Letter From Our Leaders
Dear CIS friends and supporters,
When we reflect on the 2023-24 school year and the challenges our young people and our city navigated, it’s easy to think the problems are insurmountable. But we believe that as the challenges have gotten more complex, the need for CIS of Chicago has grown – because access to education creates opportunity for each and every one of the students we serve.
Our team at CIS is there in the school building, supporting students and schools with the resources that help young people stay on track. Michelle, for example, is one of the many students who benefited from CIS’ work.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPACT IN 2023-24
Back to normal. From the outside looking in, it appears that life for Chicago students has returned to life pre-pandemic. But those inside the school building experience a different reality. They know all too well that in the last four years, the challenges faced by our city’s young people have only increased.
- Since the pandemic, the rates of chronic absenteeism – or students missing 10% or more of school – hover around 40 percent. This means that 2 out of 5 Chicago students are missing critical days of learning during the school year.
- Mental health issues are on the rise for young people, as is community violence. According to A Better Chicago’s 2024 Youth Survey, 94 percent of Chicago youth viewed mental health and well-being as a problem. That same survey revealed that nearly two-thirds of Chicago’s young people had witnessed community violence, and a quarter said they witnessed violence weekly.
- National trends also indicate the growing impact of firearm violence on youth. Since 2020, firearm-related injury surpassed motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death for youth. In 2024, U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued an Advisory on Firearm Violence, declaring it a public health crisis.
- These challenges are compounded by changing demographics in the district. While the rate of economically disadvantaged students stayed steady at 70 percent in 2023-24, the rate of English language learners increased to nearly a quarter of all Chicago students.
Absenteeism. Mental health challenges. Community violence. Changing demographics. These issues place increased pressure on schools and teachers as they work to prepare the next generation of Chicagoans for success.
Students cannot learn – and they cannot access the resources they need – if they are not in school. They cannot grow as individuals if their mental and emotional well-being is not addressed. They cannot envision their future if life seems hopeless.
CIS of Chicago is present in more than a third of Chicago public schools, surrounding students with a community of support. We provide Chicago youth with the one-on-one guidance and resources they need to achieve.
During the 2023-24 school year, our team supported 74,300 students at 238 Chicago Public Schools, more schools than at any other point in our organization’s 35-year history. We invite you to learn more about our impact.
Our Two Core Programs
Partnership Program, Our Whole-School Approach
Our Partnership Program helps school leaders and faculty at more than a third of Chicago public schools connect with resources and programs that meet the needs of their entire school communities.
PARTNERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR
Opportunities for Self-Expression, Advocacy, and Change
When Chicago middle-schoolers needed ways to express themselves after exposure to violence, our team continued connecting them with Do the Write Thing. The national writing program empowers students to examine the impact that youth violence has on their lives and communicate what they think should be done to reduce its occurrence.
In the 2023-24 school year, 711 students participated in the writing challenge, and two students were named Chicago Do the Write Thing ambassadors – Beautiful Pearson from Parker Community Academy and Rylei Thompson from Arthur Dixon Elementary School. In July 2024, Rylei traveled to D.C. and represented Chicago at the national Do the Write Thing Summit. There, she met with state legislators, shared her perspective, and had her written work bound in the Library of Congress.
Programs that Prevent Bullying
When Palmer Elementary School sought programs focused on bullying prevention, School Partnership Specialist Marlena connected them with Southpaw Strikes Out Bullying, a program through the Chicago White Sox that includes a visit from White Sox mascot Southpaw. The interactive presentation demonstrated positive ways that young people can prevent bullying and stand up for others.
As a way to boost student engagement during the presentation, Marlena also connected Palmer with 300 packs of baseball cards, donated by a CIS supporter and his 12-year-old son. The baseball cards added a unique takeaway to an already informative and important program.
Performances that Celebrate Cultural Diversity
When Nixon Elementary School was looking for a dance program during Hispanic Heritage Month, CIS’ Arts Partnership Specialist Katia connected them with Ensemble Español, a Spanish dance company and CIS community partner. The program, Ritmos de España, showcased three different Spanish dances and educated students about the instruments they used, which included castanets, hands, and feet.
“The performance was great, and the kids had a blast!” said Ariana, the CIS Student Supports Manager based at Nixon. The performers were also able to present the program in Spanish and English, which met the school’s bilingual needs.
Our Two Core Programs
Intensive Program, Our Individual-Student Approach
Our Intensive Program embeds a CIS team member, a Student Supports Manager, in schools across the city to provide direct support to students who need it most.
INTENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR
Individual Student Support
Four days a week, CIS Intensive Team members are in the school building, meeting with students one-on-one. When eleventh grader Taylor was having a difficult time building trusting relationships and finding places where they felt safe and comfortable, our team member Bethany provided a safe space. She discussed with Taylor ways to build their self-acceptance, express their emotions, and ask for help when needed. Bethany also provided a space for regular check-ins about grades.
