Coat of Arms Help La Semilla Students Learn More About One Another
One of the goals for La Semilla after school program has been to help the students get to know one another. An activity that has helped us work towards achieving this goal was creating and sharing their “Coat of Arms.” Within each section of their Coat of Arms are different prompts where they can share about their goals, family, favorites, unique experiences and motto. Two students have shared their Coat of Arms since the start of the year. Many people bring in photos to share, and after they present their Coat of Arms, their classmates ask them questions about their lives. The students have surpassed our expectations by asking questions, both serious and comical, that really help them get to know one another.
Breaking Down Chicago Neighborhood Barriers
Mentors from Humboldt Park and Little Village collaborated to bring youth from both neighborhoods together. Youth that normally do not venture out of their neighborhood were able to interact with other youth that are the same age as them but from a different cultural background. They were able to share a meal together, get to know each other and attend an improvised comedy show at local venue called Comedy Sportz in the city’s northside. Youth shared laughs and were able to meet someone they would have otherwise never had a chance to interact with, broadening their understanding of the diversity they can experience in Chicago.
Helping youth think outside "the box" for career options
Youth in the mentoring program at Piccolo Elementary explored different career paths by filling out a career cluster survey. Prior to this activity, they were all certain on what they would be when they grow up. Some wanted to be professional athletes or dancers and one in particular wanted to be a professional gamer. Demarion Russell is a mastermind at Fortnite. He spends almost 7 hours a night trying to perfect this craft. He was set on his life goals but after taking the survey, his career results said he would be good with his hands. Doing jobs like construction, a mechanic etc. He was furious and did not want to listen. When mentors asked him did he like cars and doing things outside he thought about it and realized that he did. While he was still not very happy with his outcome, most of the class were not bothered by the results and some felt like theirs aligned with that they wanted to do. We ended this activity by letting the youth know that the survey wasn't saying that they could not pursue their dreams outside of their results, nor do they have to pursue any of those careers but it is important to always have options.
Cubs Charities Awards NLC $150,000 Grant!
Cubs Charities has awarded New Life Centers a 2018 Diamond Project grant to help improve youth baseball and softball fields and facilities across Chicago’s neighborhoods!
This $150,000 grant will pay for lights to be installed at the two softball and baseball fields at La Villita Park in Little Village. This installment will allow the community to play more games as play will no longer have to stop once the sun goes down.
Since 2014, the Diamond Project has invested more than $7.3 million to fund 60 investment capital projects, distributed equipment to 14 organizations and provided operating support to 45 youth leagues. Of the capital projects supported to date, 66% are located in under-resourced communities representing more than half of Chicago’s 50 wards.
The Diamond Project provides funds to nonprofit, neighborhood-based organizations to expand opportunities for children to play baseball and softball and improve the quality, safety and accessibility of local baseball fields or indoor training facilities.
Cubs Charities, with assistance from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Chicago, selected 14 local capital improvement projects in 2018 to receive Diamond Project grants to support field surfaces, indoor training amenities, general field and stadium support and field maintenance.
Chosen by Obama Foundation as My Brother's Keeper Seed Grantee!
We are proud to be selected as a My Brother’s Keeper Seed Grantee with the Obama Foundation. We will be partnering over the next few years to improve our mentoring and street outreach services for young men in Little Village. Here is a video describing our work and our partnership. We look forward to these open doors in 2019 and beyond!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQC4gwkO44Q
Diving into the world of medicine
A UIC student has been attending our in-school mentoring program at Gary Elementary to teach the students about the world of medicine. They have been learning concepts such as neurological responses to stress and trauma and effects of drugs on the body. Youth have been receptive to the information and have been able to apply these concepts to real life experiences. The goal of the program is to invite the students to consider medicine as a potential career option in order to increase the number of Hispanic professionals in the medical field.
Many Smiles at Christmas Time
It was a great week of sharing God's love and hope with youth and families for Christmas. We are grateful for the financial support and donations that made everything possible!
Highlights were hosting 7 Christmas parties, driving around the neighborhood to give gifts to families and the "shop and wrap" event that allowed youth to come and pick out Christmas gifts for their siblings.
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Running Forward Youth Take to the Streets to Help Those In Need
Running Forward runners decided to encourage those who may be in need. They packed 30 sack lunches and provided socks, gloves and hats for those who might benefit from them. We drove around the neighborhood until we found 30 people and were able to pray for a few people as well.
On our way back to New Life Centers the runners were asked what they thought about the community service project and one runner said: "Let's do it again!"
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Volunteer Mentors Shown Appreciation for Their Hard Work
All the volunteer mentors gathered for an Appreciation Thanksgiving meal. We ate and handed out raffle prizes. Each mentor received a gift card as a token of appreciation from New Life Centers for all their hard work with their mentees.
There was a panel discussion by some of our most seasoned staff mentors. It was a great opportunity for the volunteer mentors to learn from those that have been mentoring for years. We talked about practical ways to live life on life with our mentees in a way that encourages personal faith in Jesus Christ.
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La Semilla Students Invite Their Famillies for a Night of Fun
La Semilla after-school program hosted a Community Dinner for our students and their families. Nearly all of our current students and families were able to attend! Everyone enjoyed a dinner of fajitas, rice, beans & pizza.
After dinner, families participated in a series of fun team activities. Activity stations included assembling a large puzzle together, making a "friendly monster" out of play dough, attempting to build the tallest tower with Jenga blocks, and making a park/playground out of miscellaneous craft and recycled items (e.g. felt, pipe cleaners, balloons, straws, yogurt containers, medical tape rolls, cardboard tubes, etc). Families had a lot of fun working together, and their creativity and building skills impressed us all!
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