2025-2026 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 Family Literacy Program (JEH): This program increases Black family engagement through the encouragement of early literacy skills.  Black families will have the opportunity to connect and learn through engaging with other members of the school community.  

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.

Communication for ALL (Park): This program supports the development of a library of 3D printed objects as a way to support “total communication.”  The program will primarily support 12 visually impaired students at Park to help students engage with their teachers and peers.

Connecting Through Culture (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.

EmpowerHer (Nichols): This comprehensive program for girls of color works to build confidence, skills and strong identities through mentorship, targeted learning experiences and engagement wth successful women of color.  

It Takes Two to Talk (Park): This evidence based parent training program teachers parents/caregivers communication strategies to increase speech-language skills for Park student through 3 parent lectures and home visits.

Kindergarten ELA Integrated Experiential Learning (Kingsley, King Arts, Lincoln and Lincolnwood): This project expands last year’s pilot to 4 schools and 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.

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

Podcast (Orrington): Students will create student-led content and build technology skills by starting a podcast for the Orrington school community.  They will listen to and share stories that highlight their diverse experiences while fostering a sense of belonging and community. 

Project Excite (Kingsley, Lincolnwood, Walker): This is an expansion of FY25’s relaunch of Project Excite. This program engages 3rd through 8th grade BIPOC students in STEM activities afterschool and on weekends and over the summer with ETHS staff and students and involvements in Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development

Willard Equity Circles (Willard): This club provides a space for students to build positive racial identities, historical knowledge and tools to contribute to the community.