About Chicago Center
Founded in 1970, Chicago Center has extended the classroom walls for students from more than 30 liberal arts colleges and universities by providing practicum opportunities in all academic majors as well as urban teaching and urban social work in Chicago. We incorporated as a non-profit in 1970 and were named Urban Life Center until 2005.
Chicago Center's location in Hyde Park provides a safe, diverse and culturally rich environment for students outside the classroom. Hyde Park is home to President Barack Obama and has a long history of successful racial, religious and cultural diversity and becomes the ideal laboratory for engaging cross cultural living and learning.
Chicago Center students earn a full term of credit through an internship or practicum placement in the student's major field and one or more seminars. Internship and Seminar instructors are experienced professionals in their fields and work with students on an individual basis.
Recognized nationwide as a leader in experiential education, our name Chicago Center for Urban Life and Culture reflects our commitment and relationship to one of North America's most dynamic cities.
Mission Statement
Chicago Center equips college students and other participants to learn from diverse urban communities through innovative programs, seminars and internships.
The Center expands the traditional classroom with a community-based, first voice pedagogy that prepares its students for greater self-awareness and global citizenship.
Our Educational Philosophy: First Voice Pedagogy
Chicago Center engages students with urban resources, realities, and issues through a first voice pedagogy which utilizes the city directly as a teaching resource. First voice pedagogy integrates experiential education into more traditional ways of learning; seminars are designed to extend the text into the dynamics of the city. First voice brings the liberal arts into practice by engaging students in a dialogue with artists, historians, writers, and activists.
The most powerful result of a first voice pedagogy is that it moves the student from the traditional classroom into a dialogue with diverse cultures, communities, and peoples. Students are invited to a table where many voices are represented, including those marginalized in society. As the student becomes part of the dialogue they gain a new understanding of their participation in society and a greater confidence in their ability to make a contribution.
The internship or practicum site expands first voice pedagogy into the student's preparation for the challenges of a demanding career. Students engage with diverse voices within the field of their career interest in order to also gain tools for working in a global society.
In both academic and pre-professional practicums students learn from working next to people who are accomplished in their field.
Chicago Center begins with the assumption that all students benefit in their personal growth from living and studying within a diverse environment. First voice pedagogy involves students in an experiential learning process which nurtures them in their individual journeys and broadens their liberal arts foundation. Incorporating the student's career interest with stimulating first voice pedagogy prepares them for the world they are asked to lead and equips them to become lifelong learners.
Our People
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Scott Chesebro, PhD
Executive Director
scottc@chicagocenter.org -
Emily Nelson
Associate Director
emilyn@chicagocenter.org -
Arvis Averette, MASSA
Urban Social Work Practicum Director,
MASSA
arvisaverette@aol.com -
Nancy Friesen, M.S.T.
Urban Teaching Practicum Director
nancy@chicagocenter.org -
Tiffanie Beatty
Program Director
tiffanieb@chicagocenter.org -
Teyonda Rhodes
Accountant
teyondar@chicagocenter.org -
Lane Chesebro
Director of Admissions and
Student Affairs
lanec@chicagocenter.org -
Ashley Holloway
Communications and Marketing Director
ashleyh@chicagocenter.org