Author: bsf

Commitment Protects the Long-Term Vitality of 32 Chicago Schools, Collectively Serving Nearly 6,000 Students

August 30, 2022 (CHICAGO) – Big Shoulders Fund today announced the addition of two schools from its network, St. Francis de Sales High School and St. Sabina Academy, to the Big Shoulders Fund Plus initiative. As Big Shoulders Fund Plus schools, St. Francis de Sales High School and St. Sabina Academy will join 30 other high-need schools in receiving additional academic and operational support, aimed at preserving their long-term vitality.

In 2020, Big Shoulders Fund made an unprecedented 10-year, $70M commitment to 30 of its highest-need schools, enabling these schools to remain open and viable and to continue enriching the local communities that they serve. In just over one year, Big Shoulders Fund has raised more than $58M of that commitment, and is now inviting the broader public to join in this vision and invest in Chicago’s children and communities.

“Big Shoulders Fund Plus schools, including recently added St. Francis de Sales and St. Sabina Academy, are located in neighborhoods and communities that have suffered from years of underinvestment,” said Josh Hale, President and CEO of Big Shoulders Fund. “Despite this, the children in these neighborhoods are rich in talent, passion, hard work and hope. Ensuring that these students continue to have access to a high-quality education in a safe and supportive environment is critical to providing a path that will enable these children to grow up to be productive, positive forces in their communities and in the world.”

As part of this agreement, which was made with the Archdiocese of Chicago, Big Shoulders Fund assumed a 51 percent financial stake in these schools and has taken on more direct management, working closely with principals and school leaders to help them to manage their schools, plan strategically and work towards specific academic, enrollment, developmental and financial goals, as well as create new professional development opportunities and an extended career path for school leaders. This increased operational management support has already translated into significant outcomes. In just the last year alone, the 30 Big Shoulders Fund Plus schools saw an enrollment increase of 8%, with pre-kindergarten enrollment increasing 28%.

“Working hand in hand with Big Shoulders Fund, I have seen what a difference their commitment to our school, staff, students and families makes to both St. Francis de Sales High School and the Southeast Side community,” said Roni-Nicole Facen, Principal and CEO of St. Francis de Sales High School. “Through the launch of our work study program, professional development for staff, grants for academic initiatives, scholarship support, marketing and development resources and more, Big Shoulders Fund is a true partner. We are excited for our future and to formalize our work together by joining the cadre of Big Shoulders Fund Plus schools!”

Principal Tiffany Brown of St. Sabina Academy said, “We are thrilled to have become a part of the exceptional Big Shoulder Fund Plus network and we look forward to our partnership and the support that we will receive as we work together to provide a rich educational experience for children. St. Sabina Academy has been in the Auburn Gresham community for over 100 years, providing a family atmosphere where students and families are known, safe, loved, and nurtured. This partnership not only helps to ensure that we can continue that work, it will also enable us to make an even bigger impact on the families who call this neighborhood home.”

“Big Shoulders Fund Plus not only ensures that these schools remain open for the students and families they serve, but allows for the schools to continue to provide critical stability and support to the broader community,” added Hale. “Our vision is that the Big Shoulders Fund Plus initiative is the model for the future, with capacity to incorporate more schools and impact more children.”

Individuals interested in learning more or donating can visit bigshouldersfund.org/donate.

Set to launch in fall, Powering Our Future program will expand STEM and skilled trades training for up to 1,000 Chicago students

CHICAGO (April 6, 2022) – ComEd, in collaboration with Big Shoulders Fund and United Way Metro Chicago, today launched Powering Our Future – a new initiative that will expand skilled trades and STEM training at four Chicago Catholic high schools. To remove barriers to entry to energy and skilled trades careers, a new $450,000 investment by ComEd and parent company Exelon will pilot the program in schools located in historically underserved communities.

Building on expansive STEM programming ComEd supports at Chicago Public Schools, this initiative will expand career pathways for women and minorities, who are underrepresented in STEM industries. Thanks to ComEd’s investment and support from local philanthropy, the new Powering Our Future program is set to reach up to 1,000 students over the next three years.

