The Chicago Center for Urban Life & Culture was founded in 1970, and since then has helped thousands of college students make Chicago their classroom. The Chicago Center serves students from more than 30 liberal arts colleges and universities by providing practicum opportunities in all academic majors as well as urban teaching and social work in Chicago.

The Chicago Center engages students with urban resources, realities, and issues through a first voice pedagogy which uses the city directly as a teaching resource.

Upon arrival, students share apartments in the heart of Hyde Park (1327 E. Hyde Park Boulevard). They receive a one – or two-week course in the culture of the city, attending a variety of different religious services, plays, music, venues, museums, and festivals throughout the city.

After touring of the city, students are steered towards an internship that will challenge their particular academic interests.

StreetWise has hosted six interns from the Chicago Center in the last three years, including Brenna Daldorph, whose  August 5, 2009 cover story won ‘Best Feature’ at this year’s North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) awards.

Rachel Sylwestrzak, the most recent intern, told us about her experience with the Chicago Center and interning at StreetWise.

“I was interested in publishing, and StreetWise was one of the contacts that the Center game me.” Sylwestrzak said. “It wasn’t the exact idea I had in mind, but I thought that working here would challenge me, in addition to giving me an inside look at a lifestyle that I hadn’t really been exposed to. I’m glad I came here, because it worked out great. One thing that was kind of big for me – I live in the suburbs, and we don’t have public transportation. One of the things the Center stressed was how to use the CTA to get around the city. So, it’s made me more comfortable when I have to go out to different locations for stories,” She continued.

“I got to cover a few city hall meetings, which is something I’d never got to do before. It was very interesting and definitely something I will remember from my experience here in Chicago.”

Sylwestrzak concluded, “The Chicago Center is very supportive of the internship. I like how they let us take charge of the experience. It’s been a perfect fit.”

Marit Ehmke interned at StreetWise through Chicago Center in January 2009. Reflecting on her experiences, she said, “I learned a lot of new things, met a lot of great people, and experience what life in Chicago is really all about. Working at StreetWise reminded me of how important it is to help out in when, where, and any way you can.”

For more information about the Chicago Center for Urban Life & Culture, visit www. chicagocenter.org, or call 773.262.1313

The Chicago Center, located here in Hyde Park, could very well be the most important neighborhood institution you’ve never heard of.  Tucked away in the office space at 1515 E. 52nd Pl., the center has spent four decades bridging the gap between urban communities and those that attend university with an eye to studying them, teaching in them and otherwise working in those places.  Scott Chesebro, who heads the center, describes it as having more in common with, for example, a living abroad program than with a more traditional urban studies format.

We don’t think of ourselves as a service learning program.  We don’t think of ourselves as a vista-type education program [We are] an urban education program that utilizes the city and its resources as an educational tool,” Chesebro said.

Students at Chicago Center, who come from over 30 colleges largely in less urban settings and in many cases from across the Midwest, are given crash courses in navigating public transportation, exposed to the diversity of neighborhoods throughout the city and are challenged to deal directly with the people who are represented by the studies and statistics that often are the main fare of such majors as sociology and urban planning.

It is this quality, which Urban Social Work Practicum Director Arvis Averette describes as “a reliance on first voices,” that sets the center apart from many other kinds of programs.

“It’s like study abroad in Chicago,” Chesebro said. “It functions more like a study abroad program than it does a service learning program or an internship program that a student might do while they’re at the University of Chicago.  Maybe they do an internship at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club, but they’re still living on campus, they’re still going to classes every day. They’re just doing a volunteer experience in the neighborhood.”

Averette contrasts this to other learning environments related to urban studies.

“Many of the academic things that one does in school-you look at the community and study it, look at the statistics and so forth. But here- the separation from the other programs I’ve been aware of – is this reliance on having people from that community who are very responsible people, who know the community and speak to it to the students in a learning fashion,” Averette said. “For example, if we are going to deal with Bronzeville, we would invariably talk to Tim Black or Harold Lucas who are the reigning experts on these areas.”

By all accounts, students currently at the center give high marks to the approach.

Student Ryann Bird, who comes from a small town in rural Nebraska and attends school in Lincoln, said her initial impression of the South Side of Chicago was, like many people, based on pretty unreliable source of information.

“I’m from a really tiny town in Nebraska with 5,500 people.  My parents, they knew everything they see on TV about the South Side of Chicago.  I was nervous at first,” Bird said. “But Hyde Park is really safe and homey…it’s not like the media portrays it at all.”

