Kids First Chicago

May 17 marked the 70th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, which integrated public schools in America and paved the way for more racial and educational equity! On May 8, we commemorated the occasion, joined by Civil Rights icon Ruby Bridges – the first child to attend an all-White school, six years after Brown passed. It was a great honor to share space with a living legend, who inspires us in our efforts to ensure all Chicago kids can access a quality education. We expressed our immense gratitude and honored BMO for its commitment to education equity. "At BMO, we believe in the transformative power of education and the importance of nurturing the potential of every young mind,” said Darrel Hackett, President & CEO, BMO Bank N.A. “In 2023, we donated more than $5 million to support progress for youth, foster mentorship, and promote financial literacy. These ongoing contributions, guided by our Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, reflect our unwavering commitment to cultivating opportunities for young people, fostering excellence in education, and empowering communities to thrive.” We welcome your continued partnership to ensure all kids in Chicago can access the legacy Ruby Bridges began. Donate today to ensure Chicago’s kids can access a quality education: https://lnkd.in/gnHg2Xcq Let’s continue the vital work to make our schools equitable and ensure every child in Chicago – regardless of zip code – can access a quality education. 

New Blog Post Alert! 📝✨ Kids First Chicago's Hal Woods and Tierra Pearson share their perspectives in a recent Chicago Sun-Times Letter to the Editor on how Property Tax Circuit Breakers can help provide low- and medium-income homeowners in Chicago with much-needed property tax relief, making the city more affordable for everyone. 🏠📉 Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/gnWtQ6P2

📢 New Kids First Chicago Blog Post Alert! ✨ Victory Nwabufo and the Kids First Chicago Community Engagement Team are shining a spotlight on the unreliable process for securing speaker slots at CPS Board of Education meetings. 🚨 With the 5-Year Strategic Plan on the horizon, the lack of intentional and authentic community engagement is a serious concern. 🛑 👉 Check it out: https://lnkd.in/gZU23dem

We're #hiring a new Associate Director of Parent Engagement & Organizing in Chicago, Illinois. Apply today or share this post with your network.

We’re #hiring. Know anyone who might be interested?

✨ Today, the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education is expected to consider the FY2025 budget, an issue that we’ve been following closely. 📊 CPS grapples with a $738 million operating budget deficit for fiscal year 2025. 💼 We offer six potential revenue options to address it in our latest report. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/g_txFbyE 📈 At Kids First Chicago, we believe that transparent, collaborative discussions are critical to resolving CPS’s financial crisis. 🤝 We call on our city, state, and civic leaders to adopt a comprehensive, long-term plan to ensure CPS is not forced into untenable choices that harm our children and city’s future. 📚🏙️ We stand ready to support bold, collaborative action.

We're #hiring a new Associate Director of Parent Engagement & Organizing in Chicago, Illinois. Apply today or share this post with your network.

Earlier this afternoon, The Chicago Community Trust welcomed guests and panelists from Chicago Urban League, Kids First Chicago, Builders Initiative, and Chicago Learning Exchange for a discussion on scalable solutions for improving post-secondary outcomes for Black and Latine youth in #Chicago. Strategies shared addressed some of the youth sector’s most common challenges and highlighted why a more interconnected youth-serving ecosystem is essential to meeting youth needs and supporting their successful transition into adulthood. Thank you to all who joined us today!