change in perspective was needed. Rafael realized that having a reason he could return to when times got hard was essential: 鈥淚 had to learn to ask why? Why am
I doing this? Why do I want to be a construction manager?鈥� The reason was ultimately his family, community, and to build opportunities for those coming in after him.听

海角乱伦社区 also pushed Rafael to think outside of his courses to internships and opportunities that would support his professional growth. As a sophomore at UIC, he currently mentors three other students. Showing up is a major theme in Rafael鈥檚 story. 鈥淚鈥檓 here because one day I want to give back to everyone. 海角乱伦社区 has great mentors and advisors that gave me a lot of opportunities and I want to do the same thing for others. I want to give back to those who helped me, by mentoring at 海角乱伦社区. This program really helps minorities that might have not been able to make it otherwise.鈥�听

Along his journey, Rafael had people show up for him and present him with opportunities that he took full advantage of. With those experiences, Rafael now shows up for others and wants to continue to do so.听听

The post Rafael found his dream school with 海角乱伦社区 — help more students get the same chance appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

For nearly thirty years, 海角乱伦社区 has been uplifting Chicago鈥檚 brightest students on their path towards leadership experience, degrees from their college of choice, and into fulfilling, high level careers. The program currently runs across seven years with each student, beginning in their junior year of high school and continuing with support through college and into听job placement, training, and readiness. 听

With several of those career paths requiring the extra commitment of听graduate school, we saw an opportunity to further advocate for our scholars. This spring, we鈥檙e piloting a partnership with the University of Chicago Booth Business School to establish a direct pipeline for our scholars听to attend graduate level programs. As part of this partnership, current 海角乱伦社区 will benefit from regular events and special sessions with the University of Chicago听community, MBA application fee waivers, and even dedicated scholarship awards. There will听also be a great opportunity for current Scholars to secure future admission to Booth through the deferred MBA program, which candidates can apply to while they are still in undergrad.听

鈥淥ne of the reasons we decided to establish this partnership is to continue our strategic goal of preparing our Scholars for the world and the world for our Scholars,鈥� said Andre Hebert, Director of College Partnerships at 海角乱伦社区. 鈥淲e find that some of our Scholars are interested in pursuing a graduate degree and this creates a pipeline for better access and resources. Deciding to partner with Chicago Booth made sense because of our history of partnership with the University of Chicago.鈥�听

Guillermo Camarillo, a Chicago Scholar from the class of 2020, is one of the first students benefiting from this partnership. After听graduating from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Science in Management Science and Engineering, he鈥檚 now a part-time student at Chicago Booth and a full-time Software Developer at McMaster-Carr.听

鈥満＝锹衣咨缜� helped shape my path to a Booth MBA by allowing me to have the support system I needed to be able to get an undergraduate degree at a world-class institution. This opportunity allowed me to not only grow in ways I wouldn鈥檛 have imagined but it pushed me to consider a graduate degree, specifically an MBA, as a viable option post-undergrad. To put it succinctly, 海角乱伦社区 helped me see the potential I had.鈥� 听

鈥淭he University of Chicago has been a long-term institutional affiliate with 海角乱伦社区 and we鈥檙e pleased to build on that legacy with additional offerings from a graduate level perspective,鈥� said Donna Swinford, Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Admissions at Chicago Booth. 鈥淭his initiative is important to our school and it鈥檚 a significant step in progressing towards more access to graduate education鈥攂oth across the board and in our hometown.鈥�听

The post Announcing: Graduate Level Partnership With University of Chicago Booth Business School appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

Paying for college and understanding financial aid can be overwhelming. To help create a list of schools that are need-sensitive, you might consider Googling or talking with your guidance counselor or college counselor about institutions who are prepared to meet 100% of students’ demonstrated need. There are dozens throughout the country. In addition, you might also consider looking at scholarships that are need-based, merit-based, and talent-based. Each institution might offer these types of scholarships, but there may also be external scholarships from your parents’ employers, church community, community based organizations, national organizations, and more.

You do not need to be a straight “A” student with the highest test scores. While some scholarships are based on grades and test scores, many are not, so there is no “perfect student.” There are unique scholarship opportunities that were created for unique students like yourself.