Bird is interning at the DuSable Museum of African American History, which she gets to via public transportation each day from the apartment building the center recently purchased for its students.  Student Beth Izzo, who is teaching second grade at Beasley Elemetary on State Street, said the shared living quarters have been a big help to her as a student teacher.

‘It’s good to live with other student teachers so we can talk about our experiences, which always helps,” Izzo said, “It’s nice to have that support system.”

Chicago Center is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a full day of events this Saturday, Nov. 6, culminating in an evening at Carnivale.  For more information, call Althea Conyers at 773-363-1312 or visit chicagocenter.org

The Second City and Improv in Chicago
Chicago is primarily known for its comedy and improv. Like Hollywood calls to aspiring movie stars, our beautiful city hosts the best up-and-coming improv and sketch comedians in the nation at The Second City theater in the Old Town neighborhood. Celebrating “50 years of funny,” The Second City trains writers and actors who have gone on to star in Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm and many major motion pictures.

Some of the most famous Second City alums include Joan Rivers, Alan Alda, Alan Arkin, Jerry Stiller, John and Jim Belushi, Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Eugene Levy, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Steve Carrell, Steven Colbert and Tina Fey, among countless others. While you’re in Chicago, you can see the birth of comical genius at The Second City.

There’s a large theater for the main show, as well as a more intimate one for longer running shows. No matter what you see, crowd participation is a must, so come armed with ideas and a good attitude! With material that is often based in current events and the politcal atmosphere, a show at The Second City can definitely be a conversation starter. Plus, you can enroll in writing or improv classes at their training center and make your own start.

The collaborative nature of Chicago improv is a must-have experience while living in the city. Luckily, you don’t have to visit just one theater to find it. Community and college theaters across Chicago have weekly improv and sketch comedy shows that vary in length, price and topic. While The Second City is the most famous, you can see budding comedians honing their angle throughout the city’s neighborhoods and even get on stage yourself.

The Lookingglass Theater
Founded by Northwestern University alumni, The Lookingglass Theater Company is a growing company that has become a mainstay in the Chicago theater scene. Now in its 21st season, the company resides in a historic home in the center of downtown Chicago on Michigan Avenue — the Water Tower Water Works building. Taking in a show at The Lookingglass Theater lets you into a distinct Chicago landmark while also introducing you to one of the more provocative theater companies in the city.

The shows put on by The Lookingglass Theater run from traditional to modern, and the company has shown 52 original works in its run. Their most famous works focus on the intellectual and physical elements of theater. Their current production, Trust, is written and directed by David Schwimmer, famous as Ross on the TV show Friends. In its exploration of the dangers of modern communication technologies, it involves projection, video, photos, texting and live chat for a truly multimedia theater experience.

Goodman Theater & Cadillac Palace Theater
For truly famous theater in Chicago, you can visit the theater district of the downtown Loop area. There you’ll find the historic Goodman and Cadillac Palace Theaters with famous faces and hit plays. The Goodman was founded in 1925 and is the oldest and largest non-profit theater in Chicago. It has been a part of Chicago’s art culture for over 80 years, so in addition to its classic and contemporary works of theater, it also brings a sense of history to its productions.

Meanwhile, the Cadillac Palace Theater, founded just after the Goodman in 1926, is the home of Broadway in Chicago. For big ticket musicals and plays, this is traditional theater experience. A play at the Cadillac Palace Theater will give you insight not just into Chicago’s art world but the national theater scene. However, in its past the Cadillac Palace Theater has shown everything from vaudeville to movies, but now is known as a national theater landmark, showing well known shows like Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera, and premiering shows like The Producers, The Color Purple and Aida.

The Steppenwolf Theater Company
Founded by Gary Sinise, Terry Kenney and Jeff Perry in the suburbs of Chicago in the ’70s, The Steppenwolf has since moved into Lincoln Park and become one of the most prominent theater companies in the U.S. By featuring up-and-coming and mid-career playwrights, The Steppenwolf has given exposure to many artists that become important on a national level. Many plays that premiered at The Steppenwolf have gone on to win international acclaim, including winner of the Tony Award for Best Play, The Grapes of Wrath, and winner of multiple Tonys and a Pulitzer Prize, August: Osage County.

The Steppenwolf has launched the careers of many famous actors like its founder Gary Sinise, along with John Malkovich, Joan Allen, John Mahoney, Martha Plimpton and Laurie Metcalf. Its history of challenging plays provides a theater experience that is satisfying for theater neophytes and experienced theater-goers.

Community Theater in Chicago
Along with these major players, Chicago is the proud host of many community and neighborhood theater companies, each making important contributions to the art and culture of the city.

