Coming from the business world, I didn’t realize just how many students are living in homeless shelters - let alone experiencing homelessness overall. As I talked about my experience with my network, I quickly realized that those around me were largely unaware of this student experience as well. This got me thinking about how we, as people who are deeply invested in education, can spread the word so that students experiencing homelessness can have access to an education that is equitable and thereby work to close the opportunity gap for our students.

Virtual learning is a new realm that everyone has had to navigate during these past few months. Teachers have stepped up and have become creative in their new online classrooms. Parents have had to balance work requirements with helping their children. Students have slowly adapted in an attempt to establish some sort of routine and sense of normalcy. However, for some students, concerns about virtual exposure of their living situation is just one of many worries during this time. The pandemic and the shift to virtual learning has disproportionately impacted a specific population of students: those experiencing homelessness…

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is one of the most important components of youth development. With students engaging in e-learning, seemingly trivial but valuable lessons have become more difficult to implement. Whether it’s having a conversation with a friend about who will take the next turn on the slide or discussing how it looks to feel “excited” or “disappointed”, SEL is critical. Especially for students, such as those experiencing homelessness, who may live in more isolated environments, the long-term impact of e-learning on social-emotional development is significant…

According to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, 76,998 people experienced homelessness in Chicago throughout 2018. Of those, the number of unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness (ages 14-24) in Chicago is around 11,376. With the pandemic creating more barriers and challenges, including unprecedented levels of unemployment, these numbers are likely to have increased in 2020. Experiencing homelessness is difficult for anyone, but especially for youth who are still in key developmental stages in their lives…

Homelessness in the US has been increasing over the past five years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this issue in many communities. In April 2020, only one third of American tenants were able to make rent payments, with the following months’ payments remaining uncertain. Many individuals have been stuck in a loop of social distancing leading to business closures, business closures leading to unemployment, unemployment leading to lost wages and homelessness, and homelessness leading to a decreased ability to…

First and foremost, Black Lives Matter. Chicago HOPES for Kids stands with the Black community against the police brutality and racism that has led to the inhumane and unforgiving murders of Black people in this country, including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sandra Bland, Stephon Clark, and countless others. The murder of George Floyd on May 25th, 2020 caused mass protests not only all over the United States, but the entire world. Police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on a restrained and handcuffed George Floyd’s…

If you did not know, May is mental health awareness month. Now more than ever it is crucial for us to acknowledge our own mental health and the mental health of those around us. As people around the world retire their regular routine for a new one, the feelings of isolation, fear for the mortality of their loved ones and getting sick, and the loss of jobs and a stable income can take a toll on the mental health of millions. According to the World Health Organization and Mental Health America, this pandemic has…

Much has developed over these past few days-Currently, Illinois residents are under a stay at home order that took effect on Saturday, March 21st. As we face tighter restrictions on how we go about our daily lives, we are adapting and finding ways to cope. In the face of this increasing isolation, there are still ways that we can remain connected to each other. I find myself calling family members more often, and hearing from friends that I haven’t talked to in a while. Amidst this crisis, there is opportunity for reconnection, and an…

Despite what many of us were taught growing up, liberty and justice for all does not exist in the United States. US democracy, which has consistently been presented as an institution that is “for the people” has, by design, never been representative of all Americans. It wasn’t until 1870, nearly a century after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, that the country added an amendment to eliminate racial barriers to voting. It took 50 more years for women to gain the right to vote, and native americans…

Everyone has a favorite story from their childhood. Stories are one of the most important parts of our culture. Children’s literature is filled with classic tales like Cinderella and Peter Pan, stories of adversity and triumph. The trials and tribulations of these narratives help to educate children on the world around them, and impart important characteristics. Literature helps to generate an understanding of the world, and presents interesting opportunities for self-reflection on our norms and standards…