Pay attention to institutional and external scholarships, as well as federal and state aid. For example, some states offer additional aid to students separate from the aid offered by the federal government. Some companies might also offer aid through your parents’ jobs or even your own job. Don’t miss out on those opportunities.

I highly recommend building a relationship with your financial aid office/officer. Just like you have an admissions officer, you’ve been assigned a financial aid officer. You should introduce yourself and inform the financial aid office of your interest in the institution and what your financial needs are. Ask what other options besides student loans are available to you. It doesn’t hurt to ask!

You should inquire with each institution that you’re considering. Different institutions have different financial aid processes. These different methods can range from need-based, merit, work study, and federal/institutional loans.

The most important thing for students and families to remember as they work on scholarships and financial aid applications is that you will be asked to provide a lot of personal financial information, but the financial aid office is there to answer questions and provide guidance throughout this process. College is intended to be an experience of a lifetime, but it is also an investment of a lifetime.

The post Navigating scholarships and financial aid: Advice from a Platinum Partner appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

Inspired to mentor the next class of 海角乱伦社区? Click here to learn more about our application process.听

Jennifer Shimp is a veteran 海角乱伦社区 mentor and is currently mentoring a cohort of Year Two Scholars. Read her Q&A below to learn more about her experience as a mentor.听听

听

What does it mean to you to be named Mentor of the Year?听

Receiving the Mentor of the Year is an unbelievable honor. 海角乱伦社区 is such an amazing and unique organization and I feel so fortunate to have gotten to know many of the talented Scholars, co-mentors and CS team. It is a privilege to share my time, work and life experience to help in some small way that the dreams and goals of the Scholars become reality.鈥�听

听

What is your favorite thing about mentoring Scholars?听

The best part of being a Chicago Scholar mentor is getting to meet the Scholars at New Scholar Orientation (NSO) and see them develop confidence in themselves, learn and capitalize on their unique 鈥渟uperpowers鈥� and provide support as they complete their college and scholarship applications and prepare for their interviews at Onsite. It is so exciting when the acceptances, financial aid and scholarships start coming in which will determine where they take the next step in their college and career journeys. I enjoy staying in touch and continuing to see their growth through college and beyond.鈥�听

听

Why should someone become a 海角乱伦社区 mentor?听

Others should get involved with 海角乱伦社区 for many reasons, but the most important reason is to support young adults navigate the college access/acceptance process. Supporting their journey changes lives as well as those of future generations. They are the leaders who will be impacting our future!鈥�听

I still can鈥檛 believe that the Scholars in my very first cohort are just about to graduate from college. I love that the Scholars reach out periodically to ask for advice or just share updates.鈥�听

听

Would you like to share something you鈥檝e learned from your Scholars?听

Two of the attributes of the Scholars that have impressed me the most are their perseverance and resilience. Many of them are relatively new to this country, many do not have big support networks, if at all. They have come through the isolation and challenges of the coronavirus and have other struggles but they work incredibly hard and take advantage and support of the 海角乱伦社区 program to make their future goals come true. It is so exciting to learn about the ways that they plan to make the world a better place.鈥�听

听

Dan Bradley is a veteran mentor who is currently working with a cohort of Year Two Scholars.听

听

What does it mean to you to receive this award?

I feel very humbled to be recognized with this award as I know how many extraordinary CS mentors 鈥� both that I鈥檝e volunteered alongside or interacted with from a distance 鈥� are incredibly deserving of the recognition. I hope that I am able to adequately speak on behalf of the inspiring and diverse community of CS Mentors who make it a priority in their lives to encourage, support, and celebrate the efforts and talents of our scholars. It has always been my goal as a CS mentor to offer a positive influence, however small or large, in my scholars’ lives during a critical period of young adulthood. I believe that this award represents that the collective impact of the many contributions CS Mentors offer our scholars is far larger and more meaningful than we may appreciate in the fleeting shared moments together. To me the award also represents the irreplaceable support CS Mentors receive from the tireless efforts of the CS Staff. I would not be the CS mentor I am today without the year-round dedication and investment CS Staff make in both scholars and mentors to prepare us to be successful in our work together.听

What has been the best part of being a CS Mentor?