Chicago Center has special relationships with many local theater companies and encourages our students to visit these small theaters with as much enthusiasm as the large ones. Bailiwick Chicago, a diverse theater collective, and Teatro Luna, a company comprised entirely of Latina women, are two of our favorites. A theater experience with one of these small theaters gives you an even closer relationship to the city through experiencing its community’s voice in a dramatic or comedic production.

Whether you are interested in actually participating in the arts through a Chicago internship or you just want to learn more about the city and its culture during your time at the Chicago Center, diving into Chicago’s theater scene will be rewarding.

Because of Mayor Richard Daley’s persistent steps to make the city more green, the learning institutions within the city and the park districts throughout the state, Chicago education programs can teach you as much about nature as they do about urban living.

Chicago Education Programs: Experiencing Nature Within the City Limits

Lake Michigan: One of the best amenities of Chicago is its location on the “third coast,” meaning Lake Michigan. While you are with the Chicago Center, you can take advantage of the Lake and all of its natural glory by participating in a variety of beach and water sports.

Promontory Point in Hyde Park, Chicago

If you take part in an education program during the summer, you will get to take part in the season that Chicago loves best. The beaches and lake scene will be in full swing.

Whether you’re running along the lakefront paths, spending an afternoon on the beach, planning a picnic with your roommates or just stopping by for a swim, you can be active in the outdoors while living in the city. You can get sporty on the beachfront in a beach volleyball league. You can rent kayaks or sailboats to head out on the water. You could even train for a triathalon.

It might not be a traditional learning experience, but exploring all facets of the city, including the recreational ones, is highly encouraged by the Chicago Center to enhance your education while in the city. And the Chicago Center apartments where you’ll be living are within walking distance to the lake. The Hyde Park neighborhood borders the lake on the south shore, and students will find themselves visiting Promontory Point as often as possible, a Lakefront park with the best southern views of Chicago.

Museums, Zoos and Other Chicago Institutions

The various museums and learning institutions of Chicago are made especially to expand on traditional education and introduce you to nature in the middle of an urban setting. You can get a close look at rare animals and plants, learn from expert scientists, or see some of the most distinctive urban spaces of Chicago and its many neighborhoods by visiting the institutions that Chicago is known for.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum: On the north side of Chicago, you can learn more about the nature of the city in the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. It has live animal exhibits, teaches about what the ecosystems of the Chicago area were like before the city appeared, and is home to a large butterfly habitat where the colorful bugs flutter all year round. The museum also hosts a year-round farmers’ market, promoting and educating Chicagoans on local agriculture.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park, Chicago

Lincoln Park Zoo and Brookfield Zoo: The zoos of Chicago are a great place to learn about both local ecology and exotic animals. The Brookfield Zoo has been open since 1934 and puts a focus on nature conservation. The Lincoln Park Zoo is free and includes the Farm-In-The-Zoo exhibit where you can feed and interact with the animals. If you thought city living was going to prevent you from getting up close and personal with animals of all kinds, you were wrong!

Lincoln Park Conservatory and Garfield Park Conservatory: Plant enthusiasts and nature lovers alike can enjoy learning from a trip to these conservatories in Chicago. On a cold winter day, they are still tropical inside and full of lush greenery. Take your camera and practice your photography skills on the rare orchids and ancient ferns. The conservatories are open every day of the year and are free!

Lincoln Park Conservatory in Chicago

Chicago Botanic Garden: To spend a little time outdoors, head north with your group of fellow students to check out the Chicago Botanic Garden. The 385-acre garden features 24 displays and three native plant habitats, uniquely situated on nine islands surrounded by lakes. A peaceful escape from the city, you can enjoy a stroll while taking in the garden scenery and learning about local and exotic plants, or take a class on gardening and start your own green space.

Shedd Aquarium: Chicago has flora and fauna covered, but what about the things that swim under the sea? Well, Shedd Aquarium is second only in size to the Georgia Aquarium, holds 5 million gallons water and is home to 1,500 species including fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians, and insects. You’ll find five permanent exhibits called Amazon Rising, Caribbean Reef, Waters of the World, the Oceanarium, and Wild Reef. Plus, Shedd is home to the oldest aquarium fish in the world, a 86-year-old lungfish named Granddad.

Downtown Area Green Spaces

Although the architecture of Chicago is beautiful and often snow covered, the green spaces of Chicago rival its buildings in beauty during warm weather. Downtown, you can find many large parks, perfect for picnicking, enjoying the outdoors or viewing the city, its art and its architecture.

Adjacent to the Art Institute and its new Modern Wing, you’ll find Millennium Park, home of huge art installations like Cloud Gate (the Bean) but also, in fact, a huge green space for the city’s residents. Its large lawns and pavilions host many art and music events all year long, as well as an ice-skating rink in the winter.

