Latin's Partnership with Uptown Neighborhood
In the fall of 2012, Latin School launched a new
service initiative with the Uptown neighborhood
of Chicago. By working with local civic leaders,
including the 46th Ward alderman, and cultural
and community organizations such as schools,
shelters, nonprofits, soup kitchens, and groups
that serve children, the elderly and people with
disabilities, Latin strives to have a meaningful
impact on this neighborhood while also providing
students in all three divisions of the school
with an in-depth service learning experience.
The Uptown Partnership grew out of a
number of longstanding relationships that
were already in place at Latin, including
the more than 18-year-old middle school
partnership with McCutcheon Elementary
School and Latin's Martin Luther King Day
of Service at Uptown Baptist Soup Kitchen,
which Latin families have been involved in for
more than a decade.
Uptown is one of the most diverse
communities in Chicago in terms of culture,
race, age, citizenship, artistic heritage and
economic status. Residents have a wide range
of needs that students can support. Moreover,
the community provides rich educational
opportunities that can be integrated into Latin
School's curriculum.
This school year, Latin teachers, students,
staff and parents partnered with about two
dozen organizations on a variety of efforts in
the neighborhood. Projects included preparing
bagged lunches for residents of Night Ministry,
cleaning up Montrose Harbor, and preparing
and serving meals at Cornerstone Shelter.
Looking forward, we hope to continue to
develop and sustain relationships with these
organizations and engage with others in
meaningful ways.
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