The year has already gotten off to a great start! Check out below what we have been up to this month and learn what’s ahead.
One Door Closes…As Another One Opens
Cathy Krieger
Our Founding President and CEO, Cathy Krieger, has retired after 30+ years of dedicated service to our most vulnerable children. While we will miss her around the office, we are honored to continue carrying the torch in building a secure and hopeful today so children facing health issues and poverty succeed tomorrow. Read Cathy’s goodbye letter.
Cinaiya Stubbs
As we say goodbye to Cathy, we welcome Cinaiya Stubbs, our new President and CEO and a native of Chicago’s Westside. We’re thrilled to have Cinaiya join CPA as she leads us into a new chapter advancing our life-changing work and building pathways forward so that all youth – regardless of zip code – have the opportunity to thrive. Read more about Cinaiya.
Child Thrive
Youth Mentoring
Our youth mentoring program led by our partner, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, has resumed, and we’re still accepting more mentors and mentees. To learn more, email: thrive@childrens-place.org.
Early Learning
Navigating Change Together
While the past month brought forth some challenges with a temporary, health-related closure of the Early Learning Center, our team and families showed great strength and resilience navigating this tumultuous time. A special thank you to Start Early for their guidance and support in helping us move closer and closer to normal operations!
Promoting Health for the Whole Family
Our Early Learning services extend beyond the classroom, helping parents develop the strategies, education, life skills, and support needed to lead healthier, more successful lives. This month, our nutritionist, Jenn Cayenberg, discussed healthy eating in the new year and how to create family meals on a budget with our client families.
Children’s Place International
Building Leaders through New Ventures
Current and former participants of our New Ventures afterschool program in Haiti recently shared their experiences. As one student reflected, “I was encouraged to speak up, and I quickly learned that my thoughts and opinions were valued. Through the New Ventures program, I developed leadership skills and learned to identify my own talents and capacities.”
Our Haitian program facilitators agree, sharing their own thoughts regarding the program’s positive impact: They felt that the New Ventures program graduates were prepared to fully participate in society and make a better life for themselves despite the challenges in the country.
The New Ventures program provides opportunities for career exploration, skills development, and peer support.
Save the Date
We are excited to announce our 2022 Junior Board Gala – Around the World. The event will be held on Friday, May 13th at the Chicago Cultural Center. More details are coming soon so mark your calendars as you will not want to miss this fun event!
Child Thrive
Mission in Action
Our Child Thrive team is working hard to launch our newest program – Mission in Action (M.I.A.) – in April. M.I.A is a teen-led group for low-income and at-risk youth in grades 9-12 that will meet regularly during the high-risk after-school hours to make the community and world a better place. M.I.A. provides teens with adult support and a safe space to innovate, lead in community activism, and prime themselves for academic and personal success while empowering them in the process.
A key component will involve engaging the support of school leaders, community partners, local organizations, and industry volunteers with expertise in a particular content area or field to help guide and mentor this group with their selected community-focused projects.
M.I.A. shows young people that they CAN make a difference and will allow their voices to be heard. Recruitment will begin soon.
Mental Health Counseling
Our partner, JPA, will begin offering mental health counseling at the Child Thrive Center in February for folks associated with Children’s Place and the West Humboldt Park community.
Early Learning
Full In-Person Services Resume
We’re so excited to return to full in–person services in February as we celebrate Black History Month in our classrooms, host another Male Engagement event, and continue our Parents as Teachers parenting curriculum!
Our work wouldn’t be possible without our amazing community of Child Champion sponsors, donors, and volunteers. THANK YOU!
Major Company & Foundation Supporters
Amicus Foundation, The Darrell R. Windle Charitable Fund, Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA), GCD Advisors, Jay Whipple Family Foundation, Takeda
Major Individual Supporters
Marin Alexander, Terry Clarbour, Jill Erickson, Abraham Goldman, Alex Guerrero, Marc Harris, Binita Kwankin & Joseph Hmieleski, Leslie R. McLeod, Anna Moraitis, Kendra Morrill, Roger & Christine Parlett, Matthew Roma, Curt Schubert, Lorraine Van Horne, Valeri Vanourek
Become a Foster Parent
Foster parents needed!!! Please contact Ivan Harrison III, MA – Director of Child Welfare at (312) 706-1835 or iharrison@childrens-place.org if you’re interested in becoming a foster parent.
Join the CPA Team
Our Foster Care Program is seeking a Licensing & Recruitment Coordinator. We have other openings, too. Read about all the existing opportunities to work at Children’s Place Association.
Volunteer
Join in and be part of the solution in helping Chicago’s vulnerable kids. We have a variety of volunteer opportunities available:
- Once Upon a Time Gala Committee
- Junior Board member
- Adopt-A-Family
- Mentoring youth
- and so much more!
Whatever your skillset or time commitment, we have something that fits YOU! Email volunteer@childrens-place.org to learn more.
Invest in a Child’s Future
Your support helps us provide critical services to children and their families affected by serious health issues and extreme poverty. Whether it’s a one-time gift or a recurring monthly donation, your generous gift has a direct impact on our children’s future.
- $30 donation funds one week of meals for a child
- $100 donation provides transportation for families to access health and wellness services and child care
- $300 donation buys gift cards for 6 families to purchase uniforms and school supplies
DONATE HERE
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb
As the African Proverb says, going together gets you further. We’d love to have you stay connected with us to know what’s going on at CPA and how you can be involved.
Come join us socially: CPA Facebook| CPA Instagram | CPA LinkedIn |CPA Twitter | CPA YouTube | CPI Facebook | CPI Instagram And newly created Child Thrive Facebook | Child Thrive Instagram |CONTACT US
Stay tuned for upcoming social events as we build pathways for our most vulnerable children to THRIVE!
