Thank You, Leaders!

During the holiday season most of us reflect on our year and our family, and start to get introspective.  During Thanksgiving you might share your thankfulness for others around the dinner table with family and friends.  In the spirit of thankfulness, the Chicago Cares family wants to personally say “THANK YOU” to all of our treasured leaders and volunteers!

We love all of our volunteers, but without the dedication of our leaders we wouldn’t be able to serve even a small percentage of the organizations we partner with or offer opportunities for even a portion of the volunteers that we have!  Below are just a few of the many reasons the Chicago Cares team loves our leaders. 

“I am thankful for the amount of time and dedication each of our leaders gives to their programs and students.  Our leaders are the most energetic, inspiring people!  I am motivated every week by their stories and updates.”  -Alisha G. Flores

“I’m thankful for our volunteer leaders because their impact extends beyond any one project they lead.  Each Youth in Service project is just as much about encouraging youth volunteers on a path of continued service as it is about meeting community needs.  The multiplying effect our leaders can have is humbling.”  -Erin Rasler

“I love that our leaders get so invested in their programs – they are really dedicated to the work they do and constantly help us improve our programs.  With all the projects we have every month, it’s impossible to be at every one and see where we can improve.  Having such great leaders at our projects enables us to make sure all our programs are the best they can possibly be for our community partners and volunteers.”  -Joyce Cruz

"Chicago Cares leaders are the only reason I haven’t gone COMPLETELY bald…” – Dan Alberti

So THANK YOU LEADERS for your passion, enthusiasm, commitment and for encouraging us through the busy times so we don’t lose our hair!  Without you Chicago Cares could not exist.

Giving Students a Chance to Explore Their Passions at Hinton

Every time I am asked the question, “Which school is your favorite to work with?” I immediately know the answer: Hinton Elementary. Hinton is one of my favorite schools to work with because the students are excited to learn alongside the volunteers and the activities completed have a huge impact in students’ lives.

Saturday mornings at Hinton elementary are special, with students being able to choose from four Chicago Cares education programs: History Hunters, Students on Stage, Read-with-Me, or School News. This enables the students to explore topics that they do not have the time to investigate during the regular school day. These programs also represent a space for creativity as well as promote a way for students to develop critical social skills, both which provide support for academic achievement.

For me, participating alongside the 3rd through 8th graders at Hinton Elementary School is a relaxing way to spend a Saturday morning. I am always greeted with big, smiling faces from the students, who are energetically eager to participate in the day’s activity.

What I like the most about participating in the programs at Hinton is that there is something for all of the volunteers to choose from, depending on their own personal interests. And, the big, smiling faces that the students have at the close of each Saturday program make me count down the days on my calendar until the next project.

Our Office is Moving October 26th!

Our new address is:

2 N Riverside Plaza, Suite 2200

Chicago, IL 60606

Although our phone and fax numbers will remain the same, those lines will be temporarily down on October 26 and 27 as we move. Thank you for your patience, and if you plan to visit or send mail, please be sure to use our new address.

Why I Work at Chicago Cares

This post comes to us from Emily Collins, a Program Coordinator for our Children’s Education & Development Department. She manages a diverse set of children’s programming at multiple sites, one of which is Ella Flagg Young School. 

Working for a nonprofit is work...a lot of work. Most people who ask what I do think it’s endless games, projects, and activities that make you feel good – and sometimes, that’s true. I also know that working for a nonprofit is long hours, endless dedication, and constant adaptability and creativity. Sometimes the job is overwhelming, sometimes it feels thankless, and sometimes it feels like I can do nothing right....and then sometimes it’s exactly what I am looking for.

Being in the office every day is hard work and I sometimes find myself forgetting why I am there. This past Saturday, however, I was once again reminded why I spend so many hours each week working in the office: to touch someone else’s life. I was the leader for Healthy Start at Young, one of six Chicago Cares programs that I coordinate at the school. I admit that I lacked motivation to get out of bed and head to a project early Saturday morning, but my love for working with children, as well as cooking, gave me push I needed to get up and drive to Young School. 

 

One foot in the door, my whole outlook changed. I was first welcomed by Selena and Ashley, excited and inspired middle-school students ready to participate in Students on Stage with Andrew. Ms. Wilson brought Danaya and Darrell to build their reading skills at Read-with-Me while she volunteered at Healthy Start. Michelle and Samantha were ready to start experimenting with Abbey at Math + Science Club, and one of our most dedicated students, Rashae, arrived at Young with a big smile, ready to once again bet me about his like or dislike of our Healthy Start recipe. Rashae was here, ready to learn as always, and excited to make healthier decisions about his young life. I instantly felt like the Grinch and my small heart grew three sizes that instant.

I must admit that I have a slight bias: I love to cook and I studied nutrition and health education in college. Anyone interested in participating in Healthy Start excites me and instantly finds a place in my heart. Rashae, however, holds a particularly special place. I once won a bet against him that he would actually enjoy a burrito made with black beans and whole wheat tortillas. By making a fresh salsa, Rashae learned that grocery store items can be made healthier and tastier. This week, I showed him that squash (ew!) isn’t something scary and foreign but tasty and tricky; case in point: spaghetti squash. Rashae returns each time to Healthy Start resistant to eating healthy, yet each week beams with pride as he carefully packs up some of his food to bring home to his Grandma. (I also know, although he won’t always admit it, that he really likes the food.) Five minutes with him makes me remember why I work at Chicago Cares every day: I love working with kids and inspiring them to be their best selves.

