All Stars Project of Chicago

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All Stars Project of Chicago

Helping Chicago's young people grow and develop - one performance at a time! These and other organizations sponsor program graduates in paid summer internships.

All Stars Project of Chicago (ASP of Chicago) brings innovative, performance-based development opportunities to youth in Chicago's poorest neighborhoods. All Stars' after-school programs support young people to grow as leaders and builders of their communities and to see new possibilities for their lives. ASP of Chicago was launched in 2007 under the direction of longtime community organizer David

Cherry and has since reached thousands of young people in Englewood, Gage Park, Roseland, Woodlawn and other neighborhoods throughout the South and West Sides. By using performance as a tool for growth, All Stars provides young people the opportunity to develop as learners and performers, onstage and off. ASP of Chicago's office is located in the historic Monadnock Building in the Loop and serves as the hub of activity for our programs. All Stars Talent Show Network (ASTSN) gives young people ages 5-25 and of all talent levels the chance to produce and perform in hip-hop talent shows in their neighborhoods. Prior to the Talent Show, young people participate in an audition and performance workshop. Talent Shows have been held at Harper High School, Team Englewood Community Academy, Gage Park High School, Bogan High School, and the South Side YMCA. The Development School for Youth (DSY) connects inner-city young people with the business community through workshops and paid summer internships led by corporate executives. The DSY exposes Chicago's youth to people and places outside of their neighborhoods and helps them learn new performances to navigate the broader world. DSY's leading partners in Chicago include Latham & Watkins, Dun & Bradstreet, Nuveen Investments, Equity Residential, MetLife, Winston & Strawn, Grant Thornton and Neal, Ge**er & Eisenberg.

08/19/2026

This summer, Abril took what she learned in the Leslie J. Raffel Development School for Youth (DSY) into the workplace through a paid internship at Cooley LLP, where she strengthened her time management and communication skills, gained experience using Excel and PowerPoint, attended meetings and presentations, and learned how to navigate a busy professional environment.

One of her biggest areas of growth? Finding the confidence to speak up, ask questions, and connect with professionals around her.

💬 “Communication was intimidating at first... I had to push myself to speak up and ask for help when I was confused or needed clarification.” — Abril

That willingness to push beyond her comfort zone paid off. Abril shared that one of the most meaningful parts of her internship was hearing from colleagues who were proud of her progress and encouraged her to continue pursuing her goals.

💬 “Everyone in my office made me feel like I belonged there and gave me important pieces of advice they wish they would have known when they were my age.”

A huge thank you to Cooley for creating a welcoming environment where Abril could learn, contribute, build relationships, and see herself belonging in a professional setting.

As we celebrate the accomplishments of our 2026 interns, we're also looking ahead to next summer. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗴𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗹'𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗦𝗬 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀.

Interested in investing in Chicago's young people and welcoming an All Stars intern to your team? Send us a message or reach out to Sarah Haley at [email protected] to learn more!

08/11/2026

🌞 As our Summer 2026 Internship Program comes to a close, we're reflecting on the incredible growth our young people have experienced over the past several months.

A few weeks ago, we gathered with our interns for a mid-internship check-in, where they shared how far they've come since their first day on the job.

Challenges that once felt intimidating, like introducing themselves to new colleagues, navigating workplace culture, and learning new skills like Excel, had become accomplishments they were proud to talk about.

These moments are only possible because of the companies that invest in Chicago's young people.

A heartfelt thank you to our 2026 internship partners for providing meaningful, paid professional experiences that help our young people build confidence, develop new skills, and expand what's possible for their futures.

As we celebrate another successful internship season, we're already looking ahead.

We're currently seeking internship partners for Summer 2027 to host students from our upcoming Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 Leslie J. Raffel Development School for Youth (DSY) cohorts.

Your organization can make a lasting impact by:

✨ Hosting or sponsoring paid summer interns
✨ Providing mentorship and real-world learning experiences
✨ Investing in the next generation of Chicago's leaders

Interested in partnering with us? We'd love to start the conversation, send us a message or reach out to Sarah Haley at [email protected]

08/05/2026

🌟 Intern Spotlight: Djovanny | Spring 2026 DSY Graduate

This summer, Djovanny is building more than technical skills; he's building confidence, expanding his network, and discovering new possibilities for his future through the All Stars Project of Chicago's developmental internship program.

As an intern with Hilco Global's Transactions Team, Djovanny has contributed to meaningful business projects while strengthening his Excel, data analysis, and problem-solving skills. Along the way, he's participated in Hilco's professional development workshops and learned from experienced mentors.

"Through these experiences, I've gained valuable technical skills, built meaningful professional relationships, and developed a stronger understanding of both finance and the many career paths available to me." — Djovanny

Thanks to partners like Hilco Global, young people are gaining the skills, confidence, and professional connections that prepare them for success in the workplace and beyond.

Interested in making a difference for young people like Djovanny?

We’re currently seeking partners to:
✨Host or sponsor a paid summer internship for graduates of our upcoming Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 DSY cohorts.

Send us a message to create a life-changing opportunity for a young person, or contact Sarah Haley at [email protected] to learn more about becoming an internship partner.

08/03/2026

The Development School for Youth (DSY) is back this September—and we're looking for partners to help make this semester our strongest yet!

Each semester, the All Stars Project of Chicago brings together business and community leaders to help young people build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and discover new possibilities for their futures.