The Gardens at the Art Institute, Chicago

The Art Institute also has two large gardens of its own– the South Garden, designed by the master landscape architect Dan Kiley and the North Garden, designed as a sculpture court by landscape architect Laurie Olin. The mixed experience of art and nature that occurs in these urban green spaces in unlike any you’ll find throughout the country.

Buckingham Fountain and Grant Park, Chicago

Chicago education programs, like the ones Chicago Center offers, place you right where you can have these unique learning experiences that combine urban living, nature, science and Chicago.

TR native gets taste of big city life by student teaching in Chicago
By Cindy Hodgson • Herald Times Reporter • March 2, 2010

Josh LeGreve, back right, long-term substitute Spanish teacher in the Mishicot School District, helps students set up their personal accounts on the Edmodo Web site so they can converse with Justin Gerlach's English students in Argentina. LeGreve is filling in for Gerlach, who took a leave of absence from teaching in Mishicot to teach English to Spanish-speaking students in Argentina. He is helping, from left, sophomores Jacob LeFleur, Nathan Krcma and Andrew Schwerma. In the background is senior Kiyanna Faulks. (Sue Pischke/HTR)

MISHICOT — When it came time to do his student teaching, Two Rivers native Josh LeGreve decided not to go the usual route.

LeGreve, 23, said most of his fellow students at Ripon College choose to student teach at a nearby school, such as in Ripon, Oshkosh or Fond du Lac.

“I wanted to move out of my comfort zone,” he said. “I wanted to push myself as a teacher.”

LeGreve decided to do his student teaching in Chicago through a partnership Ripon College has with the Chicago Center for Urban Life & Culture.

After graduating first in his class at Two Rivers High School in 2005, LeGreve went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and physics with a minor in secondary education, graduating in December, he said.

He is working as a long-term substitute for the Mishicot School District this semester, teaching middle school and high school Spanish.

LeGreve said he was one of five students from his college who chose to student teach in Chicago last semester.

Student teachers have to be approved by the center and by the Chicago Public Schools, he said. The center then matches them with a school and with a mentor teacher.

LeGreve was assigned to Kenwood Academy High School, which he said is “a very academically rigorous school on the south side.” He said it’s in the middle of the poverty spectrum.

Kenwood Academy is a seventh- through 12th-grade school with 1,800 students — twice the size of his college, LeGreve said.

The seventh- and eighth-grade portion is a magnet school for academically motivated students who come from a broad geographical area. The ninth- through 12th-grade portion is a typical neighborhood high school, although students who have attended junior high there can continue.

LeGreve needed a student teaching experience that included Spanish and physics, both in middle school and high school.

“Somehow they found it all in one school,” he said.

The big-city culture was something he hadn’t experienced before. Even the semester he spent in Spain was in a small town.

“I was small town boy through and through,” he said.

LeGreve said he believes without the Chicago experience he wouldn’t be as confident, flexible and quick-thinking in the classroom as he is now.

For one thing, there wasn’t as much technology to rely on, so he had to be more resourceful.

In addition, his students came from a different background than he was used to, which also stretched him.

“It really pushed me to get to know my students, to get to know what motivates them, and to get to know

what would keep their attention,” he said.

He learned, for instance, he had to be more direct in telling the students what to do, and that “for some of these kids, school is not their priority.” They may have other issues, like needing to help support their family financially.

Students at Kenwood had to pass through metal detectors to enter the school, and teachers and students had to wear photo ID badges. The students’ ID even had their schedule printed on the back, he said.

But despite the differences, “no matter where you are, the core necessities that kids need are still the same,” he said.

Specifically, they need to feel accepted and safe and like they’ve achieved something, LeGreve said.

LeGreve didn’t visit other schools during his semester of student teaching, but he had that opportunity in May when he participated in Ripon College’s “Maymester,” which is a short extra term at the end of second semester.

Because he knew he would be student teaching in Chicago in the fall, he participated in a weeklong Chicago excursion through the Chicago Center for Urban Life & Culture. He said he visited 10 or 12 schools as he learned how to integrate art into the classroom.

Prior to that, his only time in Chicago had been a trip to the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum with his dad when he was in sixth grade, he said.

At the start of the fall semester, the student teachers moved in 10 days before classes began and had nine days of activities to help them acclimate to their new city, LeGreve said.

They learned how to use public transportation and how to carry themselves with confidence. They also went on architectural tours and to plays and music festivals.

“They took us to both extremes,” he said about the socioeconomic differences in the city.

LeGreve said the experience clarified something for him.