It is a bit surreal to realize the first cohort of scholars I worked with will now be heading into their senior undergraduate year. The years have flashed by. I am so impressed by how our scholars have navigated challenges and flourished as undergraduates. My favorite moments include witnessing the transformation scholars undergo — often between their second semester and the end of the year — when they begin embracing their identity as a college student with newfound confidence. I know it has occurred when scholars begin sharing their outlets to inspire new individuals to pursue educational goals. This drive to inspire and support others is what I believe is at the root of the transformational power of 海角乱伦社区.听

Why should others get involved with 海角乱伦社区鈥� work?听

The people of 海角乱伦社区 — scholars, staff, volunteers, and supporters of all types — deeply believe in the transformational mission of the organization. Anyone seeking to experience or contribute firsthand to the incredible impact higher education has on individuals and broader society will find a welcome home in 海角乱伦社区. As a mentor you are trusted with playing a critical support role as scholars transition between high school to their first year as an undergraduate. The expectations for mentors are set high because 海角乱伦社区 attracts people who can meet them and provides the training to set individuals up to be successful. Becoming involved with 海角乱伦社区’ work means you will find yourself as a member of this talented, driven community committed to transformation.听听听

听

What is something you learned from our Scholars or from being a CS Mentor?听

I’ve learned that it is never too early or too late to open yourself up and offer guidance, support, or a caring heart to another person. You don’t need to possess all of the 鈥渞ight鈥� answers 鈥� or even all of the 鈥渞ight鈥� questions 鈥� to make a positive impression and offer encouragement to another. You start simply by showing up, honestly sharing your experiences, and being willing to learn and grow. Setbacks or missteps are an inevitable part of everyone’s growth and development. These alone should not and will not dissuade anyone with the genuine desire to help people progress toward their set goals.鈥�听

The post Jennifer Shimp and Dan Bradley named 2023 Mentors of the Year appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

We Model The Way: Molly Tompkins

What does it mean to you to receive this award?听

It means the world to me to be honored by an organization that has played such an integral role in my life since I joined as a CS Mentor. I respect the 海角乱伦社区 organization so much and am amazed by the impact it has on our community. Working with my incredible scholars has been life changing for me – they are the ones who deserve the true honor!

What has been the best part of being a CS Mentor?

The best part of being a CS Mentor is the lifelong relationships I’ve formed. I’ve had the honor of becoming close with my mentors and several of my scholars, attending graduations, birthday celebrations, and even moving one of my scholars into college in New York City. Seeing their grit, humility, tenacity and brilliance gives me so much hope and pride in our next generation of leaders. These scholars are truly going to change the world for the better.

Why should others get involved with 海角乱伦社区鈥� work?听

Getting involved in 海角乱伦社区 provides you with a perspective that can change your day-to-day outlook. Their diverse backgrounds and stories are the fabric of our city. As a Mentor to scholars in the important life moments of applying to college, graduating high school, starting college, and their freshman year, you see incredible growth. You get to work one-on-one with students towards a more equitable city and world, and you gain more than you give. You get to see firsthand how simply resources and support can be life changing.

What is something you learned from our Scholars or from being a CS Mentor?听

My scholars are incredibly resilient and positive. They’ve taught me countless lessons, but the biggest would be never give up on your dreams (but stay practical – if your dream changes, that’s okay!).

听

We Care for Each Other: Armando Becerril Sierra

What does it mean to you to receive this award?

Being a recipient of this award means that I, along with my fellow mentors, are having a positive impact on young people鈥檚 lives through this platform that 海角乱伦社区 has provided us. That in and of itself is rewarding enough.

What has been the best part of being a CS Mentor?

Having the opportunity to meet and learn about these talented young people has been the most rewarding part of being a CS Mentor. Listening to everyone鈥檚 aspirations assures me that the future of the city will be in good hands.

Why should others get involved with 海角乱伦社区鈥� work?

If you鈥檙e looking to have a direct, positive impact on the future of the city of Chicago, you should consider getting involved. Plus, I鈥檇 be willing to say that most of us, at some point in our life, have had a mentor that has positively impacted the trajectory of our life. So, why not pay it forward by becoming a CS Mentor?

What is something you learned from our Scholars or from being a CS Mentor?