I will not solve world peace. I will not end poverty or inequality. I cannot house all those who are homeless. But I can inspire a student to live a healthier lifestyle and make better choices. I can be a stable, positive presence in one child’s life. I can encourage others to volunteer. I can make a difference.

Introducing our NEW Volunteer & Leader Services team!

Chicago Cares is very excited to announce the creation of the new Volunteer and Leader Services team! Thanks to our great Leaders and Volunteers, we are providing an ever increasing number of projects and resources to the Chicagoland area.  Due to this increased presence, the time has come to centralize a Volunteer & Leader department within the organization.  The creation of this department will streamline the volunteer and leader recruitment process for both our volunteers and staff.  

 

Our team “veteran” is Abbie Davis who has been working at Chicago Cares for the past year as the Assistant to Programs and Service Events.  She has managed our social media since last January and is very passionate about opening channels of communication with our volunteers. We are so glad that Abbie has accepted the new role of our Coordinator of Volunteer & Leader Services.  Managing the department is Jennifer Brown, a newcomer to Chicago Cares who brings 9 years of nonprofit volunteer management experience.

Two more new staff members have also been added thanks to our relationship with the AmeriCorps Volunteer program. Our new Get HandsOn AmeriCorps Member, Leader Services is Claire Dooms.  Claire is from the Chicago area and is no stranger to volunteering. She took part in a summer AmeriCorps program in Lake Tahoe’s Great Basin restoring, constructing and maintaining trails in a national forest. Rounding out the team is our Get HandsOn AmeriCorps Member, Volunteer Services, Lyzeth Mondragon.  Lyzeth’s varied work and volunteer experience includes tutoring and clerking for a law firm. 

The new team looks forward to getting to know our wonderful volunteers!

Thank You, Business Shares Leaders!

Fall has traditionally been the busiest time of year for our Business Shares projects, and 2010 has been no exception.  With the partnership of our great leaders, schools, community groups and corporate partners more schools have been enhanced to brighten the lives of students and community residents.  Highlights from these volunteer projects below: 

On September 11^th, approximately 350 volunteers joined Chicago Cares and the Chicago White Sox in transforming Alexander Graham Elementary School.  Through their hard work, these volunteers were able to paint 21 classrooms, 16 murals (both wall and canvas), 13 mosaics, beautify the outdoors with planter benches and update the auditorium. 

On September 24^th, Discover Financial Services’ Business Technology division brought 319 volunteers to serve with Chicago Cares in Zion, IL.   In one day, this group was able to make over two schools.  At one school alone, volunteers created nearly two dozen murals, built reading lofts and cubbies for the classrooms and overhauled the outside by adding line games and re-landscaping the school’s entrance.  At another school, volunteers painted murals and constructed planter benches, planter beds and planter boxes.  New seating and gathering areas were also created outside by constructing a flagstone path and benches.  Discover volunteers also added a new baseball diamond to the field between the two schools so all of the students could enjoy the space.  

On October 2^nd, over 600 volunteers from Medline transformed North Chicago's  A. J. Katzenmaier School inside and out!  Painting took place in hallways, classrooms, the gym and the cafeteria.  Murals were  created, a tile mosaic was completed reinforcing one of the school’s major ideas, that one must “READ TO SUCCEED.” Planter benches and boxes were built and placed around the grounds and a peace garden was created.  Volunteers even constructed an outdoor teaching area for the students to learn in the shade of the school’s largest tree.

We can see the physical impact of these projects, but the true reward will be felt by the students, faculty, administrators and parents who will enjoy these brighter environments for years to come. Many thanks to all who donated their time!

November Leader Spotlight: Mike Brunlieb

The Students on Stage program at Hinton Elementary school is quickly gaining interest with students, thanks to team coordinator Mike Brunlieb, who brings lots of energy and planned activities for students at each project.   Mike joined Chicago Cares two and a half years ago and quickly saw potential for improv and acting programs for children. As a leader for Students on Stage Mike is able to pull from his personal knowledge and experience as an accomplished improv performer in Chicago and share it with eager youth.

When we talked with Mike he shared some of his amazing experiences with his programs.  As students begin the program they are sometimes very resistant to learning improv or feel awkward, but quickly begin to open up, letting their intuition guide them. He sees improv and acting as an opportunity for the youth to drop their pretences and toughness.

“I think that improvisation is unique in the way allows people of different ages and backgrounds to create something together. When people drop their cool, and start really playing, especially people who would normally have little contact with one another, something wonderful happens. There's nothing like it!”

Mike stands out as a leader for this children’s program because he takes the time to sit down with the kids and get to know them, laugh with them, and listen to their stories. The students have told us that they are excited to return to his projects. 

Mike enjoys the leadership role for the program because it allows him to include colleagues from across different theaters in the city as guest speakers. He also uses the opportunity to expose the students to a variety of styles, techniques, and skills.

Thanks Mike for your commitment to Chicago Cares, your program at Hinton Elementary, and the many students and volunteers you work with at each project!