“Before I did the program, I had no clue where I wanted to teach,” he said. Now “I feel like I can teach anywhere and be happy. I would love to go back to Chicago, but I’m not pigeonholing myself into that.”

He said he is applying for positions throughout Chicago and also in Wisconsin.

We’ll help you take your work experience and understand it in the context of the city and its unique cultural and economic background. Meanwhile, you’ll be in charge of your own career education while you are on the job. There are many things you can learn from an internship, whether it’s your first one or one of many you’ve worked in. Here are just a few of the skills you can expect to pick up in an internship in Chicago.

Multitasking and Time Management

In high school and college, you have to balance many time commitments, classes and jobs, but when you work in an internship or job, you realize how different multitasking on the job can be. Rather than being able to dedicate your full attention to one task for an extended period of time or until it’s finished, you often have to juggle projects and finish them all quickly and efficiently.

Instead of sitting down to write a paper and finishing a few hours later, you can find yourself with multiple deadlines on different tasks while also manning other constant responsibilities– like answering the phone or responding to customer service emails– that require sporadic attention.

What this will teach you (and quickly!) is how to manage your time properly. You will learn to understand which things you can do quickly, which things that take you a little more time and effort, and how to balance those things so that you get them all done in the time allotted. For some, the best strategy is knocking out all the quick tasks and then devoting serious time to the tougher ones. For others, it’s accomplishing the one time-consuming problem first, and then doing the shorter, easier tasks with the left over time.

You’ll find the best ways to work on multiple tasks and to manage your time for yourself with a little experience in an internship. And while you are gathering valuable work knowledge in the office, you’ll be encouraged to understand your place in the city in a larger context through your Chicago Center seminars and community based education.

Basic Software Skills

If you are working in an office, then you may have to pick up new software skills on the job. Whether it’s a retail system, bookkeeping software or simply a new messaging or word processing software, any new software skill is great to add to your resume.

Plus, if you continue to work in that industry, the software skills you learn may be part of the basic knowledge it takes to succeed. When potential employers can tell that you already have the basic skills of an entry level employee in their company, it can give you a leg up toward getting hired when you start looking for a full time position.

When to Ask for Help, When to Take Initiative

Some knowledge you may gain while working an internship is how to balance taking direction and finding your own way on certain tasks. You may be given an assignment you don’t fully understand or with vague instructions. There are times when the best thing to do is ask questions until you understand exactly what your boss or supervisor is expecting from you.

There will also be times when you should take on the task and complete it in the way you see fit. It might take some trial and error to complete a task with less specific instructions, but sometimes that’s the right thing to do. You can show off the quality of your work and your ability to adapt by taking on a project without a lot of direction or supervision.

But if your boss was looking for a specific outcome–and you fail to understand that and deliver it–you may disappoint with your independent work. In an internship, you will learn how to figure out when ask for more direction and when to work independently. Simply the experience of having to make this decision as best you can will help you to make it more confidently in the future.

Finding a New Industry

When you start an internship, it may not be in the industry you first imagined, or it may be in an industry you weren’t familiar with at all before you started working in it. But this can be a great thing, says Christian Deloach, Creative Director of Fishnet NewMedia in Massachusetts. And he speaks from his personal internship experience:

Internships can open a world of opportunity that you didn’t even know existed. I was an illustration major with an eye toward book illustration when I was invited to intern with a new media production company. My internship opportunity at Fishnet NewMedia exposed me to technology and people who sparked my interest in new media production and Web site design. When I returned to college for my senior year I focused on course work that enhanced my skills in the tools and technology used by professional Web designers. Since I had worked closely with the team at Fishnet NewMedia, I knew how to augment my portfolio with class projects and other work that would demonstrate that I would add value as a full time employee. When I expressed interest in returning after graduation, they welcomed me back.

Like Deloach, you’ll have the opportunity to use your internship to explore a new industry, better your marketable skills, and network at your company if you think you want to return to work there.

In your Chicago internship program, you’ll work with us to find a position in a company that you think will help you learn these basic skills, along with many other skills that you can’t predict. All of them will help you become a better hire when you start looking for a full-time job after college.

Our network of hundreds of agencies, corporate organizations, arts groups, and other institutions will provide the internship that will allow you to contribute in significant and meaningful ways within a supportive work environment.

Meanwhile, you’ll come home to friends and peers at a Chicago Center apartment, and be able to explore the city and learn from its neighborhoods, too. What’s the outcome? An enriching experience enhancing both your personal and career growth.

Community Education Chicago: A Definition

Community education means exactly what it sounds like– learning directly from Chicago’s neighborhoods by participating in activities and events important to the community itself.

Chicago Center calls this educational philosophy First Voice pedagogy.  We engage 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 community based resources and 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.

At Chicago Center, we encourage you and your fellow students to take part in the activities in Chicago that matter most to Chicagoans themselves and that shape and reflect the culture and neighborhoods of the city. There is no better way to get to know a city and its neighborhoods than to forgo the usual tourist stops and experience the culture of the locals first hand. We think you should eat what Chicagoans love to eat, listen to their music, and see their forms of self-expression to better understand the city and its people. If you are from Chicago, seek out a part of the city you aren’t familiar with.

Here are some of the experiences our students have learned from and why they are so important to understanding the Chicago community from the inside out.

Community Education Chicago: Cultural Opportunities

Theater: From one of the best improv comedy theaters in the nation, The Second City, to the well-known Goodman Theater, we encourage students to take part in the Chicago theater scene. This particular form of expression has grown with the city to embrace smaller theater companies such as Teatro Luna and Bailiwick and allow them to flourish.

Chicago Center students studying off campus with David Zac, Artistic Director at Bailiwick Repertory Theater

Why does this art form flourish in Chicago, and which pieces resonate the most with Chicagoans? What kind of theater best expresses the neighborhoods and culture of the city– community comedy or large scale dramatic productions? You can find out firsthand by checking out some shows while you study off campus in Chicago.

Food: Chicago is home to some of the most decadent and gourmet dining destinations in the world, but what food inspires the citizens of the city day to day? Eating the local fare can be the best way to understand the history and culture of a place, and we encourage you to try foods new and old to Chicago during your stay. Discover the delicacies of the city and why the people of Chicago came to value them.

Sometimes visitors comment that traveling through Chicago’s neighborhoods feels like traveling through many countries; our students experience world cultures through the many languages spoken and world cuisines of the distinct areas of our home city.

Chicago Center interns out to dinner in the city.

Another great opportunity for community education is to eat in diners and dives in various neighborhoods, and meet the citizens who influence the neighborhood directly at its meeting places. Sometimes the place a community coalesces is a coffee shop or a local eatery. While you’ll cook dinners with your roommates in your apartment, we also encourage you to engage in your neighborhood by visiting local haunts and meeting the people that work and patron there.

Sports: What makes a city love its sports teams so much? Whether it’s the Bears, Cubs, Sox, Bulls, ‘Hawks or one of the many other teams around the city, we encourage you to join the Chicago fans in cheering them on.

Chicago Center Students participating in community education at a White Sox Game.

Just look at what winning the Super Bowl has done for the spirits of the people of New Orleans. What historical significance do Wrigley and Soldier Field contribute to Chicago? Which neighborhoods cheer for which teams? Find out while you’re here and gain a deeper understanding of Chicago culture while you’re at it. There’s no more fun form of community education than immersing yourself in the following of a local team!

Music: What tells the story of a city better than its music, and what city has a richer musical culture than Chicago? Blues and Jazz blossomed here, and now the city hosts musical events from alt-rock and country festivals in the summer to performances by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra year round. Many folk musicians stop by the Old Town School of Folk Music on a regular basis. Some of the most famous and up-and-coming rap and R&B artists are from Chicago and often bless the mic at local hot spots.

Music is simply a form of storytelling, and storytelling fills us in on the history of a city and its neighborhoods in the most personal way possible. What inspires the musicians of Chicago to play, and what draws musicians here from across the country? During your stay at Chicago Center, we hope you’ll experience the music of the city with your fellow students and see for yourself how it deepens your understanding of the city and your community education.

While internships are an integral part of your Chicago Center learning experience, what you learn from your stay in the city and the activities in each neighborhood is just as important!

With an educated and informed staff to guide you to the best cultural and community events and to help you understand their meaning and history, you can get the most fulfilling education from the experiences you have while at the Chicago Center.

What kind of Chicago summer internships are there?

Chicago, being the 3rd largest urban center and having the 2nd largest job market in the country, hosts many industries and offers various types of employment. Some college students know exactly what kind of internship they want and which industry they want to work in; those students can get started right away on their Chicago Center application and look through examples of internships on our internships page. We have networked with hundreds of agencies, corporate organizations, arts groups and more to find internship sites that will give you great guidance, experience and let you contribute to the community  in significant and meaningful ways.

However, if you aren’t exactly sure what career you may want get started in, here’s how you can start your research on Chicago summer internships:

- If you are unclear on what you want to do with your major, ask an older student in your program what career they plan to pursue and if they have had any internships. As is often the problem with liberal arts majors, there isn’t a default career for each major. An older student or a Chicago Center alumnus can open your eyes to career opportunities that you hadn’t even considered.

