Partners
These are the Partners that comprise The Chicago Collection:
826CHI
Contact Person(s)
Mara O’Brien Executive Director mara@826chi.org 773-772-8108
Services Provided
- After school tutoring
- Creative writing field trips
- In-school support for teachers/students
- Writing workshops
- Student publications
Book Worm Angels
Book Worm Angels is a literacy organization that fosters recreational reading habits by providing in-classroom lending libraries to children in underperforming schools. We partner with communities and organizations to collect and distribute new and gently-used books.
Contact Person(s)
Michael Ban President, Executive Director mban@bookwormangels.org 773-388-8382
Services Provided
- In-classroom lending libraries of 10 books/student
- Program encouraging in-home reading
Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection
www.cabriniconnections.net, www.tutormentorconnection.org
Contact Person(s)
Dan Bassill President, CEO tutormentor2@earthlink.net 312-492-9614
Services Provided
- One on one tutoring
- Mentoring and group learning
- Support program growths
Communities In Schools of Chicago
Communities In Schools of Chicago (CISC) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1988 and committed to connecting Chicago Public School students with an array of needed social, emotional, health, and enrichment programs and services. Programs and services facilitated by CISC are provided at no cost to schools or students. During the 2008-2009 school year, CISC connected more than 61,000 students with 1,173 programs and services.
Contact Person(s)
Visit our website for additional information, or contact Molly Topper, Agency/School Coordinator, at mtopper@chicagocis.org or 312-829-2475 ext. 12.
Services Provided
CISC partners with 170 Chicago public schools and works with school staff to build their capacity to create effective partnerships that will provide long-term benefits for students. CISC also partners with more than 125 community organizations, helping them access schools and deliver high-quality programs. Specifically, CISC offers agency partners the following:
• Assistance accessing and navigating schools
• Techniques and tools to increase student impact
• Individualized instruction on coordination, communication and evaluation
• Exclusive training and networking events
• Strategic support in expanding reach or customizing programs to school needs
Chicago Lights at Fourth Presbyterian Church
www.fourthchurch.org/chicagolights.html
Contact Person(s)
Diana Anton Director, Literacy & Arts in Near North Magnet Schools danton@fourthchurch.org
312-981-3561
Services Provided
- Supplemental independent reading program
- Fine arts festival
East Village Youth Program
Contact Person(s)
Jane Napoli Executive Director jnapoli@evyp.org 312-275-0440, ext 1
Services Provided
- College-readiness programs
- Tutoring, mentoring
- Parent and school workshops
Horizons for Youth
Contact Person(s)
Kristin Hatcher Program Director kristin@horizons-for-youth.org 312-627-9031
Services Provided
- Need-based scholarships
- Mentoring & enrichment programs
Howard Area Community Center
Contact Person(s)
Chandra Clark After School/Summer Camp Program Coordinator cclark@howardarea.org
312-401-9832
Services Provided
- Comprehensive social services
- ESL adult ed
- Employment
- Alternative hs
- After school and summer camp
- Early childhood
Illinois Parent Information Resource Center
Toll free (877) 586-0007
Contact Person(s)
Joanne Vena Director of School Partnerships jvena@colum.edu 312-369-6735
April Langworthy Associate Director, School Partnerships alangworthy@colum.edu
312-369-8853
Sarah Ogeto PIRC Coordinator saogeto@colum.edu 312-369-6735
Kelsey Wild kwild@colum.edu
Services Provided
- Arts-based, intergenerational, community-centered approach to family involvement
Innovations for Learning
Contact Person(s)
Seth Weinberger Executive Director sweinberger@mayerbrownrowe.com 800 975-3452
Services Provided
- Using computers and specially-developed programming for literacy
Jumpstart Chicago
www.jstart.org, cbsl.depaul.edu (Irwin W. Stearns Center)
Contact Person(s)
