Script Region

North Lawndale Initiative

Beginning in 2005, the North Lawndale Initiative at DePaul University, under the leadership of the Steans Center, has connected resources at DePaul with organizations and institutions in North Lawndale; allowing all parties to improve the quality and impact of their work. The Initiative builds on the Steans Center's long history of community involvement and placement of students with non-profit organizations through Course Based Service Learning (CBSL).

Partnerships

North Lawndale College Prep High School (NLCP)
LEARN Charter School
KIPP Academy
Lawndale Christian Development Corporation (LCDC)
Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS)
Legacy Charter School
Catalyst Charter School
 Our Lady of the Westside Catholic School
Umoja Program at Manley High School
The Crib Collective
Gads Hill Carole Roberson Center for Learning
Sacred Heart after-school program

Scope

The Initiative works in three ways to build partnerships between DePaul University and organizations in North Lawndale; by placing students enrolled in course based Service Learning classes with neighborhood partners, with facility and staff projects run in conjunction with community organizations, and by placing graduate students during their practicum non-profit partners.

Projects

  • The JumpStart program expanded to Carole Roberson Center for Learning where DePaul students provide reading tutoring to students in need. This is similar to a program already underway at Gads Hill.
  • Harriette Herrrera, who runs the School of Education's reading lab, provided professional development to LEARN teachers on reading issues. She is helping primary and middle grades lead teachers on techniques, strategies, and assessments to improve the LEARN reading program.
  • The Steans Center and the Black Student Union coordinated a college visit for KIPP students to DePaul. Similarly, Enrollment Management, with Glenna Ousley in the lead, arranged a college tour for Crib Collective members. Both events increased the awareness of college options for North Lawndale students.



    • The School for New Learning, with Susan Reed in the lead, and the Nursing Department, with Kim Amer in the lead, teamed up to focus two community health classes on LEARN Charter School. The final outcome of both classes was a health fair for students and their families at the school. Several hundred LEARN students and along with their families participated in health screenings as well as learning about nutrition, wellness, and physical education.



  • The "Take Back the Halls" program at North Lawndale College Prep empowers young people to combat teen dating violence and sexual harassment in their schools. Beth Catlett of the DePaul faculty and Heather Flett of the DePaul staff, working with DePaul students, are running this program.
  • The Human Service Counseling Program in the School of Education prepares participants to become school counselors. Melissa Ockerman, the professor, has her classes focus on three North Lawndale schools to develop a service directory and a comprehensive service delivery proposal for each of the partner schools.
  • The Nursing Department under the leadership of Susan Poslusny is working with schools in the community. DePaul Nursing students, Nurse Practioners, and Nursing Faculty provide physicals, health education, and other services at KIPP Academy, NLCP, and LEARN Charter School.
  • The Steans Center and School for New Learning are undertaking an oral history project at LEARN Charter School to document the process of establishing and growing this school. The project captures the history of the school and incorporates the project into the upper-grades social studies curriculum at LEARN. Faculty and DePaul students prepared several pieces that will be preserved in the school library so that others can learn about the school's history.


    • For more information on our North Lawndale Initiative please contact:
    Melanie Sillasmsillas@depaul.edu