Communities In Schools of Chicago

08/24/2026

𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲-𝟮𝟳 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿!

And this year, our team is delighted to serve students in even more Chicago Public Schools. CIS of Chicago will be present in 265 schools this year, or more than 40 percent of the entire district, and our work will support 90,000 young people.

That means that more students will have access to the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need to succeed.

This year, we welcome 16 schools to the CIS network:
--Catalyst Elementary Charter School - Circle Rock
--Frank I. Bennett Elementary School
--Andrew Carnegie Elementary School
--Milton Brunson Math & Science Specialty School
--Joseph E. Gary Elementary School
--Great Lakes Academy Charter School
--Noble - Hansberry College Prep
--Noble - Muchin College Prep High School
--Charles W. Dulles School of Excellence
--Richard J. Oglesby Elementary School
--Emmett Louis Till Fine & Performing Arts Magnet
--Arthur E. Canty Elementary School
--Minnie Mars Jamison Cuffe STEM Academy
--James Gillespie Elementary School
--William H. Hearst Elementary School
--Beulah Shoesmith Elementary School

Communities In Schools of Chicago is partnering with 265 of the city’s public schools during the 2026-27 school year, connecting these schools with a range of

08/20/2026

Ahead of each school year, our Partnership Team plans a full day of learning, connection, and professional development for community partners in our network. We know that when they have the resources and preparation they need, our students are better served!

This year's CIS Summer Institute sessions covered:
-Volunteer management and classroom management
-Relationship building with schools
-Professional resilience
-Storytelling through data
-And more!

Check out some highlights:

08/14/2026

With the school year about to begin, our team is out building connections with schools and educators!

Today, our Intensive Team leaders attended the Distinctive Schools Educator Support Expo, where they connected with individuals across the CICS / Distinctive Network and shared the impact of our CIS model. The event was hosted at CICS Longwood, where our Student Supports Manager Malia supports students one-on-one.

08/12/2026

Our team is busy this week getting students the resources they need to start the year strong.

We are distributing 3,000 backpacks 🎒 to CIS school partners, thanks to our partnership with Cradles to Crayons Chicago!

It was a true team effort -- receiving these backpacks, organizing them, and getting them directly to our school site coordinators, like our counselor at Libby Elementary School, featured in the second picture.

08/10/2026

After a trip to D.C., our Do the Write Thing Chicago ambassador, incoming eighth grader Damiya Myers, had the opportunity to talk about her experience in the nation's capital, what she learned from her fellow ambassadors, and what she believes is critical to reducing youth violence with WGN Radio's Lisa Dent!

Lisa also chatted with Robin Koelsch about CIS' role supporting Do the Write Thing -- and she even read Damiya's powerful Do the Write Thing poem. Want to catch the full interview? Visit the link here: https://wgnradio.com/lisa-dent/chicago-do-the-write-thing-ambassador-shares-her-message-of-anti-violence-in-washington-d-c/

07/27/2026

It's hard to believe that school will be back in session in

07/21/2026

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

CIS is proud to co-sponsor Do the Write Thing, a writing challenge that uplifts student voice and amplifies young people's ideas on the causes and solutions to violence in our community.

This year's Do the Write Thing Chicago ambassador, seventh grader Damiya Myers, had the opportunity to let her voice be heard at the Do the Write Thing National Summit last week.

Damiya visited Washington, D.C., for the Summit, convened with other Do the Write Thing ambassadors, toured historical monuments, met with legislators, and had her written piece bound in the Library of Congress.

We couldn't be prouder of Damiya! And are thrilled we had a chance to attend the Summit, too -- shout-out to our Chief Partnership Engagement Officer Robin Koelsch!

07/20/2026

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting CIS United Way Quad Cities, a new CIS licensed partner along the Mississippi River in Iowa and Illinois, for in-person and virtual sessions. It was a wonderful few days of meeting with CIS colleagues, hosting them in our community, and sharing best practices!

Communities In Schools United Way Quad Cities

07/15/2026

Thanks to The Northern Trust Foundation in partnership with the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, our team is able to deepen our support of Chicago's students this coming school year!

Because of this partnership, CIS of Chicago is able to ensure that in select schools, young people have a trained mental health professional supporting them directly.

We appreciate their investment in CIS and our shared commitment to empowering young people to achieve in school and in life.

07/08/2026

In the 2025-26 school year, CIS of Chicago partnered with 16 companies to provide unique career experiences for students!

Known as 'Inspiring Futures,' these opportunities take students out of the classroom and allow them to explore work environments, meet with professionals, discuss their career goals, and learn about potential career pathways.

Shout-out to all of the organizations that hosted our students in 2025-26 and to our Manager of Corporate Relations Faith for coordinating! Here are some photos from the most recent Inspiring Futures at NBC Chicago, DLA Piper, and ComEd: