Sexual

health, LGBTQ+, and Healthy Relationships

School or Organization Project Description Project Impact
Association House High School Students started a Gay Straight Alliance Increase awareness of LGBTQ
club to empower LGBTQ students, make issues
the school a safe and welcoming space, Engage students, community
and spread awareness about LGBTQ leaders, and local officials to
issues to the community. The club held create a safe inclusive
discussion groups, met with local environment for LGBTQ
officials, spoke with neighboring schools, identifying individuals
and worked with school administration
and staff to address student LGBTQ
questions and concerns.
CCA Academy Students started a campaign to reduce Increase awareness about the
violence and promote neighborhood relationship between poverty
pride in the North Lawndale and violence
neighborhood. Students spoke to state Promote peace in the North
legislators on issues of violence and Lawndale Community
hosted a peace summit and walk with
neighboring high schools to create unity
and reduce the amount of youth
violence.
Lindblom Math & Science Academy Students developed a Gay Straight Foster the growth of the
Alliance Handbook to complement and LGBTQ community
expand the schools sexuality sensitivity Improve educator knowledge
professional development training. The about LGBTQ issues
handbook includes terminology Create a climate where
clarifications, role-play scenarios, and students feel safe to freely
references for additional information to express and love
improve school educators competency
with LGBTQ issues.
Manley HS in Chicago Students collaborated with a sexual Promote safe sex and sexual
health clinic to provide STI/HIV testing for health
students. Bringing testing to the school Make HIV/STI testing available
removed barriers to access allowing to students by reducing
more students to get tested and gain barriers to access like location,
knowledge about risk reduction and safe cost, and time
sex.
The Ogden International High Students designed a campaign that Increased knowledge of skills
School addressed student-identified concerns and resources for building
regarding toxic relationships. The healthy relationships
campaign included peer-led workshops, a Improved school culture
school wide healthy relationships through increased respect and
summit, and partnerships with local improved relationships among
domestic violence and bullying student body
organizations to provide students with
resources to build skills for identifying
and escaping unhealthy relationships.
Roger Sullivan High school Students initiated a school curriculum Improve access to sexual
reform to address the unique sexual health and teen pregnancy
health concerns of the student body and information and resources
 surrounding community. Guest speakers, Adapt school curriculum to
partnerships with outside organizations address the specific sexual
and a sexual health needs assessments health education
given to the student body were used to
determine target areas of concern;
inform best-practice and sensitivity in
education delivery; and create a healthy
and safe learning environment.
Theodore Roosevelt Students hosted a series of workshops to Provide students with skill and
address school wide concerns about resources to engage in health
emotional and physical abuse in romantic relationships
relationships. Guest speakers worked Reduce the amount of
with students to foster communication emotional and physical abuse
skills, explore what healthy relationships in romantic relationships
look like, and safely discuss student among students
concerns, experiences, and need.
Walter Payton High School Youth implemented a student-led health Improve the overall wellness
and health education initiative to of the student body
promote inclusivity, empathy, and Increase access to health
physical and mental well-being of the education resources
student body. Students participated in Promote relationship building
fundraising events for mental health and with diverse groups of
reproductive justice; created a coalition individuals
of student clubs to address issues around
school climate, culture, and safety; and
collaborated with school staff and
administration to create a website that
provides information and resources to
students regarding mental and physical
health.

