Education and Literacy

Hunger and Homelessness

Health and Wellness

About Us

Center for Life and Learning

Tutoring

Urban Farm

Elam Davies Social Service Center

Center for Whole Health

Summer Day

Literacy and Arts at Near North Magnet Cluster Schools

Free Write Jail Arts and Literacy at Nancy B. Jefferson Alternative School

Education and Literacy

Fostering Education and Literacy Changes Lives!

Literacy affects every aspect of life - not only educational success. Literacy means being able to read the instructions on a bottle of medicine or an application for a job -- or for just reading the mail. That's why Chicago Lights advances education and literacy both on paper and beyond.

Traditional Education and Literacy
More traditional resources include libraries throughout our program areas which offer:

Children and youth the privilege of checking out books from a library with an online catalog and staffed by a helpful librarian
Volunteer Tutors a chance to select grade-level appropriate books to read with students
Adults 60 and older to access books of interest from the Chicago Lights Center for Life and Learning book cart
Complimentary used books for Social Service Guests without the appropriate identity to obtain a library card or the economic means to purchase books

Digital Literacy and Education
A 23-unit computer network, available for Chicago Lights' programs at our 126 East Chestnut location, advances digital literacy by offering opportunities for:

Adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to establish e-mail accounts
Youth to practice typing skills for Summer Job Internships and for SAT and ACT tests
Older Adults to research health and wellness information on the Internet
Children to participate in the arts through online design

"Technology provides students with information and career opportunities and the chance to enhance their communication skills. To keep them interested [Chicago Lights] incorporates technology into activities that interest them, such as the performing arts." - Penny Smith, Chicago Community Trust, former Chicago Lights Technology and Student Vocational Trainer

Arts Education
Arts education provides both children and adults creative outlets and opportunities for confidence buidling and self-growth. Chicago Lights provides opportunities to grow and learn through the arts through:

Six weeks of arts education for kids, grades 1-8,in the Summer Day Program
A Community building performance, Festival of the Heart which brings together three Near North Magnet Cluster schools in Cabrini Green
Art and humanity classes for Older Adults
Time for creative expression for students in the Tutoring Program before they meet with their tutors.

Chicago Lights' commitment to education is part of our heritage, dating to the establishment of the Tutoring Program in 1964. Read more about the historical outreach of services provided to foster education and literacy.

Services and programs in the areas of education and literacy are one of three practice areas for Chicago Lights.

Mark Your Calendar

Every Saturday
Fresh Produce is available for sale at the Urban Farm
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

September 7
New Tutor Orienation
6:00 p.m.

September 9
Center for Life and Learning Free Open House
10:00 a.m. or 5:00 p.m.

September 9
Lunch and Reception to learn about Volunteering with Caring Cirlces
12:30 p.m.

September 9
T'ai Chi Classes Begin
5:00 p.m.

September 13
New Tutor Orienation
6:00 p.m.

September 16
New Tutor Orienation
6:00 p.m.

"The biggest draw for us to Chicago Lights, both as volunteers and benefactors, has been the sense of being apart of a strong community that inspires others and leads by example.

Chicago Lights has allowed both of us to share the gifts we have been so blessed with while gaining new perspective on the challenges our community faces."
--Craig and Alison Naish