“Women and people of color continue to be vastly underrepresented in STEM fields, but though our investments in workforce training and STEM education, we are looking to change that,” said Terence Donnelly, president and COO at ComEd. “At ComEd, our goal is to ensure our workforce matches the diversity of the communities we are privileged to serve, and that our ongoing and critical infrastructure investment serves as a catalyst to create jobs for local residents.”

Powering Our Future will combine in-classroom and hands-on technical experience to help more students explore possibilities and build skills to work in key skilled trades in the energy/utilities, advanced manufacturing, and technology sectors. Powering Our Future is set to launch at four Chicago Catholic high schools in the Big Shoulders Fund network this fall:

1. Josephinum Academy in Wicker Park
2. Leo High School in Auburn Gresham
3. Our Lady of Tepeyac High School, serving Lawndale
4. St. Francis de Sales High School, serving East Side and South Chicago

“Big Shoulders Fund is thrilled to partner with ComEd and United Way Metro Chicago to not only build students’ knowledge of skilled trade fields, but also provide pathways to a wide variety of college, training, and career opportunities,” said Big Shoulders Fund President and CEO Josh Hale. “The four Big Shoulders Fund high schools participating prepare students to go on to become our city’s future workforce and leaders, and this program provides an important new tool to enhance that work and expand potential career paths for them to pursue.”

The program will introduce students to career pathways in the energy, utility and related sectors. Big Shoulders Fund will work with school staff to implement a new curriculum this fall – with in-classroom instruction led by current STEM teachers and staff, and ComEd supporting hands-on experiences including field trips, work-based learning, mentoring and technical classes. The program will serve as a steppingstone to advanced training by ComEd, including the CONSTRUCT Training Academy, and programs offered in partnership with Dawson Technical Institute of Kennedy-King College.

“United Way of Metro Chicago is excited to connect high school students in our Neighborhood Networks in Auburn Gresham and South Chicago with the Powering Our Future program,” said Sean Garrett, President and CEO of United Way of Metro Chicago. “Leveraging our coalitions in the Neighborhood Networks will help enroll more students in this vital program, providing pathways to future careers and ultimately building stronger, more equitable communities.”

The four schools are located in historically disadvantaged communities, within the Big Shoulders Fund network. With two of the pilot schools serving an all-girls population, this program also brings forward a first-of-its-kind opportunity to expand skilled trades-focused training for women.

“Building a skilled and diverse labor force to power our electrical needs today and tomorrow starts with investments in our young people,” said Terry McGoldrick, President of IBEW Local 15. “We applaud ComEd’s efforts to develop partnerships with local schools and community partners that will enhance skill building and expose more of our young people to the possibility of good paying jobs in the electric trades.”

Advancements in clean energy technology are expected to fuel new jobs for the future, with the Center for Energy Workforce Development estimating 2,000 new jobs in utilities in the Midwest region in the next three years alone. To ensure that future clean energy jobs go to diverse local residents – ComEd is taking steps to address inequities in STEM. As little as 9 percent of STEM jobs are occupied by Black Americans, with 7 percent by Latinos, and 28 percent by women.

Powering Our Future builds on the success of current ComEd education and job training programs, including: the Chicago Builds immersive skilled trades program for juniors and seniors; Create A Spark – a four-year STEM training and mentorship program for high school students enrolled in Chicago Public Schools (CPS); and STEM Home Labs, a leadership series designed to overcome barriers to STEM related careers. Last year alone, these programs helped reach over 1,000 students across the city of Chicago and involved participation by 174 ComEd mentors.

Over the next few months, Big Shoulders Fund will work with school communities to host virtual and community meetings where students can learn more about the program and how participating would enhance their own college and career plans. For more information about the Powering Our Future program and other STEM education initiatives, please visit ComEd’s website.

About ComEd

ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 energy company with approximately 10 million electricity and natural gas customers – the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For more information visit ComEd.com and connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.    

As many of us adjust to the new norm of working and learning from home, Big Shoulders Fund and our network of 72 schools have quickly shifted how we educate our students in the most effective, challenging, and creative ways. View weekly highlights below.

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