Kelvyn Park HS & Prosser HS @ Norwood Crossing

Today, I was lucky enough to spend the morning with the dynamic duo of Kelvyn Park HS and Prosser HS yet again. We went to Norwood Crossing, a senior housing facility that also supports independent seniors through a variety of services.

Because we had twenty kids, we were able to do a lot of impactful events in a combination of both direct and indirect service. Some students helped to organize the center's library sytem while others helped sort donations at the thirft store. A third group painted a chair for the regional network.

We were able to all come together for the second half of the morning to spend time with several seniors at a cook out! Not only were students able to prepare and serve food, but they were also able to spend some time with seniors from all over the Chicagoland area. It was great to see students and senior connecting through sports and holidays. The clowns that were also in the center and were quite entertaining!

Thanks to Bryan Manasse and Ryan Gauthier from Norwood Crossing for the wonderful morning!

Prosser HS & Kelvyn Park HS @ Hines VA Center

Today I went to the Hines VA Center in Hines Illinois with ten students from Prosser Career Academy and ten students from Kelvyn Park High School. The twenty students spent time hanging out with veterans and passing out bags with toiletries. Not all of the veterans were in the hospital because of recent injuries, some served in World War Two, Korea and Vietnam was well as in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As some of our students are involved with JROTC at their high school, it was really valuable for them to spend time with others who have served in various branches of the military. It was great to see students become engaged in conversations with servicemen who had worked in fields they were also interested in, such as research in aerodynamics or becoming a helicopter pilot.

Some students were interested in which branches they served in and where and others were more interested in discussing sports. The veterans at Hines are not all necessarily from the greater Chicagoland area and there were some hearty baseball discussions. It was especially valuable to spend time with veterans right before the Fourth of July!

One of the most important changes I was able to observe was a change in the students from nervous and unsure to confident and curious. At first, they were uncertain what questions to ask and why these veterans might want someone to sit and talk to them for a few minutes. However, once they became to realize that not everyone had family close they became more interested in providing companionship and company.

One big thank you to all of our veterans for their service to us and to Kim at the Volunteer Services department for making this day a success!

Kelvyn Park HS @ Ronald McDonald House

YUM! Cheeseburger Casserole was on the menu at Comer Children's Hospital's Ronald McDonald House this Wednesday.


Students from Kelvyn Park HS put their culinary skills to the test chopping, dicing and mixing to put together a three course lunch for the families of children receiving treatment at Comer Children's Hospital.


While our casserole was cooking, Assistant House Manager, Cathy Berk, took us on a tour of the amazing house that accomidates 22 families with all the comforts of home. With 4 RM Homes here in Chicago and over 200 total around the world, she explained that many families need only to stay a couple of days but families could stay the course of treatment required with one family staying at their location for a full year.


Students were struck by the homes beauty but also the thoughtfulness of the designers, house managers and volunteers to create such a supportive environment with customized storage pantries, game rooms, business center, every kind of support to make families feel comfortable.

Thank you to Cathy Berk and Ronald McDonald House Comer Children's Hospital for allowing us the opportunity to serve!

Kelvyn Park @ Cob Connection & Foreman @ Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse

A week ago we were concerned our Environmental events would be rained out, but this week were hoping our students could handle the heat! But a heat index of 100* can't stop these students. They are tough service learners.

On Thursday, students from Foreman and Kelvyn Park literally headed 'into the field' to serve with two incredible organizations transforming their local communities.

Foreman High School students went to Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse, an amazing center for organic gardening, classes, events and education that makes us think a bit more about where our food comes from, how its grown and what we eat. Students helped prepare the steamy greenhouse for youth programs begining next week.

Kelvyn Park High School students went to McCormick YMCA which has provided the Cob Connection with a city-lots for urban agriculture development. Cob Connection in addition to transforming vacant lots into urban farms and gardens also uses the experience as job training for youth and their families and then donates the food grown to local food pantries - creating a sustainable, locally-grown system for food development.

Cob Connection is also preparing for youth programs next week and Kelvyn Park students were able to get a great deal done building out an entire row to be ready for planting.

Thank you to Kirsten Akre, Gardener from Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse and Chad Bliss, Executive Director from Cob Connection for allowing us the opportunity to serve in your green gardens!

Kelvyn Park @ Share Your Soles

To kick off service events for Summer of Service and Leadership, Kelvyn Park High School went to Share Your Soles. Students spent the morning unpacking, sorting and dividing donated shoes. These shoes come from all over the Chicagoland area to the processing warehouse were our students served. Shoes must be discarded if torn, ripped or excessively worn. The shoes that were sorted will be washed, dried and sent to needy areas around the world, such as Sri Lanka and Ghana.

The work that our students did today ensures that recipients get shoes that serve them well and that they can accept with dignity. Even though sorting shoes might not feel like it makes a huge difference as each pair is inspected before it reaches it destination. It was great to see students discussing the need to serve others with respect. We discussed the role that volunteers should take as one that recognizes and values the worth of those they serve.

The students from Kelvyn Park look forward to their other service events over the five week course. Those other opportunities include a trip to the McCormick YMCA to work in a community garden with COB Connection and a day serving lunch at the Ronald McDonald House at the University of Chicago.