Urban Initiatives - Health and Education Soccer Program

Urban Initiatives' mission is to boost the physical fitness, health education, academic performance, and character development of children from Chicago's underserved communities by actively engaging them in safe and structured extracurricular activities through soccer programs.

Urban Initiatives believes all children should have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. We believe empowering children at a young age with a “can-do” spirit, impeccable character, and overall wellness will provide them with the values, fitness, and ambition necessary to become productive members of society.

Fresh out of the University of Iowa in 2002, co-founders Jim Dower and Daniel Isherwood began substitute teaching at the now-shuttered Byrd Academy in Chicago’s Cabrini-Green neighborhood and immediately felt the need to reach out to the underserved children at Byrd.

On a hunch that what helped them as kids would also help the children of Cabrini-Green, Isherwood and Dower launched a before- and after-school soccer team for 12 children in the 1st through 4th grades in order to help them develop a respect for learning, strong character, and a sense of belonging. When the children began showing up hungry, the co-founders added a nutrition education component, initially using their own funds to provide healthy snacks.

When Byrd Academy closed, the program moved into Friedrick von Schiller School and Jenner Academy of the Arts. Today, the Urban Initiatives health and education soccer program has expanded into 11 inner-city schools and reaches 330 students each season. Urban Initiatives provides programming to participants free of charge and relies entirely on donations to fund its program.

Fall Season: now - November 11, 2009
Winter Season: dates coming soon
Spring Season: dates coming soon

Urban Initiatives volunteers are essential to the success of our health and education soccer program - the Work to Play Program. Volunteers work directly with the students as assistant coaches and mentors during program sessions. Generally, volunteers serve at a particular school and commit to at least one hour per week for an eight week season. Interested volunteers should contact julie@urbaninitiatives.org or call the Urban Initiatives office at (312) 715-1763 for more information.

Volunteer Assistant Coach responsibilities

•  Work directly with first through fourth graders at one of our participating schools.
• Assist the On-Site Program Director with program activities for one or more day(s) per week for one hour.
• Play and interact with kids during fitness activities.
• Promote Urban Initiatives' goals: academic achievement, physical fitness, health education, and character development.
• Be a positive role model to children.
• Help distribute healthy snacks.
• Help set-up and clean-up athletic equipment.
• Encourage teamwork, positive attitudes, having fun, and proper soccer skills.
• Discourage negative attitudes, words, and actions.
• Be loud and energetic.
• HAVE FUN!