- If you know what field you want to work in, you can still ask older students or Chicago Center alumni who you know have worked internships in that industry about their experience. You may find that the actual work experience is something far different that what you anticipated. Guidance from Chicago Center alumni and older students is invaluable– it can really help you create realistic expectations about getting an internship and what it will be like if you get it!

Chicago Summer Internship Preparation

Successful race car driver Bobby Unser said, “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet,” and of course that’s true when you are looking for a job or internship. Even if you aren’t yet applying with the Chicago Center, or if you haven’t decided what kind of internship you want, you can already start preparing for the application and  hiring process.

Getting started early will give you a better chance at getting an internship you want, and preparation will keep you from missing any of those great internship opportunities, no matter when they come along. Here are a few things you can start preparing without a Chicago summer internship lined up already.

- Prepare your resume. Meet with a career counselor at your college or university, and make sure your resume is up to snuff. The previous experiences, relevant classwork, and leadership roles and how you describe them on your resume can either really catch a potential employer’s eye! Working on your resume with a career counselor can help you present your strengths in the most professional way possible. (You will also be required to provide your resume as part of your Chicago Center application).
 
- Prepare your cover letter. Although you should write a unique cover letter for each position you apply for, preparing your basic format and general ideas can help you whip that individualized cover letter up more quickly whenever an opportunity comes along. Make sure you have someone proofread your standard cover letter, and if you can, run it by your career counselor was well.

- Prepare your writing samples. Depending on the field you are applying to, you may need to present writing samples as well as your resume and cover letter. If you can, prepare samples of different lengths and styles, to make sure you have something suited to the job you are applying for. Take your writing samples to a professor and have that professor proof them and offer their opinions on how to improve the writing. Again, you want to put your best foot forward, and preparing writing samples early can allow you to do that.

- Prepare your references. Even if a potential employer doesn’t ask for references when you apply, they might ask for them in your interview or after you’ve met. Having these prepared and being able to respond to this request quickly proves that you are prepared and that you already have people willing to vouch for your work. You should also have contacted your references and let them know that you are using them in your job applications. You never want a potential employer to call one of your references and have that person be surprised that you used them. (You will be required to provide references as part of your Chicago Center application).

- Prepare for your interview. Whether it’s having your parents or friends ask you questions, researching the industry, or planning answers for frequently asked interview questions, a little interview preparation goes a long way. The more confident you are in your interview, the better– and preparation will always boost your confidence.

Whether you are planning on a  summer internship with Chicago Center, or coming for a Spring or Fall semester, you can definitely use these preparation methods to find an internship and be ready for the application and hiring process. It may seem early, since it’s still February, but beginning now may help you seal the deal on your summer dream job!

But you might have heard the saying, “Nothing worthwhile ever comes easily.” The amazing experiences you have as an intern and a student in Chicago are so great because they teach you that you can rise to meet the challenges you face! Chicago Center assists you in learning from your internship and succeeding in it.

Working an internship in Chicago, IL can provide challenges that help you learn about yourself.

The great thing about the Chicago Center internship programs is that we’ll be there the whole way to help you deal with any challenges you might meet. Whether challenges should rise in your Chicago internship, in your studies, or in your experience living in the city, you have an entire staff at your disposal, who have been through the Chicago Center experience themselves, to support you and help you learn and grow! It is a truly a unique community experience that helps you face any problem you meet.

And we’ll start helping you right here, by outlining some preliminary challenges and questions that our students meet and how to deal with them. With the help of our staff, you can navigate through challenges, and learn from the ones you must face!

Chicago Internships and Questions You Might Have About Them

1) How do you find a good internship in Chicago? The first challenge that college students usually meet in their Chicago internships is actually finding a good one and getting it! The Chicago Center’s primary expertise is placing you in an internship that meets your needs and develops your interests. We have contacts in hundreds of different areas, so no matter what your major is, we can find an internship that will enhance your studies and better your education.

Likewise, our list of Chicago internships is only the beginning– we’ll work with you to find a great internship that will help you get your foot in the door of your chosen industry, whether you find it here already or not. We are constantly looking for new internship sites for our students to take part in!

2) How do you prepare to start your Chicago internship? This Chicago internship might be the first job you’ve ever had. Or, if you have had jobs before, it might be the first job you’ve had in a city as big as Chicago. Nerves are a natural occurrence when you are starting a new job. However, we can prepare you fully for your new job and give you the confidence to perform well in your internship!

Many of our internships include an interview process; this allows you to get accustomed to your workplace and your coworkers. As well as meeting the people you will be working with, it also allows you to have accurate expectations about your work responsibilities. Of course, being prepared and knowing what you will be doing always decreases first-day nerves.

