The Academy's equity policy aims to ensure that students from marginalized communities have access to high-quality afterschool and intersession programs. 

This policy addresses structural barriers to access by collaborating in community partnerships within these communities. 

 

The Academy largely focuses its efforts on marginalized neighborhoods throughout the Chicagoland area and allies itself with stakeholders in these targeted

communities to boost outreach.

 

These areas face multiple threats, including systemic and structural racial bias, economic disparities, and limited access to quality education and enrichment services.

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As a Chicago Park District and Chicago Public School District 299 partner, we provide youth outreach activities at school and park district sites.  

 

All youth enrolled in the Chicago Public Schools and ParkKids After-School Program are eligible to participate.

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The Academy centers the voices and needs of our communities across all of our enrichment models.  Our community-driven approach meets youth where they are. We actively engage with community and youth-centric organizations, which greatly informs program planning at each site and ensures programs are tailored to the specific needs of the community.  We collaborate throughout the year with the stakeholders to identify programming needs and the target audience for each program.

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Our prevention through intervention, education, and community engagement, ensures that our youth are empowered to bridge the achievement gap in

a healthy, sustainable way.

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“I love the program! It isn’t the normal program that is offered in every neighborhood! To be exposed to more options gives kids a better chance

of learning more about themselves and what they’re actually good at!"

≈ DavidG, Park District