 Violence Prevention
School or Organization Project Description Project Impact
Instituto Health Sciences Career The Student Council started a peace and Raise awareness about the
Academy anti-violence campaign in response to the effects of violence on
deaths of many students and community individuals and the community
members. To promote peace and combat as a whole
the effects of violence, the students Promote non-violent activities
created of a memory garden to honor in the school and community
individuals who have died, designated Support students and community
space for peace in the school, organized members affected by violence
for experts in the field of non-violent
activism to speak to the students and
community, and hosted a first annual block
party where the community is invited to
eat, dance and celebrate peace together.
King College Preparatory Students hosted an event to bridge the gap Establish positive trusting
between their community and the Chicago relationships with the Chicago
Police Department. The event was Police Department
designed to reframe perceptions and Changing perceptions of the
strengthen the relationship between the Chicago Police Department
community and CPD through joint
participation in fun games, food, and
discussions.
Mason High School Students created a platform that Improve relationships
empowered youth and community between North Lawndale and
members to address and resolve the gun the Chicago Police
violence and high crime rates in North Department
Lawndale. Clear community goals and Reduce the amount gun
identity were developed to insure changes violence and crime
elevated and highlighted the communitys Created a unified community
unique and positive characteristics. image and positive reputation
Students engaged the Chicago Police
Department and key community leaders to
support the creation of a cease fire
campaign in hopes of creating lasting
community and systemic change.
McAuliffe Elementary Students started an after school peace Establish support and
circle for students who have experienced community for students
trauma related to the loss of their father or dealing with paternal trauma
other paternal issues. The peer-lead group Provide space for students to
was designed to create a safe space for discuss and heal from the loss
students to discuss trauma and build of their father
community with other individuals
experiencing similar losses. The peace
circles help establish peer and faculty
supports and help students understand
they are not alone in their experiences or
in healing.
 Percy L. Julian High School The Audio Activism Project provided an Inform society about the real
arts-based platform for youth to make experiences of young people
their voices heard. Students wrote songs, on the south side of Chicago
created mixed media artwork, and Display and debunk
recorded and produced music videos stereotypes about urban
addressing their experiences with youth of color
community violence. Student projects not
only provided a platform for self-
expression, but were also used in a digital
campaign to spread awareness about the
true realities of growing up ass a youth of
color in Chicago.
Solorio Academy High School Students hosted a violence awareness rally Increase student involvement
to inform the student body and community in reducing violence in Gage
about violence in Gage Park and begin Park
conversations around solutions and Define a target action plan for
change. Policymakers, community leaders, reducing violence in the
and residents, were invited to speak to school and community
diversify the knowledge, perspectives and
ideas brought to the table to spark
conversations and innovative change ideas.
Vaughn Occupational High School Students began an anti-bullying campaign Increase transparency about
in their school to raise awareness about bullying
bullying and its consequences. Students Reduce the prevalence of
designed, silk-screened, and sold anti- bullying within the school and
bullying t-shirts to spread the word about community
bullying and to support on going efforts to
reduce bullying within their school and
community.
William Howard Taft High School Students advocated for better public Improve public transportation
transportation options to combat issues of options for students
violence that arise from long wait times for Decrease fighting and violence
busses. Students worked with the Chicago after school to make
Transit Authority and local politicians to transportation to and from
improve the public transportation options school safer for students
for the student body to make it safer for
students to get to and from school and
decrease the number of altercations
students engage in.

 Immigration, Race & Equity
School or Organization Project Description Project Impact
John Hancock College Prep Students are hosting a community Increase knowledge on
conference to address changes in changes in immigration policy
immigration policy on a national and state Connect community members
level. The conference helped connect to resources that can help
community members to resources that navigate policy changes
necessary for dealing with different types
of immigration issues as well as spread
information about changes that are being
made in immigrant policy and how to best
address them.
Juarez High School Seeking to tackle the issue of immigration, Increased number of parents
students at Juarez met with community and students know about their
organizations that work in this area to immigration rights
learn about detentions, deportations, and Increased number of students
fast-changing laws. Then they hosted understand how to influence
several Know Your Rights events for elected officials
students, parents, and community leaders. Increase number
They also hosted an On the Table of community members who
conversation to learn more about are connected to resources
becoming trained as Navigators (trained that can lead to policy
volunteers who can help families dealing changes
with real and potential detention and
deportation issues). They next plan to
travel to both Springfield and DC to lobby
on behalf of immigrant rights and
protections.
Julian High School Student participated in a day of service to Empower teens to create
discuss race and discrimination, create an change and push against
art mural, and facilitated discussions racism and discrimination
about tolerance at a local elementary Increase knowledge on how
school. Their work culminated in a Teen racism and discrimination
Peace Summit designed to empower impacts different communities
teens to discuss societal issues and
solutions that will create peace within
themselves, their schools, and their
communities.
Lindblom Math & Science Students spearheaded a cultural campaign Improve unity among the
Academy to address issues of racial and ethnic student body by breaking
segregation in their school. Throughout down ethnic and cultural
the year groups of students hosted barriers
cultural activities to expand the schools Expand students knowledge of
knowledge on the diverse cultures and different cultures and
experiences of students. The project will ethnicities
culminate with a culture fair where
students can learn about the vast array of
cultures existing within their school.

