Join Your Community

Community Circle at Rowe Elementary School

When you step into Rowe Elementary School, visitors sense something is different immediately.  You are greeted by warm administrative staff, teachers are providing individual attention to each student, and scholars are attentively reading, creating or problem-solving together.  You can also see this difference every other Friday during Community Circle.  This weekly celebration allows scholars, teachers, and staff members renew their commitment to a college-focused education for Rowe Elementary School scholars and their families.

Above: Towe Elementary School Scholars gather for Community Circle.

Community Circle helps scholars grow as a community.  Each classroom is named after a higher education institution, so the classrooms celebrate their school spirit by chanting their school’s cheer.  Then students recite the school’s creed, an essential component of Rowe Elementary School culture and expectations.  Community Circle ends with a raffle for those scholars that earned tickets based on good behavior.  As winners are called scholars “send love” by wiggling their fingers in the direction of the raffle winner.

Visitors are welcome to join Rowe Elementary School for their Community Circle.  If you are interested in visiting to see this remarkable difference in college-focused elementary education, please contact Cait at (773) 278-7471 Ext 203 or callen@nush.org. 

My Life at the Settlement

  Meet David Biele, Camp VIDA Program Director

Northwestern Settlement is proud to nominate David Biele, Camp VIDA Program Director, for the Young Non-Profit Professional of the Year Award.  YNPN Chicago offers the award to recognize a young nonprofit professional who has made an outstanding contribution to the Chicago nonprofit sector through exemplary leadership at his or her organization, or through involvement in the Chicago nonprofit sector more widely.  Through his service at Northwestern Settlement, work with Noble Street Charter School, and dedication to Chicago's youth, David is an ideal candidate for this prestigious award.

Above: David Biele (center), Young NonProfit Professional of the Year Nominee, with Camp VIDA participants.

Camp VIDA, which stands for Volunteers in Dedicated Action, is a summer service and environmental education camp. In addition to his many other commitments and volunteer experiences, David is the volunteer program director for this important Settlement program.  The program is open to Noble Network of Charter School students. And often, this unique volunteer experience is their first time away from home, traveling on an airplane and visiting a national park.  David has "witnessed the teens gain self-confidence, develop problem solving skills, increase environmental awareness, and learn how to work as a team as they provided essential service to our nation’s premier national parks."

Noble Street Charter School Principal Bill Olsen points out that, "David does all of the fundraising to make the program possible and coordinates with the directors at each of the national parks to make sure that students are doing meaningful service. Camp VIDA makes it possible for students who never would have had the chance to visit, yet alone contribute to maintaining one of our country’s most beautiful natural spaces."  One of Camp VIDA's participants also said that she benefited and changed "as a person from my experience at Camp VIDA by becoming more confident with myself. If I can white water raft, something I thought that was too difficult, then I can surely do many other things I think are hard. So with the help of Camp VIDA now I know I can take on senior year.  While it may be hard like when I hiked up hike up two waterfalls in one day, I can do it and it's worth it."

Ron Manderschied, Northwestern Settlement President, praised David's "dedication to expanding summer service opportunities to Chicago's underserved youth.  These experiences help students build life-long skills, develop an ethic of service, and explore new worlds.  We are so grateful for David's outstanding commitment to Camp VIDA."

This upcoming summer, David and Camp VIDA are going to South Dakota to work with Habitat for Humanity on a Native American reservation in the Black Hills.  You can learn more about Camp VIDA and become a fan by visiting their Facebook Page. 

Wintertime Joy at House In The Wood Camp

School Age Program Children and Families Visit House In The Wood

School Age Program children and families spent an adventurous winter weekend at House In The Wood during early February.  Kenya Robinson, School Age Group Worker, spent the weekend with School Age children and families.  She gave us a first-hand account of this terrific weekend:

The video below shows some of the highlights: ice-fishing, sledding, snow, and more!

