Mentor Organizations

Leadership and Educational Organizations

Do The Write Thing Chicago encourages students to stay active and do your very best to continue to stop violence. Several Chicago area leadership and educational organizations are familiar with the Do the Write Thing Challenge, and admire the participation. These organizations have their doors open to welcome you, help you and offer amazing life lessons.

Please keep in touch with the National Campaign to Stop Violence by registering on our Stay Connected Program at: http://www.dtwt.org/stay-connected.

Organization and Contact

Description

826 CHI

1331 North Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL 60622

www.826chi.org

Phone: 773 -772-8108 Fax: 773 326 3513

info@826chi.org







826 CHI is dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. All programs are free of charge. 826 CHI provides after-school tutoring in all subjects, writing assistance in the classroom, help for English language learners, assistance with student publications, and evening, weekend and summer workshops. Workshops cover a wide range and include journalism, songwriting, screenplay and comic book production, radio broadcasting, and a variety of other subject matters. 826 CHI is committed to publishing student work and will use professional editors and designers in their publishing efforts in order to allow students work to shine. All programs are challenging and enjoyable, and ultimately strengthen each students power to express ideas effectively, creatively, confidently, and in his or her individual voice.

After School Matters

66 E. Randolph Street 4th Floor Chicago, IL 60601

www.afterschoolmatters.org

Phone: 312-742-4182

Fax: 312-744-0862

info@afterschoolmatters.org







After School Matters is a nonprofit organization that offers Chicago high school teens innovative out-of-school activities through its science37, sports37, tech37, words37 and nationally-recognized gallery37 programs. Programs are provided through a network of public and private partnerships that include the Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Library and community organizations across the city. Hands-on, project-based programs introduce teens to rewarding careers and help them develop marketable job skills. Teens can apply for After School Matters programs online at www.afterschoolmatters.org . For Summer 2011 programs, teens can begin applying on April 29. For School Year 2011-2012 programs, teens can begin applying in early September. Visit www.afterschoolmatters.org for more information, as well as to search for available programs in your community!

All Stars Project, Inc.

53 W. Jackson Blvd.

Ste. 556

Chicago, IL 60606

www.allstars.org

Phone: 312-360.0660

Fax: 312-360-1660





The All Stars creates outside-of-school, educational and performing arts activities for young people. All Stars sponsors community and experimental theatre, develops leadership training and pursues volunteer initiatives that build and strengthen communities. Through their talent shows, they offer youth the opportunity to showcase their passions and talents in a supportive environment. Also the Joseph A. Forgione Development School for Youth (DSY) is a leadership training program for young people that partners with corporations and corporate professionals to provide training experiences for the students and summer internships for the DSY graduates.

Cabrini Connections

800 W. Huron

Chicago, IL 60622

www.cabriniconnections.net

Phone: 312-492-9614

Fax: 312-492-9795

Cabrini Connections volunteers meet with 7th to 12th grade youth for one-on-one mentoring, tutoring and group learning activities. Activities are designed to build social, team-building and leadership skills and encourage an interest in arts, technology and social service. Programs include, writing club, video creation and production, arts and tech clubs.

Camp of Dreams

1235-A N. Clybourn, Ste 362

Chicago, IL 60610

www.campofdreams.org

Phone: 312.649.5551 Fax: 312.643.1036

info@campofdreams.org







Camp of Dreams is an educational and cultural enrichment organization for youth ages 8-18. Participants meet two Saturdays per month during the school year at LEARN Charter School (1132 S. Homan), and they are eligible to attend a summer camp which runs for three weeks at a campsite several hours outside of Chicago. While at their Saturday Community Days or summer camp, the Dreamers take part in small group classes in four subject areas--academics, athletics, visual and performing arts, and mind and body. Previously offered classes include: poetry, canoeing, martial arts, painting and foreign languages. Their high school program is also offered year-round, featuring classes on critical thinking, problem solving and leadership as well as a quarterly community service project. High school students also participate in a weekend leadership retreat during the school year and a week-long college tour of state and regional universities and colleges during the summer.

Chicago Youth Centers

218 S. Wabash

Ste. 600

Chicago, IL 60604

www.chicagoyouthcenters.org

Phone: 312-913-1700

Fax: 312-913-1800

Contact: Melanie Sillas, Manager of Program and Resource Development

melanie.sillas@chicagoyouthcenters.org

Chicago Youth Centers invites teens to sign up to attend and participate in a comprehensive variety of activities that are designed to improve academic performance in school as well as life and social skills. Teen programs for students ages 13-18 offers after school activities which have a strong leadership component. Teens involve themselves with elected center-based Teen Councils and the agency-wide Teen Senate. CYC has a variety of awards and recognitions programs, support for higher education in the form of college visits and college scholarships and job readiness and career awareness.

