Items filtered by date: August 2015

Over 300 people attended Youth Employment: A Smart Investment hearing at The Chicago Urban League on January 30, 2015.

The hearing was co-sponsored by The Chicago Urban League, Chicago Area Project, Westside Health Authority, Youth Connection Charter School, Black United Fund of Illinois and the Alternative Schools Network.

Pictures, video and the report "A Frayed Connection: Joblessness among Teens in Chicago - January 2015" are available below. 

We are excited to announce our new partnership with Get In Chicago, a public-private partnership aimed at reducing violence in the City of Chicago.

Get In Chicago has funded ASN to provide Mentors to work with youth in three of our partner schools, including CCA Academy in North Lawndale, Community Youth Development Institute in Englewood, and El Cuarto Año High School in Humboldt Park. Programming kicks off October 1st, so be on the lookout for more updates on the work we are doing with some amazing youth!

Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS) and Alternative Schools Network (ASN) are Proud to Congratulate More than 1,200 Students that Graduated from  Member Schools in 2015!

After 43 years of serving Chicago's at-risk youth, Lake View Academy celebrated its final graduating class in June of 2015.

“We serve students who want out of the structure of a traditional school – not out of school. We are schools of choice. Students don’t need to be fixed – school structure needs to be fixed.”

This summer, Alternative Schools Network partnered with six schools to provide summer After School Matters out-of-school time programming for 115 teens across the city, from the Belmont-Cragin neighborhood on Chicago’s northwest side, to the Chatham neighborhood on the south side.

Programs brought together first time participants with returning teens to create challenging, educational, and enriching opportunities for growth, development, and work experiences.
 

ASN Mentors are on call 24 hours/7 days a week.  We are personal alarm clocks to help ensure youth’s on-time arrival to school; a chauffeur to doctor appointments, GED test sites, and court appearances where we stand with and advocate for them. We are personal assistants - helping with college applications, job search, interview clothes shopping, and finding safe shelter for a youth who becomes homeless overnight.  We are fairy Godmothers to a young student, unable to purchase clothing for her newborn child.

It is with mixed feelings that we are saying goodbye to Michelle Morales. Michelle joined ASN over 12 years ago and has served in key leadership roles as Associate Director of our organization and Director of the Re-Enrolled Student Project (RSP). Michelle's outgoing personality, conscientious leadership and professionalism helped shape ASN and create a wonderful environment to work and learn in.

Program Overview: The Fostering Learning Program's (FLP) principle mission is to partner with DCFS agencies servicing Illinois youth-in-care to facilitate youth development through academic and social/emotional education. To achieve this mission, the Fostering Learning Program bridges the "digital divide" between the typical, advantaged high school student and youth-in-care of Illinois by providing fully-supported, structured access to cost effective, non-threatening virtual learning systems that empower at-risk students to achieve success (credit attainment/grade promotion/graduation) through self-paced learning tailored to the individual's need and skill level.

How do you keep teens that have given up on high school encouraged, engaged and enrolled? Just ask any of the dedicated educators participating in the Re-Enrolled Student Project!

The Re-Enrolled Student Project (RSP) is a collaboration between the Alternative Schools Network (ASN), the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and ASN’s member schools. RSP provides expanded academic and wraparound services through programs centered in community-based alternative high schools across Chicago.  RSP focuses on getting students re-enrolled and supporting them in every way possible.

The Alternative Schools Network (ASN), in collaboration with their member schools, celebrated the 2015 Prom this year on June 5^th. It was again hosted by the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, located downtown in the Magnificent Mile. 

This year’s theme for Prom was “Wishing on a Star”, chosen by the Prom committee which consists of a representative from each of the 27 participating alternative high schools.