World Sport Chicago Supports One Summer Chicago through a New Sports Program at Area Community Schools
By Danielle Schaffrath, WSC Intern
World Sport Chicago is proud to support the One Summer Chicago initiative, a collaboration of the offices of Mayor Emanuel and County Board President Preckwinkle, Chicago private philanthropies, community-based and faith-based organizations and the University of Chicago – Crime Lab. The initiative aims to curb the long-term growth of youth violence by identifying strategies to keep youth engaged throughout the summer. One Summer Chicago provides funding in the four pilot communities of Englewood, Garfield Park, Little Village and Woodlawn to expand existing programming and create new pilot programs.
World Sport Chicago is one of four funded agencies to help direct funds to community groups and programs within the pilot communities. The four funded agencies will also work with the University of Chicago – Crime Lab in the evaluation of the One Summer Chicago programs with a particular emphasis on the recruitment, retention and engagement of those in the pilot communities.
One of the programs World Sport Chicago has started under the One Summer Chicago initiative takes promise to passion at three Chicago community high schools: Hyde Park Career Academy High School, William R Harper High School and Paul J Robeson High School. This program strives to provide the youth in the Englewood and Woodlawn communities a fun, safe and structured environment throughout the summer.
Through career based field trips, personal development breakout sessions and participation in basketball, rugby and archery the World Sport Chicago community high school summer sports program aims to teach students teamwork, accountability, self-determination, positive anger expression and visionary goal setting. The program also employs innovative tools like the new controller-less Xbox Kinect to engage student interest.
Frederick Thurman, Robeson High School Program Coach, said, “When I was young there weren’t really programs like this so when I see something like this come about I want to do my best to help the students learn something and to help them grow. I’m passionate about this program because it deals with the youth in my community.”
With non-traditional sports like archery and rugby, students learn there are new things to try and they can explore other areas of their interests.
Thurman believes that the non-traditional sports will help the students broaden their perspectives on things they can do. He also added, “The more they see the better person they will be. When they are aware of new things they can create new interests and maybe they will eventually find something they are passionate about.”
Attendance and participation points provide motivation for the students to win access to exclusive behind the scenes sport tours, gift cards and a brand new pair of shoes as well as other prizes and experiences throughout the program. After a week of the program students from Robeson High School were rewarded with the first career based field trip to the DePaul University Athletics Department.
Dave Corzine, former NBA player and Assistant Director of DePaul Athletic Community Outreach, showed the Robeson students a behind the scenes tour of the facilities where the DePaul staff and athletes work and train.
Immediately following the behind the scenes tour, thirteen members of the DePaul athletic staff explained what it takes to have a successful collegiate athletics program as well as a successful career in sports.
Jeannie Ponsetto, DePaul University’s Athletic Director, motivated students with a great opening speech. She said, “You are here today because you were chosen. Someone saw potential in you. You all have some type of leadership skills or work ethic so live up to those expectations. You were given this opportunity, so take it and run. It’s all about desire. Now, you may be talented but you need a good attitude and work ethic in order to be successful.”
Ponsetto also added, “There are always opportunities around and it’s up to you to take them and run. Especially when people doubt you. Overcoming adversities measures who you are.”
The thirteen DePaul staff members engaged and inspired many of the Robeson students to stay in school, get involved and seize opportunities. Students learned about the broad amount of career opportunities in sports and how important it is to stay in school. Thurman said the students left the tour motivated to stay in school and continue to work hard at sports. One student left the tour saying he wanted to apply to DePaul as soon as he could.
Denzel Chairse, a student from Robeson, mentioned his favorite part of the tour was the DePaul Athletics Wall of Fame. He said, “I liked the wall of fame best. It was cool to see all the pros.”
Students with regular attendance to the program can look forward to other career based field trips. Each school will join select trips which will include the United Center for tours with the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, the Chicago Bear’s Halas Hall, the White Sox’s US Cellular Field, a trip to Evanston, IL to visit with the Northwestern University Athletics Department and a resume and interview workshop hosted by the management consulting firm Accenture. Other One Summer Chicago programs supported by World Sport Chicago will receive trips to the All State Arena to go behind the scenes of a Chicago Sky game and to the historic Wrigley Field hosted by the Chicago Cubs.
This program would not have been possible without the generous support of the following funders and donors: Chicago Community Trust and Affiliates, MacArthur Foundation, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, ALDI, Connie’s Pizza, Converse, Gaztro-wagon, Ian’s Pizza, Microsoft Corporation, Norm Van Lier Scholarship Fund and the Chicago United Hoops Classic, Popchips, Qdoba, Quality Engraving, Starbucks, Subway Development of Chicagoland, Taquero Fusion, Wrigley, Accenture, Chicago Bears, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Sky, Chicago White Sox, DePaul ‘Blue Demons’ University Athletics and Northwestern 'Wildcats’ University Athletics.