When Taylor was asked why it’s important to have someone like Bethany at their school, they said, “People often need help but aren’t able to receive support outside of school. Meeting with [Bethany] made me realize that I can find people I am comfortable talking to and create new bonds with people.”
Group Facilitation
Our CIS Student Supports Managers in schools also lead small groups, across grade levels, where students can develop social and emotional skills, express themselves in positive ways, and build relationships with their classmates. Some groups are created for certain grades where extra support is needed. Some are focused on mental health support, friendship-building, or study skill development.
At one CIS school on the Southwest Side, Student Supports Manager Liz facilitated a group for middle school girls. The topic of discussion often focused on building and sustaining relationships – with friends, with family members, and with teachers. At another CIS school, Student Supports Manager Bernadette launched an art club for students not connected with other after-school activities, like athletics. Students met once a week, and they told Bernadette that the art club gave them a space to feel calmer and express themselves.
Resource Connection
Another aspect of the CIS Student Supports Manager role is connecting their school community with resources provided by CIS’ community partner network. When team member Jacob recognized a need at his school for community, he empowered the young people to create positive change. Jacob launched No Place for Hate, a student-led school climate improvement program, to address identity-based bullying. The student team coordinated a kindness mail initiative and hosted a training for fourth and fifth graders where students reflected on their own identities and explored personal biases.
By The Numbers (2023-24)
0
Chicago students supported
0
families furnished with essential needs items
0
programs and services were connected to schools
0
school partners
0
community partners
0
Intensive Program sites
0
case-managed students
0
%
of case-managed students graduated or were promoted
<
0
%
of case-managed students dropped out
Supporting Our Communities
CIS of Chicago remained committed in 2023-24 to supporting our community in ways that bolstered our shared investment in student success.
Recognizing Our Students and Partners
CIS of Chicago celebrates our young people and the partners who help bring our work to life with two annual awards: the Spirit of Giving Award and the Carnahan Family Tenacity Awards.
Investors in Our Work
During the 2023-24 school year, CIS supporters showed up for Chicago’s young people. They hosted students at their corporate offices for our Inspiring Futures program and helped them explore new career paths. They visited their schools and heard from them directly about the challenges they face and the support that CIS provides. They stayed informed about current issues affecting our schools. And they came together for our Annual Fundraising Event and showed their support. We are thankful for their continued partnership.
“The Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation (UBCF) supports the well-being of women and teens so they can unleash their possibilities, including mind, body, and community well-being. We are proud of our partnership with Communities In Schools of Chicago and the work they do to support those who need it most in our community.”
–Jodi Caro, General Counsel, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, Ulta Beauty
Board of Directors (2023-24)
Our Board of Directors works directly with our leadership team to help advance CIS’ mission of empowering Chicago students to achieve in school and in life. We are grateful to the following board members for their service during the 2023-24 school year.
| NAME | POSITION | ORGANIZATION |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Brady (Board Chairman) | Retired Partner, Investment Banking | William Blair & Company, LLC |
| Jim Welch (Board Vice Chair) | Co-CEO | Nexgen Packaging LLC |
| Michelle Brown (Board Treasurer) | Senior Vice President of Operations and Customer Excellence | Encore |
| Brian Moncrief (Board Secretary) | Managing Director, Credit Group | Ares Management Corporation |
| Dr. Sherron J. Bibbie | Retired Principal | Chicago Public Schools |
| Don Bielinski | Managing Partner | SMB Interim Management LLC |
| Craig A. Bondy | Founder and CEO | Bondy Capital LLC |
| Mary Capasso | EVP, COO, and General Counsel | PPM America, Inc. |
| Lan Nguyen Chaplin, Ph.D. | Professor, Medill School | Northwestern University |
| Janel Daley | Vice President, Business Development | Protera |
| Miranda Davis | Medical Management Specialist | BCBS-IL |
| Jonathan Guryan | Lawyer Taylor Professor of Education and Social Policy | Northwestern University |
| Ryan D. Harris | Partner | Kirkland & Ellis LLP |
| John M. Hawn | Retired, Former Director of Operations | YUM! Brands, Inc. |
| Ralph R. Leslie | EVP, CFO, & COO | Pew Charitable Trusts |
| Bradley H. Meyers | Managing Director | GCM Grosvenor |
| Jim Parsons | Retired President | The Brinson Foundation |
In the News
- CBS: Chicago’s Hidden Gems: Middle School Student Honored for Essay on Violence (August 18, 2023)
- ABC 7: CIS of Chicago Trains Adults to Recognize Youth Mental Health Problems (November 7, 2023)
- Chalkbeat Chicago: Counseling Students Who Have Experienced Gun Violence (January 16, 2024)
- Crain’s Chicago: How to Help Students Find Their Way Back to Regular School Attendance (June 24, 2024)
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