Organization Action Research Paper on

Community Site
Roman Hreskiv

EXPL – 291
 Spring 2019

1. Brief history of organization.

Chicago Friends School started in 2009 as a school that has Quaker values in its core. This

statement means that this school is designed to value each student for who they are, and not by

standard measures used by most traditional schools. It teaches students “to develop spiritually,

academically, creatively with instruction tailored according to each student’s developmental

needs.” With this plan, Chicago Friends School opened up in 2010 for kids from the age of 3 and

up to 11. During that year, project-based instruction was used by the school, which turned out to be

a relative success. By 2012, CFS moved into a new location in Edgewater community and was a

six-student K-1 school. As it stands today, this school is a K-6 grades school with thirty-three kids.

(“History of Chicago Friends School”)

2. Mission Statement.

The Mission Statement is as follows: “Chicago Friends School — rooted in the Quaker values of

simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and service — develops the academic skills and

strong character that K-8 students need to grow into purposeful lives.” (Mission Statement)

3. Summary of vision statement.

Vision Statement of Chicago Friends School is a bit different than the ones seen in traditional

schools: “Chicago Friends School students will graduate with the skills, experiences, and

confidence to bring about a better world. Our supportive and diverse school environment will

nurture students to their full academic, creative, and spiritual potential and will build character and

love of learning within each student. Chicago Friends School students, graduates, and community

2
members will live Quaker values as they learn to engage with each other and the wider world.

(Vision Statement)

4. Strategic planning of the organization.

Strategic plan of Chicago Friends School was created and approved in the summer of 2018. It was

influenced by stakeholders, community members, board members, staff members, and parents and

this plan is based on school’s mission, values, and growth ambitions. Chicago Friends School’s

strategic plan is to be implemented and completed by the end of 2020/2021 school year (3-year

plan). First two components of strategic plan – mission and vision statements – are stated above. In

terms of growth, Chicago Friends School has identified that it needs to attract as many students as

possible in order to help Chicago communities grow faster, be more kind, fulfilled and united. CFS

wants their “unique program” to be available to as many students as school can serve.

A great summary of this document is provided in two sentences: “The team identified seven issue

areas crucial to the next phases of the school’s growth: program, diversity, facilities, human

capacity, financial capacity, visibility, and professional recognition. In this document, these areas

of growth are grouped into three overarching goals: Experience, Capacity, and Visibility /

Recognition.” (Chicago Friends School Strategic Plan)

Experience – this goal consists of three main sub-goals: program, diversity, and facilities.

 Program is the “heart” of this organization and they want to continually make it better and

better. During the duration of this plan, Chicago Friends School will graduate eighth grade for

the first time in their history. Some of the planned changes are to expand arts, science, and

foreign languages(as well as hire specialists for these areas); introduce electives for middle

3
 school students; develop ways for middle school kids to be successful in high school (usually

with more traditional approach to teaching than CFS); create experiences that would be focused

on deepening students’ understanding of Quaker’s values; grow afterschool programs and

activities for kids to stay active and engaged.

 Diversity is an essential part of improving experience by parents and students. As Chicago area

is highly diverse place where most, if not all, of the world’s cultures meet, co-exist, and

“blend” together, Chicago Friends School wants to keep up with this trend. They want to

introduce their unique set of values and unique program to different people from different

backgrounds and make community more united. There are couple of identified steps, such as:

understand community and community trends; develop partnerships with diverse organizations;

do fundraising in order to create a program to attract students of color.

 Facilities are an important part of experience and a necessity in terms of growing the

organization. Moreover, school’s facility is incredibly important for how students feel and

experience all other aspects of learning. At current time, Chicago Friends School is working to

renovate and make their facility better. They also have some plans in place: make rooms look

fresh; create specific areas for specific tasks (room for art, technology room).

Capacity – increasing financial and human capacity of the school. The sub-goals here are human

capacity and financial capacity.

 Human capacity is an important part of Chicago Friends School. From volunteers to full-time

staff, everyone is important to school’s performance. Strategies to increase human capacity

include: add expert in marketing and admissions; use volunteers’ talents and time in more

efficient ways; grow board to increase connections, knowledge, and fundraising capacity; add

benefits and increase compensation for full-time staff.

