Alternative Schools Network

10/20/2026

ASN & Senator Preston Present: 2026 Community Employment & Resource Fair Connect with employers, community partners, and new opportunities.

📅 October 28, 2026 ⏰ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM 📍 8301 S. Damen Ave, Chicago

Bring your resume and come dressed to impress. Questions? [email protected]

https://www.asnchicago.org/donate

Enroll In a Member School Today: https://tinyurl.com/ykan7hvz

10/16/2026

📚 NOW ENROLLING — FREE GED PROGRAM ASN Prep Institute is accepting new students ages 17–24 for our year‑round, open‑enrollment GED program. Choose in‑person or online instruction and start working toward your high school equivalency today.
✔ Pearson‑Vue Onsite GED Testing ✔ 12‑week academic sessions ✔ Mentoring, tutoring & counseling ✔ Career coaching, internships & college support
📍 Chicago, IL 📞 773‑706‑2602 | 773‑415‑4969 🔗 Visit asnprep.org to get started
https://www.asnchicago.org/donate
Enroll In a Member School Today: https://tinyurl.com/ykan7hvz

10/15/2026

ASN & Senator Preston Present: 2026 Community Employment & Resource Fair Connect with employers, community partners, and new opportunities.
📅 October 28, 2026 ⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM 📍 8301 S. Damen Ave, Chicago
Bring your resume and come dressed to impress. Questions? [email protected]

https://www.asnchicago.org/donate
Enroll In a Member School Today: https://tinyurl.com/ykan7hvz

10/11/2026

🎬 YS3 Film Festival Highlights! 🎬
The YS3 Film Festival, presented in collaboration with Project 9, celebrated Chicago high school students as they used filmmaking to address community issues, youth empowerment, anti-bullying, and positive social change.
🎥 Students gained valuable storytelling, communication, and media production skills while connecting with professionals in the film and media industry.
👏🏾 We’re proud to celebrate their creativity, leadership, and voices!
Know a youth in care who could benefit from YS3? Refer them today!
📧 [email protected]
https://youtu.be/haBWTPL226c?si=7qqWmKeMq61qQGGf

https://www.asnchicago.org/donate

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

10/07/2026

✨ ASN Preparatory Institute ✨ Start today — open enrollment is LIVE!
🎒 Fresh start. 🎯 New goals. 🤝 New connections. 🚀 New opportunities.
It’s time to reconnect, refocus, and finish strong. We can’t wait to see you — let’s make this our BEST year yet!
📍 700 E Oakwood, Chicago, IL 🌐 asnprep.org

https://www.asnchicago.org/donate
Enroll In a Member School Today: https://tinyurl.com/ykan7hvz

10/06/2026

🌟 YES STUDENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT! 🌟
Congratulations to Tysean Thompson and Jeremiah on their accomplishments!
📚 Tysean achieved 99% school attendance in September while staying committed to his academics and goals.
🐾 Both Tysean and Jeremiah completed 8-week internships with Chicago Animal Care and Control, where they were recognized for their hard work, dedication, and initiative.
Their success earned them opportunities to continue their internships at another Chicago animal shelter beginning in October 2026!
We are proud to celebrate their growth and continued success! 👏🏾🎓💼
Testimonial provided by Brenda Ramirez, Campos YES Career Planner.

https://www.asnchicago.org/donate
Enroll In a Member School Today: https://tinyurl.com/ykan7hvz

10/01/2026

✨ Introducing NETtalks — Ideas in Action! ✨

Alternative Schools Network is launching NETtalks, a new platform where artists, activists, youth leaders, and changemakers share powerful stories that inspire real action in Chicago and beyond.

Want to be a NETtalks Presenter? 📩 Send your bio, story, and interest letter to [email protected]. Let’s elevate voices that move communities forward.

09/29/2026

Sullivan House High School has lost another legend. Elder Darnell Payne passed away suddenly on September 12th, and our hearts are heavy.

A true leader, fighter, mentor, coach, recruiter, and advocate, Elder Payne dedicated over 30 years to shaping lives, opening doors, and standing up for students and staff every single day.

He was also a beloved member of the Alternative Schools Network family, where his commitment to youth, education, and community uplift touched countless lives across Chicago.

We send our deepest condolences to his mother, his family, and the hundreds of friends, colleagues, and students who were impacted by his presence, his guidance, and his unwavering dedication. His legacy will continue to inspire us all.
Forever in our hearts. 🕊️❤️

09/25/2026

Youth Voices Matter!
Last Tuesday, students from Alternative Schools Network’s Year-Round Employment Program came out to participate in the YCCS “Why the Vote” Student-Led Civic Forum and put their voices into action!
Our students had the opportunity to ask questions directly to Chicago Board of Education candidates, hear their perspectives, and engage in meaningful conversations about the future of Chicago’s schools and communities.
Thank you to Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS) for creating space for students to be informed, engaged, and heard.
Our students. Our schools. Our future.

09/23/2026

📢 MONTHS LATER, THE NUMBERS STILL MATTER
Earlier this year, Alternative Schools Network (ASN) highlighted findings from A Normalized Crisis: Youth and Young Adult Joblessness and Disconnection in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois and the U.S., 2019–2024, conducted by the UIC Great Cities Institute.
As we move into the fall, the findings remain an important reminder of the barriers many young people face in accessing employment.
📊 In Chicago:

• 81.9% of Black youth ages 16–19 were jobless in 2024

• 46.5% of Black young adults ages 20–24 were jobless

• Black teens experienced significantly higher joblessness than their white peers

• The report documents a youth employment challenge that has persisted nationally for decades
Youth employment is about more than a paycheck. It provides young people with experience, skills, connections, confidence, and pathways toward their future.
ASN continues to bring attention to youth joblessness and the importance of creating meaningful employment opportunities for Chicago’s young people.
The report may have been released months ago, but the conversation—and the work—must continue.
Read the full report: UIC_YouthJoblessness_DataBrief2026.pdf
https://www.asnchicago.org/donate