Jan Arnold Executive Director jan.arnold@jstart.org 312-867-3915
Heather Little Site Manager hlittle1@depaul.edu 773-325-8676
Melissa Frazin Site Manager mfrazin@depaul.edu 773-325-4104
Services Provided
- Training and supervision of college students as mentors for pre-k children
- Kindergarten readiness
- Early literacy
Literacy Volunteers of Illinois
Contact Person(s)
Tim Stripling Program Associate tstripling@lvillinois.org 312-857-1582
Services Provided
- Literacy training and volunteer recruitment
- Focus on adult, family, and incarcerated youth
Literacy Works
Contact Person(s)
Betsy Rubin Adult and Family Literacy Specialist betsy@litworks.org 773-860-5735
Services Provided
- Training, networking, select direct services to adult literacy, family literacy, parent involvement, and employment programs
Literature for All of Us
Contact Person(s)
Kateri Routh Director of Administration and Fundraising kateri@literatureforallofus.org
847-869-7323
Services Provided
- Book groups lead by professional book group leaders during school day
- Children’s lit for parenting program
Neighborhood Writing Alliance
Contact Person(s)
Hollen Reischer Assistant Director hreischer@jot.org 773-684-2742
Services Provided
- Writing workshops for parents of CPS students
- Publishers of the “Journal of Ordinary Thought”
- Readings of the adult written pieces
Open Books
Open Books is a non-profit social venture that operates an extraordinary bookstore, provides community programs, and mobilizes passionate volunteers to promote literacy in Chicago and beyond. Open Books enriches lives through reading, writing and the CREATIVE power of used books.
Contact Person(s)
Stacy Ratner Executive Director sratner@open-books.org 312 475-1355 x 111
Anna Piepmeyer Literacy Director apiepmeyer@open-books.org 312 475-1355 x 116
Services Provided
- 1-1 reading mentor services for elementary and high school students
- Creative writing field trips for students 4th-12th grade
- Adult writing workshops
- College and career preparedness for underserved teens
- Bookstore and book donation
Reading in Motion
Contact Person(s)
Karl Androes Executive Director karl@readinginmotion.org 312-357-9463
Services Provided
- Training and coaching teachers
Rock for Reading
Rock For Reading leverages the power of ROCK to inspire literacy – motivating and empowering people to enrich their lives through reading. We accomplish our mission by:
- Raising awareness and resources through a series of musical concerts and benefits
- Awarding grants to literacy and reading programs at community organizations, libraries and schools
- Building partnerships and strategic alliances to raise funds in support of organizations championing the cause of literacy
- Educating our public to promote activism and direct involvement
Contact Person(s)
Paul Natkin Executive Director paul@rockforreading.org 773-255-1290
Services Provided
- Book grants and monetary grants to literacy organizations in the Chicago area.
Sit Stay Read
Proven results make Sit Stay Read the leading literacy organization in the United States to use dogs as a tool to improve reading skills and foster the love of learning in children living in poverty.
Contact Person(s)
Mary Ellen Schneider Executive Director mschneider@sitstayread.org 773- 545-6629
Services Provided
- Dog-themed reading program for schools and community centers
Working in the Schools (WITS)
Contact Person(s)
Kristen Berlacher Executive Director kristen@witschicago.org 312 422-6201
Kristen Eidson Program Director kristene@witschicago.org 312-622-6210
Services Provided
WITS is a local 501(c)3 organization that promotes literacy and the love of reading among Chicago’s youth by providing one-on-one tutoring and mentoring programs.
Services:
- Early Childhood Literacy Programs
- 1-on-1 tutoring instruction for Chicago Public elementary students during and after school
- Corporate Volunteer opportunities in CPS and at the office (Power Lunch & Workplace Mentoring)
- Saturday Tutoring Programs
Youth Guidance
Contact Person(s)
Vivian Loseth CEO vloseth@youth-guidance.org 312-253-4900
Services Provided
- Counseling
- Workforce development community schools
- Capacity building