  North Shore Board Advisors' Event to Support
Leaders In Training at House In The Wood Camp

North Shore Board Advisors and guests enjoyed lunch, drama, raffle and shopping benefiting House In The Wood Camp’s Leaders In Training Program.  Barbara Rinella presented American Lion, Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham on February 3 at the Skokie Country Club. This dramatic presentation raised funds that help young adults attain their dreams thanks to House In The Wood Camp.

Andrew Jackson, the first common man to be elected the seventh President of the United States, was presented in this fascinating and intriguing dramatic reading.  Ms. Rinella presented an account of Jackson's life from both President Jackson's viewpoint and his niece Emily Donalson. She concluded her presentation with tantalizing book reccomendations for luncheon guests.

House In The Wood Camp has provided campers with positive alternatives to negative urban lifestyles within the context of an outdoor camp experience since 1910. The four year Leaders in Training (LIT) Program provides teens with a unique opportunity to experience life beyond the hardships and violence of urban living while helping them to develop solid life-management skills, teaching them to make healthy choices, and setting them on a course for a successful future. The LITs learn the ins-and-outs of running a camp, visit college campuses, participate in corporate career days, and develop an understanding of opportunities that are open to them.

Get Inspired with Adventure Stage Chicago

Adventure Stage Chicago continues to redefine the definition of theatre for young audiences.  Not only does this innovative program offer professionally produced theatrical presentations, but also continuing education for Chicago’s teachers, special learning opportunities for children, and access to artists and writers, and much, much more. 

Since the start of 2010, Adventure Stage Chicago has, in addition to their regular programming, offered a free New Play Workshop of The Whipping Boy. The Whipping Boy centers on proud orphan Jemmy and spoiled brat Prince Horace. In a time when striking an heir to the throne is considered a crime worse than murder, Jemmy is the unlucky boy picked to receive corporal punishment in the prince's stead. When the two young men run away from home, each sees the other in a new light and an unlikely friendship is born. Producing Artistic Director Tom Arvetis wrote a blog post covering the event on adventurestage.blogspot. com:

The New Play Workshop was a huge success; ASC supporters built a stronger community by bringing together artists, educators, and young people and the adults in their lives.  February's Holiday Drama Kids - a workshop series with Victory Gardens for young people during holiday breaks from school - was also a huge success.  The workshop and some of its participants were featured on ABC7.  This winter, Holiday Drama Kids focused on mask-making and pantomime.  According to 8-year-old Maeve, she had "thunderous fun!"  Ten-year-old Juju noted, "When I put on my mask it was like I became a different person. I liked doing the mask exercises!"  Check out the video below to learn more about Holiday Drama Kids:

 New Members and Friends Join Chicago Board

Founded in 2004, the Chicago Board engages young professionals in supporting the mission and vision of Northwestern Settlement.  Seventeen members strong, this auxiliary board raised over $8,000 last year during Spring for the Settlement, their annual cocktail party. President Ashley Welnhofer and Chicago Board members are working hard to recruit new members and coordinate a fabulous spring party.  To support their efforts, members hosted a FRIENDraiser to meet new friends and potential members.  The Board is excited to welcome their new members!

Interested in learning more or joining?  Contact Cait at (773) 278-7471 Ext 203 or callen@nush.org.  You can also learn more by visiting the Chicago Board on Facebook!

Valentines From Your Neighbors

 Evanston Woman's Board's Sweet Treats at Northwestern Settlement

Thanks to Evanston Woman’s Board members’ sweet treats, proceeds from their annual Valentine’s Day bake sale will help School Age Program supply rewards and celebrations during their 1,2,3…Let’s Read! Program. Every year during the first months of the year, School Age Program children enhance their ability to read. They read one-on-one and individually in order to earn points for small rewards. The culminating celebration recognizes the children’s literary achievements. Many thanks to Evanston Woman’s Board members for their delectable desserts for a great cause!

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