Christopher House

3516 W. School St.

Chicago, IL 60618

www.christopherhouse.org

Phone: 773-267-9461

Contact: Shana Rubenstein

Manager of Youth Leadership: Avondale

srubenstein@ChristopherHouse.org

Christopher House offers a Youth Leadership Program for teens which includes tutoring and youth leadership activities. The Youth Development Program also has a college component whereby selected students visit campuses to learn about college life and explore their post-secondary options outside of Illinois. In the words of a 15 year old boy participating in the Youth Leadership Program, I would recommend this program to anyone my age. It has helped me develop my own personal interests and talents. It has given me the tools I need to make the right decisions in life and develop positive relationships with my peers.

Dreams For Kids

155 N. Michigan Ave.

Suite 700

Chicago, IL 60601

www.DreamsForKids.org

Phone: 312-729-5454

Fax: 312-729-5405

Contact: Tom Tuohy Founder and President

ttuohy@dreamsforkids.org

Dreams For Kids empowers at-risk youth and those with disabilities through dynamic leadership programs and life-changing activities that inspires them to fearlessly pursue their dreams and compassionately change the world. Dream Leaders - a leadership program that unites youth to their diverse peers and provides them the opportunity to help others who are less fortunate in community service and service learning through After-school Clubs, In-school workshops, and We are the Change Conferences

Girls in the Game

Union Park Fieldhouse

1501 W. Randolph

Chicago, IL 60607

Phone: 312-633-GAME (4263)

Fax: 312-633-4897

Contact:

Amy Skeen Executive Director,

askeen@girlsinthegame.org

Girls in the Game provides and promotes sports and fitness opportunities, nutrition and health education, and leadership development to enhance the overall health and well-being of girls. The Girls in the Game After School programs provide opportunities for elementary and middle school girls to learn sports, health and leadership throughout the school year. The Camps and Clinics program includes camps, one-day events and sports clinics for girls in Chicago. Girls in grades 9-12 use the skills theyve learned through Girls in the Game programs to educate adults, their peers and younger girls about the benefits of sports and girls health issues through our Teen Programs. Spring Training is Girls in the Game's new program that gives qualified youth service professionals the tools and training they need to run a Girls in the Game program at their school, park or youth center.

Marwen

833 N. Orleans

Chicago, IL 60610

www.marwen.org

Phone: 312-944-2418 Fax: 312-944-6696

Contact: Shirley Alfaro Manager of Studio Programs

salfaro@marwen.org

Marwen educates and inspires young people through the visual arts. If you are into art, would you like to explore sculpture, ceramics, painting, photography, video, and more? Marwen programs invite students in grades 6-12 who live in Chicago but can't afford to pay for art courses to join a Marwen program. No experience required - just energy, commitment, and enthusiasm! There is an application that can be downloaded on the Marwen site.

Union League Boys & Girls Clubs

65 W. Jackson Blvd.

Chicago, IL 60604

www.ulbgc.org

Phone: 312-435-5940

Contact: Mary Ann Mahon-Huels - Executive Director, m.huels@ulbgc.org

312-435-5987

Union League Boys and Girls Clubs give young people a safe place of their own to make better choices for their lives. Boys & Girls Club provide a sense of belonging with your peers and caring adults through fun activities and is a place to learn valuable life skills and build relationships. Programs include Keystone and Torch Clubs where students 11-18 work in teams to encourage each participants leadership potential. Teens, through the Career Prep program, prepare for the workforce by receiving job training and real-world applications of their skills. Other programs include community service, homework and tutoring, computer proficiency, fine arts, performing arts and sports programs.

Young Chicago Authors

1180 N. Milwaukee Ave.

2nd Floor

Chicago, IL 60622

www.youngauthors.org

Phone: 773-486-4331

Fax: 773-486-0326

Contacts:

Toni Asante Lightfoot - Workshops Manager

lightfoot@youngchicagoauthors.org Natasha Tarpley - Publications Manager

Natasha@youngchicagoauthors.org

Young Chicago Authors transforms the lives of young people by cultivating their voices through writing, publication, and performance education. YCA provides student-centered, artist-led workshops free to youth ages 13-19 in schools and communities. Young Chicago Authors Saturday Writing Program is an intensive one-year writing program that accepts students beginning their Freshman year of high school (application process). Another program, WordPlay, features local and national poets, prose writers, theater-types, and musicians to lead workshops for local teen artists. Following a workshop, there is a youth open mic. WordPlay offers youth the chance to get up and spit your piece, read your new story, drop some science, elevate some minds and crack some jokes - you get the idea. Its an OPEN mic. As part of the publishing part of being an author, Young Chicago Authors offers the opportunity to be published in Say What magazine. Check out the previous magazines on YCAs website www.youngchicagoauthors.org .