Something that was further bolstered for me from this experience is that inclusion should be at the core of everything that we do in our lives. This was reflected by the scholars in my cohort at always made their fellow scholars feel welcome and embraced their differences.

Tim Courtney, We Show Up

听

What does it mean to you to receive this award?听

Just getting to work with the scholars, to help instill confidence, and help activate their ambitions and dreams is reward in itself; but to be recognized among both my peers and this wonderful, dedicated staff at 海角乱伦社区 is icing on the cake!

When your seniors are comfortable calling you at 11:30 PM to help double check that midnight-due essay or scholarship application, you know that you have earned their trust, and they know that you are there for them.听听When they share things about themselves they haven鈥檛 told her parents, you realize you鈥檝e earned their trust.听听This award is just a wonderful reminder how important it is to show up (and keep showing up) for these young scholars.听听It is a humbling experience to be recognized for the work that we all do in our own ways, and I am grateful.

What has been the best part of being a CS Mentor?

So many great parts, but I would say, just getting to know each of the scholars as individuals is a highlight.

My favorite moments are not just when they get accepted and start getting scholarship offers; it is sharing that hesitation and reluctance to hit that SUBMIT button on their very first college application, and then the excitement that occurs after they realize that they just applied to college!

Why should others get involved in 海角乱伦社区鈥� Work?

This is such a pivotal moment in scholars鈥� lives; to assist in taking the leap to higher education impacts not only the scholars鈥� future, but it sets generations of families on a more secure path.听听It is hard to think of a more important and rewarding work than that.

What have you learned from our scholars or from being a mentor?听

Just be present and available鈥攔each out, again and again.听听Scholars are very intuitive. They can discern between sincere interest and just putting in the time. I have also learned it is more important that you get to know THEM than having them get to know you.

Michelle Repp, We Keep Our Word

听

What does it mean to you to receive this award?

听CS Staff said it all when I received this award: We see you. It was validating that whether I feel that I鈥檝e contributed enough or not, my participation alone is valuable and appreciated.

What has been the best part of being a CS Mentor?

The Scholars! 听Every single Scholar is bright, impressive, and mature, and they offer hope for the听future of a complicated society.

Why should others get involved in 海角乱伦社区鈥� Work?听

As a mentor I am actually put to work, and for a truly good cause. 听That鈥檚 what you hope for when you are looking for a volunteer opportunity.

As a volunteer mentor, you will find that听expectations are clear.

You are held to 海角乱伦社区’ core principles. 听听This is not the type of organization where you can show up if and when听you feel like it.听 To me, this culture communicates 海角乱伦社区’ commitment to and belief in听its mission, which lends it credibility.

What have you learned from our scholars or from being a mentor?听听

The Scholars model the way for me.听 For example, my Scholars taught me听about respectful communication in a world that has vastly changed since I graduated from听college.

The post Molly Tompkins, Tim Courtney, Armando Beccerill Sierra, and Michelle Repp honored with 2023 CS Ways Mentorship Awards appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

The post Eva Maria’s Story: 鈥淭here is always something we can do for others鈥� appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

“Going to college means everything to me,” he said.

Jeffries and hundreds of other college-bound seniors from Chicago packed into Navy Pier on a recent Tuesday where rows of college recruiters sat in wait. For the overwhelming majority of the students, many of whom swapped out hoodies and tennis shoes for crisp blazers and shiny oxfords, they were determined to become the first in their families to attend college.

海角乱伦社区 Foundation, the nonprofit that spent months prepping the students, doesn’t want them to stop there. The organization’s goal is to change the criterion of success from merely getting into college 鈥� a cause of celebration for any high school kid 鈥� to graduating and finding a job, said Milton Rodriguez, the group’s vice president of development.

“We stay with our students through college and ultimately the first couple years of their career,” Rodriguez said. “That’s one of the things that sets our program apart. We really have a seven-year program.”

