2024-2025 Grantees

Black Girl Magic Book Club (7 schools across District 65): Open to K-8 students, this book club features Black girl-identifying protagonists, fostering positive racial and gender identity through literature and reflective activities.

Black SonRISE (all schools): A program for Black male students, providing weekly sessions focused on literacy, STEM, sports, and financial literacy to nurture a love for learning and connection to the African diaspora.

Chute Wolfpack (Chute Middle School): This leadership group for female students of color at Chute Middle School focuses on life skills such as journaling, meditation, and yoga. It includes a book club and community-building activities to create a supportive network among students and their families.

Co-creating Welcoming Spaces (Orrington Elementary School): This project involves students in designing and creating art projects for the school garden and entrance, enhancing the sense of community and belonging.

JEH ECC Family Engagement (JEH): Hosting multicultural family events at the Joseph E. Hill Center for Early Childhood Education, this initiative aims to build community connections and provide cultural experiences for families.

Kindergarten ELA Integrated Experiential Learning (Kingsley Elementary School): This project brings learning to life through sensory activities and field trips, making abstract concepts tangible and engaging for young students.

Kuumba Evanston - Camp Kuumba & School Year Support (all schools): Camp Kuumba offers a free summer program for Black boys and girls, focusing on self-discovery through various activities. The Future Wildkit Academy provides academic and enrichment programs during the school year.

Las Comadres & Friends (Bessie Rhodes): Monthly meetings for Latino/a students and their families to read culturally relevant books, participate in literacy activities, and build a positive racial identity.

Making Space for Us Math and Reading Mentorship (Kingsley Elementary School): Focused on BIPOC students, this mentorship program pairs middle school students with 5th graders to develop their skills in math and reading, fostering a community of learners and building cultural awareness.

Math Accelerated After School Program (Dawes Elementary School): Using the iReady diagnostic tool, this program provides targeted math interventions and skills development for students.

Math Fact Support in Books and Breakfast (Dewey): This program targets 2nd and 3rd graders, providing math fact fluency training to boost confidence and engagement in math. Training sessions will equip tutors with strategies to support striving students.

MESA Affinity Club (Lincolnwood Elementary School): The Middle Eastern, East Asian, and South Asian Affinity Club provides a safe space for students to explore their identities and empower their voices within the school community.

Outdoor STEAM Classroom (JEH): This grant creates an outdoor STEAM classroom at JEH to promote inquiry-based STEAM education, encourage hands-on learning, and foster a connection with nature. This project aims to enhance cognitive and socio-emotional skills through real-world exploration.

Perspectives Author Visit - Karla Valenti (all schools): This district-wide project invites author Karla Valenti to engage students with her craft, aligning with the D65 library department’s social justice curriculum.