As we recruit our next DSY cohort, we're also inviting our partners to get involved in meaningful ways:

✨ Host a DSY workshop at your company and introduce young people to your workplace and industry.
✨ Volunteer your time and expertise by supporting workshops, mock interviews, networking activities, and more.
✨ Host or sponsor a paid summer internship and provide a young person with a transformational workplace experience.
✨ Become a virtual Development Coach

Together, we can create more opportunities for Chicago's young people to grow, lead, and thrive.

If you're interested in partnering with us, click the link: https://tinyurl.com/5ecacska
or send us a message for more information.

07/29/2026

💙 Calling all All Stars volunteers—past and present!

Join us on Thursday, August 20 for our Volunteer Mixer & Appreciation Event! 🎉

Whether you've volunteered once or many times, we'd love to reconnect, celebrate everything we've accomplished together, and share ways you can get involved throughout the rest of 2026 as we look ahead to our 20th anniversary in 2027. ✨

🤝 Meet fellow volunteers
🎤 Hear from a recent Development School for Youth (DSY) graduate
🥂 Enjoy food, refreshments, and great conversation
💫 Bring a friend who's interested in volunteering!

We can't wait to celebrate with you and welcome you back to the All Stars community.

📅 August 20
🔗 RSVP at the link: https://lnkd.in/gQ5-6s7P

07/23/2026

✨ What an incredible night! Thank you to everyone who joined us for Night of Shining Stars 2026 and helped make the evening such a success.

Together, we celebrated the power of community and raised over $530,000 to support the All Stars Project of Chicago's youth development programs!🎉

👏A special congratulations to our honorees, Carlin Adrianopoli (FTI Consulting) and Ryan Preston Dahl (Latham & Watkins), and a heartfelt thank you to our event committee, sponsors, alumni hosts, volunteers, and everyone who made this event possible. Your generosity is creating new possibilities for Chicago's young people.

💫🍂We're excited to carry this momentum into the fall as we welcome a new class of young people to the Leslie J. Raffel Development School for Youth (DSY).

If you'd like to continue making an impact, there's still time to support our mission through a donation or by getting involved as a workshop host or corporate volunteer this fall.

🔗Visit the link in our bio to make a gift and learn more about our programs today!

07/21/2026

Tonight, 24 All Stars Project of Chicago alumni are stepping into leadership roles as Youth Hosts at Night of Shining Stars!

To prepare for the evening, alumni from the classes of 2013–2026 participated in a Youth Host Training Workshop hosted by our honoree Carlin Adrianopoli and the incredible team at FTI Consulting. Through performance-based activities, our young people practiced making introductions, navigating conversations, and building the confidence they'll bring as ambassadors for the All Stars Project while connecting with Chicago's business and community leaders.

A heartfelt thank you to Carlin and everyone at FTI Consulting for investing in our young people and helping empower the next generation of leaders. Your partnership is creating opportunities for our youth to grow their confidence and strengthen their professional skills.

✨There's still time to join us for tonight's celebration!
Purchase your tickets or support our mission with a donation at NightofStarsChicago.com. Walk-ins are welcome.

Night of Shining Stars
🗓️ Tonight, July 21
🕡 6:30–10:00 PM
📍 Allium Events | 333 N. Ogden Ave., Chicago
👔Dress Code: Business/Cocktail Attire
We hope to see you there!

07/14/2026

✨ONE WEEK TO GO!✨

Join us at Night of Shining Stars to celebrate two exceptional leaders in Chicago’s turnaround and restructuring community:

🌟 Carlin Adrianopoli
Co-Leader of U.S. Corporate Finance & Global Leader of Turnaround & Restructuring, FTI Consulting

🌟 Ryan Preston Dahl
Partner, Latham & Watkins

In just one week, we’ll come together to honor their leadership, accomplishments, and contributions to the industry—all while supporting the All Stars Project of Chicago’s transformational afterschool development programs.

📅 Tuesday, July 21
📍 Allium Events | Fulton Market

Don’t miss this special evening! 🎟️ Purchase your tickets today at the link in our bio.

07/09/2026

Confidence starts before the first day on the job. 👔✨

At our Dress for Success Internship Prep Workshop, 40 DSY interns practiced navigating workplace scenarios, learned about professional dress in different work environments, selected professional clothing to help them prepare for their internships.

💼Every outfit is just the beginning. The real transformation happens when young people begin to see themselves as capable professionals.

Thank you to our volunteers: Marianne Rivera, Julia Rivera, Sandy Park, Kate Carovillano, Katie Mulrenin, and Ritchine Guerrier for creating such a thoughtful and welcoming experience for our students!💙💜

07/07/2026

💻AI is changing the way we work, but it can't replace creativity, critical thinking, or your unique voice.

🌍During our national AI Internship Prep Workshop, All Stars Project interns from across the country explored how to use AI as a tool to strengthen their work while staying authentic to themselves. Through hands-on activities and collaboration, they practiced turning AI-generated ideas into thoughtful, human-centered communication🗣

A huge thank you to Chicago Board Member Bevon Joseph for leading this inspiring workshop and helping our interns build the skills they'll carry into their internships and beyond!👏

Address

542 S Dearborn, Suite 200
Chicago, IL
60605

Website

http://www.allstars.org/

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