海角乱伦社区 is one of many area nonprofits to receive financial support from Chicago Tribune Charities, a McCormick Foundation fund…

The post Chicago Tribune: 海角乱伦社区 helps 1st-generation students make it to college and succeed appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

Our Scholars, spanning from high school to early career, are stepping up to support their loved ones and those most impacted by COVID-19. Take Cristal, who is leveraging her networks to highlight the unique challenges that low-income, first-generation college students are facing in their transition to virtual learning. Daniel, an alum and Chicago Elementary School teacher, is . Jeanpierre, a student at Loyola, and store their belongings during nation-wide college closures. Across the board, we are so proud of our Scholars who are stepping up as leaders and doing what they need to care for themselves and others.

During this COVID-19 outbreak, things continue to evolve rapidly. Amidst this uncertainty, we continue to stay focused on people: getting our Scholars, our staff, and our community through this crisis and into a stable and hopeful future.

To this end, we have expanded our Emergency Lifeline Grant funding and created the to support our Scholars with emergency funding for expenses like travel, rent, utilities, and technology resources as they and their families adapt to closed college campuses and losses of income associated with industry-wide closures.

Our staff continues to work tirelessly and collaboratively to transition our programming and events into meaningful virtual gatherings. This includes our Scholar Interview Nights, where Chicago-area professionals have the opportunity to help us select our next class of Scholars. You can still sign up for volunteer shifts on our website. Our staff, mentors, and counselors are also helping our Scholars in high school choose the best college for them; keeping our Scholars in college on track to graduation and launching them into fulfilling careers; and continuing to offer our Scholar Alums career and networking resources to ensure they maintain a growth mindset and nurture their leadership skills.

This work is not just about our Scholars but ensuring Chicago as a whole makes it through this crisis stronger and more unified than ever. We are strengthening our ties with community partners to identify and meet the needs of the people we serve. We are working with our corporate and foundation partners to envision how best to provide summer internships 鈥� a critical milestone in leadership and career development 鈥� in our changing and uncertain workforce. Our Associate Board is identifying ways to transition our UnTied fundraiser to a virtual platform and elevate the leadership of this year’s 35 Under 35. We are reaching out to families to ensure鈥痶hat they have not only knowledge, but access to both local and federal resources. You can view our compilation of resources here.

The true test of a leader is how one responds over time and under pressure. Determining how to respond to uncertainty is, quite frankly, uncertain. All of us face the question: how do you know what to do when you don’t know what to do? At a time when we want to hold those dearest to us close, we are told that we must stay distant, for the safety of them and the public at large. As a mother, friend, non-profit CEO, and proud Chicagoan, I know that our city and its people are resilient and tenacious. We have already seen incredible forms of leadership and solidarity as our Scholars and partners band together to uplift those most in need. Caring for each other is how we emerge stronger and more unified than ever.

The post A Letter from Our CEO on COVID-19 appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

Being a recent graduate, Tony鈥檚 focus is to learn and gain as much experience so that he can be in a position to take on larger roles and more responsibilities. A native of Chicago鈥檚 Bridgeport neighborhood it was not easy for him and his family.

鈥淚 came from a family that doesn鈥檛 understand English and being the first child to go to college, I was very lucky to have 海角乱伦社区 behind me through college and into my career.

That is why 海角乱伦社区 has been a much needed support group for me for a number of reasons. One reason was their extensive knowledge when I was applying to colleges. 海角乱伦社区 kept me on track and guided me every step of the way. Another reason was being able to meet amazing other Scholars that had the same, if not more, determination and ambition to succeed against all odds. Lastly, Chicago Scholar鈥檚 career guidance and their tenacity to keep in touch and inform Scholars about various opportunities is definitely what makes me view this organization as my friend, mentor and family.”听

Today, Tony鈥檚 goal is to continue to gain a competitive advantage over his peers, and to pass the CFA level 1 course. While working at Northern Trust as a Senior Analyst, Tony is also lifting up the next generation of leaders behind him by mentoring his听 own group of 海角乱伦社区 who are all taking the path once walked.

Just like Tony, hundreds of other Chicago Scholar alumni all choose Chicago as their path to career success after college, and they are all contributing to the empowerment of the next generation. Our 海角乱伦社区 Alum are a part of a community that will forever strengthen and diversify Chicago鈥檚 workforce.

