Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and First Lady Amy Eshleman announced a week-long campaign to connect Chicago’s youth to events, programs and community service activities during CPS’ spring break from April 8 through April 17.
Spring Forward will provide hundreds of opportunities for young people at MyCHIMyFuture.org, the website of Mayor Lightfoot and First Lady Eshleman’s signature youth initiative, My CHI. My Future.
“The Spring Forward campaign along with My CHI. My Future. encourages our communities to connect with the Park District, more than 150 library events and hundreds of after school programs,” Lightfoot said in a statement.
Eshleman said, “My CHI. My Future. is thrilled to partner with networks of caring adults in six neighborhoods to create activities for youth to make a positive impact in their communities this Spring Break.”
The Spring Forward campaign aims to provide enrichment activities for youth and young adults ages 24 and under through partnerships with multiple city departments and community-based partners. These opportunities include:
- Chicago Park District camps
- Over 150 Public Library events
- Hundreds of community programs and more
My CHI. My Future. also has partnered with community-based organizations to create Days of Service in Austin and five other communities on the West and South sides. The community events will provide teens and families the opportunity to participate in food giveaways, park cleanups, community gardens and more. The Park District will offer an additional 30 community service events across the city as well.
Teens who participate in a day of service in their community will be able to register for the Spring Forward Teen Bash featuring DJ Mike P and special guests, free food, music, and opportunities to get involved over the summer at Navy Pier on April 16.
The Spring Forward campaign is the latest project of Mayor Lightfoot and First Lady Eshleman’s initiative, My CHI. My Future. – a multi-year, youth-focused initiative designed to connect youth across Chicago to meaningful out-of-school experiences. The MCMF family of more than 200 organizations, has been designing the initiative, with a focus on organizing and connecting the opportunity ecosystem in Chicago and galvanizing caring adults, all over the city, to ensure that every young person has a plan for out of school engagement.
To learn more, visit MyCHIMyFuture.org and follow @MyCHIMyFuture on Instagram for updates.
Here’s the full Spring Forward Day of Service schedule:
April 9: Roseland Spring Forward kickoff led by PeacePlayers from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Garfield Park cleanup with The BASE Chicago from 12 to 3 p.m.
April 11, 2022: Roseland spring break J.A.M. led by Phalanx Family Services from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
April 12, 2022: South Shore beautification project led by Lost Boyz Inc. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Back of the Yards Day of Service from 4 to 8 p.m.
April 13, 2022: Roseland community garden, food giveaway and street cleanup led by T.R.E.A.D. from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
April 14 , 2022: Bronzeville day of service from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
April 15, 2022: Austin day of service led by Project Exploration from 12 to 4 p.m.
April 16, 2022: Roseland youth-led food giveaway led by Metropolitan Family Services from 9 to 11 a.m. and Spring Forward teen bash at Navy Pier from 1 to 4 p.m.
Find more information at www.tinyurl.com/SpringForwardService.