We have now completed two months of remote learning support. Many students and families in our city have found a workable rhythm, but others have deeply felt the weight of working their jobs while supervising their children's education. It is this moment that you have stepped into, opening River City's doors to create an extended family for our youth and support for our families. Through your generosity, we've invited in a full roster of 61 students, kindergarten through high school. They are the children of parents who work essential jobs, parents new to the country, parents with no experience with technology, parents with language barriers, parents of big families supervising a small army of children. More than anything, they are the children of parents who care about their children's education. Thank you for supporting them, for making R CITY into a community of remote learners where children are welcomed and wanted and encouraged to try their hardest. What we see here each day is beautiful, and we're so thankful for your gifts that make it happen.
For helping us be an extended family when one is most needed: thank you. We love all of you aunties and uncles. :)
Elizabeth Galik, Executive Director
Dreambuilders: Remote Learning Home
Our staff and students are finding a groove as the semester progresses with remote learning assistance. We are familiar with our students' schedules, their struggles, and the strengths of their teachers. We spend our days redirecting their attention to stay engaged with learning and giving encouragement when frustration is increasing.
While doing our best to create a space that keeps academic progress on track, we are learning to find moments of joy, love & laughter. We are working to preserve a balance between enjoying the best parts of childhood play while protecting their health and safety during the pandemic. We are glad for the little moments of relationship and silliness.
Peacebuilders- Print Shop: Mural Painting
R City Print Shop kicked of its fall season by planning and painting their first mural a few blocks south of River City Community Church on a wall surrounding one of our student’s apartment buildings. Over the last year, we’ve researched, watched videos about and seen several murals in person and so we were really excited to create our own to add to Chicago’s rich history of mural-making.
Our mural is 10 feet tall and 60 feet long, student designed, student executed, and reflects the values and concerns our youth have expressed over this last year. We’ve used about every color in the rainbow and have enjoyed being able to meet together in a beautiful outdoor space after long days of online education. Our challenge in the coming weeks will be completing the mural as we have been trying to dodge unexpectedly cold and rainy days over the last month.
Citybuilders: Harambee Growth
The two crews of Harambee (After School and our Grad Crew) are keeping busy every day and are gaining speed and skill. Many homeowners are opting into our sliding scale program and have been very happy with the work our young people are completing on their homes. One homeowner is so thrilled, she spends each day after school outside watching the crew and expressing her gratitude.
It has been a blessing to serve homeowners at a wide range of income levels through some special grants and participation of six of our young adults in the "Chicago Youth Service Corps" program this fall which pays them for 15 hours a week. With the added funding, we are able to keep our young adults working all the way until Christmas.