The post Meet the Scholar: Tony Liang, Class of 2014 appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

She spent the day touring the campus, sitting in on classes and talking to students. Now, the college is offering the 17-year-old Whitney Young High School senior a $24,000 yearly scholarship. She made the trip with help from the nonprofit 海角乱伦社区, which provides a seven-year program to help Chicago area youth attend college.

The program, which starts when teens are juniors in high school, helps low-income or first-generation college students apply to college, remain in college and find a job. Aside from adult mentors, students are peered with other students to provide a supportive network. Since 海角乱伦社区 started in 1996, more than 1,200 students have completed the program.

The post Chicago Sun Times: </br>Chicago group helps youngsters attend college </br>and find a job appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

鈥淲e see relationship-building as critical, and we see our space as a way of making sure we鈥檙e always staying connected,鈥� Turner said. 鈥淲e want it to feel like a college campus–a cool space to hang out, with all the tools and resources our scholars need right in our office.鈥� This year, the foundation reached 350 new college-aspiring students. By 2018, they鈥檙e hoping to bring that number up to a thousand.

The post Catalyst Chicago鈥檚 鈥淭ake 5 Education News Roundup鈥� appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

The organization 鈥淟aunches, Lifts and Leads鈥� Student Scholars through its 5-Year College Access, College Success and 2-Year Leadership Development Program.

The 海角乱伦社区 Foundation aspires to be known throughout Chicagoland as the city鈥檚 Leadership Accelerator for the business community. The Foundation has just opened the doors to its expansive new workspace that matches its ambitious goal: moving from selecting 350 new students at present, to more than 1,000 college-bound high school students by 2017.

Named the Chicago Scholar Community, Leadership and Resource Center, the 11,000-square-foot facility symbolizes a stepping stone for this critical component of 海角乱伦社区 growth development strategy.听…

The post 海角乱伦社区 featured in Ed News Daily appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

The post 海角乱伦社区 on Fox News appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

.

The post 海角乱伦社区 Opened Up a Big New Space to Facilitate Growth in Program appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

Cornell University, Class of 2017

Air Force Academy High School

Jocelyn Vega embodies leadership and grace. A native of the McKinley Park neighborhood on the southwest side of Chicago, Jocelyn grew up in a strong, working class, Latino family. Like many first-generation, low-income students, her entire life she has had to overcome numerous obstacles that have challenged her ability to attend college鈥攈er realizing her own potential as a high-achieving, low-income student being one of the biggest hurdles she has had to face thus far. For so long, she constantly had people in her life telling her that she would never be good enough, and that students like her don鈥檛 get to go to college; this making it even harder for her to have confidence in herself and her abilities.

鈥満＝锹衣咨缜� was my only safe space in Chicago because of its supportive atmosphere.鈥� Along with the endless workshops and counseling sessions 海角乱伦社区 offers, Jocelyn says the ability to just talk to anyone in the office whenever she was feeling overwhelmed or anxious was one of the most valuable resources 海角乱伦社区 provided her with.

At Cornell University, Jocelyn is majoring in Government and Sociology, and is balancing three minors. This summer she will be interning for the Exoneration Project of Chicago and will be in Ghana working as a student teacher for the UN NGO Voices of African Mothers from July until August 2015. Her goal is to continue her higher education so that she can research and engage in social change, domestically and internationally.

She encourages current high school juniors to take time to reflect on their experiences, values, and communities to first understand the person that they are to then determine which college is best for them. Jocelyn admits that she struggled being the first in her family to graduate and attend college, but with 海角乱伦社区, she soon realized that she was never alone throughout the process. Now, she happily states that she has all the confidence she needs to tackle the world, and it is all thanks to 海角乱伦社区.

The post Jocelyn Vega, Class of 2017 appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

The post 海角乱伦社区 on WGN News appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

The post Torrence Sorrell, Class of 2015 appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

The post 海角乱伦社区 names Milton Rodriguez Vice President of Development appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

To read more about Mayor Rahm Emanuel鈥檚 education initiative please visit the听from the City of Chicago.

The post Mayor appoints 海角乱伦社区 President & CEO to Board of Education appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

Dominique Jordan Turner was born to a teenage mother from a Chicago housing project, and she had peers who struggled to avoid the crime that plagued their neighborhood. But Turner (“Mika” to her family) had an advantage 鈥� a mother with foresight. She moved Turner and her sister to Niles, Mich., where they thrived within the safety net of an everybody-knows-everybody small town.