4
 Financial capacity is another part of any organization that is required for “survival and

growth.” CFS’ advantage and rule is to stay affordable (it is among the most affordable private

schools in the area), so this organization is planning to use growth in students and philanthropy

as their main ways for increasing financial capacity.

Last goal – increasing visibility and reputation. Professional recognition includes: achieve full

membership status at Friends Council of Education; attain a higher level of recognition from the

Illinois State Board of Education; Initiate the process for Independent Schools Association of the

Central States (ISACS) accreditation. For visibility Chicago Friends School plans to create and

implement a marketing plan; create a brand identity to differentiate itself from competition;

continue working on reputation with existing members of CHS’ community; “develop deeper

relationships with local preschools and other potential “feeder” schools.” (Chicago Friends School

Strategic Plan)

5. Describe the population the organization serves.

This organization has thirty-three students, most of whom are white and live in or near

Edgewater community. Chicago Friends School is eager to create a more diverse

organization to look more like broader Chicago area. Currently, most families are already

familiar with Quaker values. CFS wants to introduce their way of teaching to as many

people from different backgrounds as possible. According to Edgewater Community

website, this community is highly diverse, with a third of population being white, another

third is black, and another third is Hispanic, with the rest of population from different

cultures and ethnical backgrounds. (Demographics)

6. Outline the public policy areas the organization might influence.

5
By preaching Quaker values, Chicago Friends School teaches students to be kind and aware

people. They are taught to believe that each of them is unique and has something to give to

this world. This thinking will influence their image of the world around them and act

accordingly.

7. What is the organizational structure of the community site (paid staff and their

role in the organization)?

Chicago Friends School currently has five full-time employees, including two classroom

teachers on the K-2 team, one 3-4 grade classroom teacher, one 5-6 classroom teacher and

head of school. There are also four part-time instructors and one part-time Marketing and

Community Engagement Lead professional. (Staff)

8. What roles do volunteers play in the organization?

Due to the size of CFS, volunteers play a big role in development of this organization.

Volunteers help with daily tasks, special events, read to students, help with academics. On

Chicago Friends School’s website there is a list of needed volunteer roles: recess volunteer,

morning greeter, in-classroom tutor/coach, handy-person, IT support. (Volunteer)

9. Asset-mapping your organization utilizing the ABCD model.

Individuals:

 Staff

 Board of directors

 Parents

6
  Students

 Volunteers

 Philanthropists

 Local organizations

 Community organizers

Associations:

 Profit organizations

 Non-for-profit organizations

 Sport groups for kids

 Youth groups

 Political organizations

 Family support groups

Physical Space:

 Gardens

 Parks

 Playgrounds

 Parking Lots

 Bike Paths

 Walking Paths

 Picnic Areas

 Fishing Spots

7
  Beaches

Institutions:

 Schools

 Universities

 Police Departments

 Hospital

 Libraries

 Social Services

 Non Profits

 Fire Department

 Foundations

Local Economy:

 Businesses

 Merchants

 Banks

 Foundations

 Corporations/Branches

Stories:

 Of Quaker history

 Of Community history

8
  Of recognizing everyone is equally important

 Of recognizing everyone is unique

 Of cultural traditions

 Of developing skills

Works Cited Page

1. “History and Future Plans.” Chicago Friends School, chicagofriendsschool.org/about/history/.

2. “Mission and Vision.” Chicago Friends School, chicagofriendsschool.org/about/mission-

vision/.

3. “Chicago Friends School Strategic Plan.” Sakai,

sakai.luc.edu/access/content/group/EXPL_291_01E_6593_1192/CFS%20Resources/2018Strat

PlanWriteUP_web.pdf.

4. “Volunteer.” Chicago Friends School, chicagofriendsschool.org/get-involved/volunteer/.

5. “Staff.” Chicago Friends School, chicagofriendsschool.org/about/staff/.

6. “Demographics.” Edgewater Chamber of Commerce,

www.edgewater.org/edgewater/demographics/.