You will also have time to get settled into your apartment, get to know the neighborhood and meet other program participants before your internship starts. Having roommates who are working just like you gives you a built-in support system of people who are going through exactly what you are! The Chicago Center experience prepares you for both your job and for life in the city, making your transition into your internship seamless and simple.

The unique program provided to Chicago Center students gives you full support from Day 1 all the way until the end of your internship– making sure you are prepared is just the beginning!

3) How do I get to and from my internship in Chicago? Of course, you never want to be late to your first day of work, and getting around in Chicago may seem a little intimidating. But don’t worry; we’ll equip you for that, too! You’ll get to learn about Chicago and explore the CTA (public transportation) before you start your internship. Once you’ve mastered buses and trains, they’ll become a part of your daily routine and won’t feel like a challenge at all.

Once your Chicago internship starts, you may find more challenges to confront and questions that you have, but that’s what makes an internship such a great learning experience. You’ll meet with Chicago Center staff and fellow students weekly to discuss your internship and what you’re learning in it– so if you ever need help, you can get it from your peers and your directors. The Chicago Communities and Cultures Seminar takes you into city’s neighborhoods, introduces you to major political and economic institutions, and you will meet with community leaders which will also supports you in your internship while Making Chicago Your Classroom. Learn more about our student programs and our internship opportunities, and feel free to contact us with questions!

What are employers looking for more than anything? Real experience. And a great way to get real on-the-job experience is through choosing a Chicago internship in your field.

How can a college internship help you get a job?

Well, there are skills that you learn and tools you acquire that make the Chicago internship experience completely irreplaceable on your way to your chosen career. Here are the things a college internship can teach that make you a better candidate for employment.

Learn how to work in an office:

If you are going into an industry that operates around an office culture, it is always good to have office experience. You might have had some group projects or team building exercises in college, but working in an office is a learning experience all its own. Your potential employer may be more likely to hire you if you can say that you have worked in an office of relative size or atmosphere as the job you are applying for.

You also probably know the importance of punctuality, proper behavior and organization if you have office experience. Likewise, working in an office gives you something to talk about in your interview. A strength of yours may be communication; you can illustrate this by discussing a time you mediated a conflict or facilitated an idea through communicating in the office environment.

Learn the basics of your job:

Everyone applying for an entry level job is just that– entry level. You’ve just graduated from college, and everyone has about the same amount of career experience. But if you have experience from an internship in the industry you want to work in, you at least have observed or been taught the basics of your job.

Depending on how much freedom and responsibility your internship gave you, you may know much more than the basics. If you can demonstrate in your interview that you will require less training than other applicants once you are hired, you might have a leg up on other entry level applicants.

Learn to look at the long-term:

Employers want to hire someone who is committed to their company, the job they do or the industry they work in– in other words, they are in it for the long haul. Employers are not looking to hire someone who is looking for any entry-level job because they simply need a job to support themselves. You can exhibit to your potential employer that you have a sustained interest in your job if you have had an internship in the same or similar field. Your commitment to the industry can make you more attractive to potential employers.

Learn your weaknesses:

One of the hardest questions you may face in an interview is “What is your greatest weakness?” Obviously, you want to answer this one carefully. If you have worked in an internship, you can actually learn what your weaknesses are and learn which parts of your job you don’t like to do. You will also learn, in an internship, how to cope with these problems. By knowing and having experience dealing with these weaknesses from your internship, you can honestly answer this question, and then explain how you’ve adapted to your weaknesses and learned to manage the parts of your job that you don’t like.

Learn to network:

Obviously, the best thing that can come out of a college internship is that your company or organization likes your work enough that they bring you back on full time. However, this isn’t always possible. The other valuable outcome of a good college internship is that you build contacts from your internship who can help you get a job when the time comes.

Being well-educated, competent and committed isn’t always enough to land the job. Sometimes you need a contact who can put in a good word for you or help you get your foot in the door. If you impress your superiors at your internship, they might be able to help you do just that.

Similarly, your potential employer may ask for a recommendation or a reference. While having a college professor commend your work is great, having someone who actually worked with you recommend your work is much more convincing. You can acquire a great reference from your internship as long as you work hard and prove yourself to your coworkers.

So, starting a career might seem like a daunting task, but putting it off won’t make it any easier. If you’re smart, you’ll go ahead and jump into the career world during by working in a summer internship program during your college years.

Getting your feet wet with a Chicago internship can make you more confident when you go to interview for your first job, and it can give you invaluable tools to convince your potential employer that you are right for the job.