“We were parented by all the parents there,” said Turner. “We saw beyond a life of young pregnancies, hourly jobs and no education.”

Turner went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business from Clark Atlanta University and an MBA from Marquette University, then became a management consultant for Deloitte Consulting. After serving in the Peace Corps in Panama (and becoming fluent in Spanish), Turner sought nonprofit work.

Since 2013, she has been the CEO of听, which helps talented but underserved Chicago high-schoolers get into and stay in college.

“Friend-raising and fundraising” consume her day, said Turner, 38, who coaxes donors to give their time and money to the foundation, which receives no government support.

“She’s a charismatic collaborator, tackling huge problems like inequality of education,” said Sarah Berghorst, a nonprofit director who served with Turner in the Peace Corps. “She knows how to help underserved students because she’s been there.”

Turner’s volunteer posts include serving on the IMPACT Leadership Development Program (emerging African-American professionals) in Chicago and on the Illinois Mentoring Partnership’s Program Leadership Council. She founded听听(for female nonprofit directors in Chicago).

Earlier this month, Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed Turner to the Chicago Board of Education. She is one of听听who will serve a four-year term beginning July 1.

The post 海角乱伦社区 CEO empowers underserved teens with path to college appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

With college costs skyrocketing, more high school graduates are looking for ways to get the best deals on higher education.

That鈥檚 where groups such as the 海角乱伦社区 Foundation come in.

They help students from low-income or first-generation college families navigate the college application process. Students are urged to have a savvy strategy and aggressively seek scholarships that can help foot the bill.

鈥淚t鈥檚 like flying for the first time and going to O鈥橦are,鈥� said Dominique Jordan Turner, the CEO and president of 海角乱伦社区. 鈥淲e help guide the way for them to get to their gate or otherwise they鈥檒l miss their flight.鈥�

That kind of guidance is crucial. The cost of a private college rose 27 percent from the 2002-03 school year to the 2012-13 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. In the 2014-15 school year, the average cost of a private university was $31,381.

Arianna Alexander, Kenwood Academy鈥檚 valedictorian and a participant in the 海角乱伦社区 program, secured $3 million in scholarships. Alexander, who is headed to the University of Pennsylvania, received mostly full rides from the 26 universities where she was accepted.

The post Chicago Sun Times: Mentoring programs push college-bound students to maximize application process appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

Arianna Alexander is well on her way to making all of her college access and success dreams come true. 听Awarded over $3 million in scholarships, accepted into 6 out of 8 Ivy League schools, a Gates Millennium Scholar, and Valedictorian of Kenwood鈥檚 high school Class of 2015. Arianna realized her own potential as a high-achieving student was due to her determination to go to college.

鈥淕oing to college was my ultimate dream and the day I became a Chicago Scholar I knew that dream would come true. They helped my family and me with all the necessary resources and information to navigate the college process. Starting the college process early really helped me stay focused and on track and now I made it with a full ride to UPenn!鈥�

From growing up in the Hyde Park/Kenwood neighborhood and now attending the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania I came a long way. 听Because of 海角乱伦社区 I received a strong support network that I know I can always rely on even with I am away at school. 海角乱伦社区 is truly a community with no boundaries.鈥�

“My advice to the next talented class of Scholars would be to appreciate the network and the endless advice for applying to college and remember that going to college is crucial.”

As we send off yet another talented group of scholars who are preparing to launch their journey into college and beyond. We are welcoming the class of 2020, 425 scholars who represent almost every high school and every neighborhood in Chicago. This movement within the college access and success cycle continues to shape and strengthen Chicago as the city of education.

The post Meet the Scholar: Arianna Alexander, Class of 2019 appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

The post 海角乱伦社区 on WBEZ-FM appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

The post 海角乱伦社区 on ABC 7 News appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

The post 海角乱伦社区 featured on WCIU appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

The post Chicago’s Got Talent: Newsletter – Q3 appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

The post 海角乱伦社区 featured on Univision appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.

The post 海角乱伦社区 on WVON 1690 Radio appeared first on 海角乱伦社区.