 School Culture and Climate
School or Organization Project Description Project Impact
Aspira Haugan Middle School Students hosted many events to improve Improve relationship between
school climate, strengthen relationships, students, staff, and
promote healthy relationships, and community
increase student moral. Events targeted Reduce the amount of
relationship building between students, disrespect and abuse inside
staff, and families; respectful behaviors and outside of the school
and actions; and school unity and pride.
Bogan High School Students spearheaded a program to Spread awareness about
increase awareness about autism and autism to the student body
change the perceptions of students who Changing how students
have autism. Students facilitated yoga and perceive students who are
team-building activities with students with different than them
autism. To improve school climate and
create a safe space, the program was
expanded to include students without
autism to increase interaction between
both groups of students.
Bowen High School Students engaged in a school beatification Improve school spirit and
project to help improve school spirit and attendance
issues of attendance. The rundown Increase students pride in the
appearance of the school was detrimental school and respect of school
to school pride, attendance, and overall property
school culture, so student repainted the
front door and multiple classrooms to
combat the negative impacts of the
schools appearance.
Brighton Park Neighborhood Students worked to combat widespread Improve school climate and
Council feelings of being unwelcome and unsafe culture
within their school. Students transformed Promote self-care and peer
a room in the school into a safe space networks to help students
designed for students by students. The deal with stress
room is a place for students to relax, Create a safe space in a
decompress from difficulties in home and community where students
at school, and study, while also being used often feel unsafe
for tutoring, restorative justice
programing, and club meetings.
Crane Medical Prep High School Students worked to combat the causes and Increase the available
effect of homelessness through a day of resources and the experiences
service and by lobbying to local politicians. of students experiencing
After researching key determinants of homelessness
homelessness students proposed a budget Improve the Illinois budget to
referendum to state legislators to help allocate more resources to
reduce the effects of homelessness on combat homelessness
school age students, while also
volunteering at local organizations that
serve homeless individuals.
Crown Academy Students created a platform for the Engage the student body in
student body to express concerns with school climate change to
 school culture and policies as well as work better support their education
with administration to them. Changes experience
focused on improving support for students, Create a school climate of
building personal and academic support, unity, and self-
confidence, increasing attendance rates determination
and academic performance, and
reinvigorating student attitudes about
their education and future.
Marquette School of Excellence Students designed a homelessness Improve the lives of homeless
campaign called Fill a tote for hope to individuals in the Chicago
address issues of homelessness in the Lawn community
Chicago Lawn Community. Tote bags filled Increase awareness about
with books, clothing, and food were given homelessness and the
to homeless individuals in their mistreatment of homeless
community. Students collaborated with individuals
local organizations that supported their
vision to fight to end homelessness and
decrease the adverse affects of
homelessness.
McAuliffe Elementary Students created workshops and trainings Improve the effectiveness of
for parent mentors to improve the the parent mentor program
relationship between the student body and Make students feel safe
parent mentors. In collaboration with the seeking help from adults in
principle, the students created and the school
implemented trainings for parent mentors
targeting issues of adultism, and disrespect
in the student-mentor relationships.
Phoenix Military Academy Students created a campaign to improve Increase awareness about
the mental health of the student bodies in mental health and reduce
response to an increase in the number of stigmas attached to mental
students being admitted to mental health health
facilities. Peer designed and led workshops Equip students with tools and
targeted key factors that cause mental resources for overcoming
illness like stress and bullying while also mental illness and maintaining
providing the student body with general mental health
knowledge and resources about mental
health.
Tilden High School Students implemented a beautification Increase school pride and
project to improve the appearance and improved school climate
function of the school auditorium. The Address issues of
student body felt the room, which is used misrepresentation and
for dances, college and cultural fairs did reinforcement of negative
not represent the student body and stereotypes and images of the
depicted a negative image of the students student body
who attend their school. To address this,
students painted the room, designed
murals representative of the diverse
student body, and updated room dcor.
Reavis Elementary Students created an anti-bullying campaign Decrease instances of bullying
to reduce the number bullying instances in and unhealthy peer
their school to improve the experiences of relationships and interactions
the student body. The campaign was two
 pronged, first raising awareness of bullying Enhance relationships among
and its potential legal implications, and the student body
second, creating a peer council that
provides support and intervention for
victims and perpetrators of bullying.
Westinghouse College Prep Students worked to improve school culture Improve school culture and
and pride through art. Through murals, pride
paintings, and posters the student body Normal and bringing
will be able to express the diverse student awareness to issues affecting
body and their experiences and culture. the student body
This project improves school culture and
pride, creates connection between
students and raises awareness on issues
like violence, bullying, and mental health.

Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Environment

School or Organization Project Description Project Impact
Gage Park High School Students created a healthy eating Improve the nutrition and
campaign to address student and eating habits of the students
community nutritional concerns. They and their families
planted a school garden, created murals to Promote sustainable and
promote healthy eating and nutrition, and inexpensive ways to grow and
taught the student body how to grow eat fresh produce
produce and build healthier eating habits.
The school garden helps provides healthy
foods to the school community.
Roosevelt High School Students conducted fitness boot camps Improve the physical health,
for school staff and local elementary nutrition, and exercise habits
schools to promote physical health and in the community
improve exercise habits. Boot camp Promote healthy decisions to
participants will participate in a 5K run, the establish life long habits
proceeds of which will fund a grant to
continue boot camps in local elementary
schools.
Peace and Education Coalition Students created opportunities for the Improve the mental and
High School student body to engage in physical health physical health of students
to reduce stress and positively impact Create a space for students to
mental health In collaboration with the reduce stress
school PE teacher and counselors students
build a workout space and created an
exercise program for students to
participate in a 30 minute workout session
during their lunch period.
Mather High School Students implemented a new protocol to Reduce the amount of waste
cut down on school waste. Recycling bins produced
were added into classrooms and the Insure all food is being
cafeteria accompanied by lessons in how consumed, not thrown away
to recycle and what can be recycled. due to lack of storage
Students also attacked school waste in
 terms of food and wrote a grant to fund Improve recycling efforts at
the purchasing of a fridge to store uneaten the school
food. Unused food is donated to the
Lakeview Pantry, with thousands of
pounds of fruit and milk already delivered.
Frank Reilly Elementary Students created a recycling and Reduce the amount recyclable
sustainability campaign to reduce the material being thrown away in
amount of unnecessary waste produced in their school and community
their school and community. Students Help protect the environment
educated the student body and and undo damage caused by
community on how to most effectively garbage and modernization
recycle while also increase access to
recycling bins. The final step of the project
was a beautification initiative focusing on
cleaning up local streets and parks and
planting trees to improve neighborhood
appearance and pride.
Lindblom Math & Science Students addressed issues of nutrition and Counteract issues of food
food desserts through a community desserts and barriers to
propagation campaign. The project was accessing healthy fresh foods
designed to combat the lack of accessible Reduce reliance on grocery
food in the Englewood community by stores and food vendors for
teaching individuals to be more self fresh fruits and vegetables
sufficient through gardening. Students
passed out kits in Englewood that included
information on gardening and vegetable,
fruit, and flower seeds.
Academy Students researched childhood obesity Raise awareness about
UIC College Prep and hosted a movie day to raise childhood obesity
awareness on the issue. The proceeds Raise money to fight
from the movie day were donated to The childhood obesity
National Childhood Obesity Foundation.
Yoga Club Students used yoga to reduce stigmas Reduce stigma around mental
around mental health and create a space health
for individuals dealing with mental illness Promote mental health and
to relax and decompress in a safe create a safe space for all
environment. The Yoga Club is open to students through guided yoga
individuals dealing with any type of mental practice
illness or students who needed a safe
place to re-center themselves and deal
with the stressors of life.

 Education Equity
School or Organization Project Description Project Impact
Fenger High School Students worked to address a lack of Improve school electronics and
modern and working technology in student access to learning
their school. Students reached out to materials
school administration, tech Enhance student learning
companies, grant providers to secure experiences and academic
new and up-to-date electronics for potential
the school. New equipment will
provide them with the same
education advancing technologies as
other schools and elevate the
academic experiences of the student
body.
Excel Academy of Southwest Students created S.T.E.M. based Increase the number of
activities for the community to students and community
promote S.T.E.M. learning and members engaged in S.T.E.M.
participation. Students hosted a First activities
Tech Challenge robotics competition Enhance S.T.E.M. related
involving their school and other activities and education
partner schools in their community.
Winning robotics teams continued to
participate in FTC competitions
throughout the state. Other S.T.E.M.
activities were offered to individuals
interested in activities beyond
robotics related to science and math.
Excel Academy Southwest / Students hosted a job fair for the Increase employment during a
Financial Literacy Leaders of student body and community difficult economic time
America members. Students reached out to Improve application and
local organizations and businesses to interview skills to prepare
request their participation in the fair, individuals for finding and
both as potential employers and to
provide tips and help to individuals
seeking a job.
Metropolitan Community Project Students collaborated with schools Inform state representatives
across the Chicagoland area to and the Chicago community
address disparities in school funding about inequality in school
across public schools. Students funding
brought their findings to the state Improve resources distribution
capital to lobby for educational to promote educational equality
equality and wrote op-ed pieces to
spread the word about the drastic
differences in school funding and
resources.
Williams Prep School of Medicine Students established a peer-tutoring Improve the grades and
group to address the need for extra academic understanding of
academic support. The group was participating students
created to address student and
teacher concerns about a lack of
 resources and incentives for students Provide students with an
who needed extra help. Snacks, gift opportunity to lead and assist
cards and extra credit were offered to their peers
students receiving tutoring while
students who helped tutor received
service learning hours.