March 5th, 2010
Out of His Comfort Zone
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. Read More
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January 25th, 2010
Here at Chicago Center, we want to give you the best picture of what a great comprehensive Chicago internship program can be like and what it can teach you. So we plan to regularly bring you descriptions of our student practicums written by the participants themselves!
By understanding former students’ experiences in their Chicago internships, you can also understand the benefit a Chicago Center practicum can bring to your education, career and life. This week, Dave Reid from Willamette University, talks about his time with the Chicago Center.
Dave’s Chicago Internship Experience
Dave participated in the 2009 Fall semester Urban Academic Practicum. He spent three days a week working in his internship at the Austin Polytechnical Academy, where he worked as a teaching assistant to high school students. One day a week, he took part in our Chicago Communities and Cultures Seminar, and one day a week he took a Directed Studies course. Students are asked to keep an academic journal while participating in Chicago Center, here’s what Dave had to say in his journal summarizing his Chicago Center experience:
Dave Reid works with high school students in his Chicago internship.
Read More
April 29th, 2009
Chicago Center Executive Director Scott Cheseboro reflects on the Olympic Bid Panel hosted by Chicago Center:
“Who knew the possibility of hosting the Olympics could arouse such strong emotions? The passion of the panelists for their point of view was obvious from the start. From advocating for the Olympics to advocating for community involvement, to being flat out opposed to hosting the 2016 Games, the perspectives varied but the passion remained high. It is clear that if Chicago is chosen in October there will be an outburst of both jubilation and protest. Students, staff and others in the audience peppered the panel with thoughtful questions. It was two hours well spent. The great response from the community and the value as a class for the students has prompted Center staff to consider future panels on relevant topics as a part of the program.”
Scott E. Chesebro, PhD
Executive Director
Chicago Center for Urban Life and Culture
April 28th, 2009
Panelists: Denise Dixon, Action Now Executive Director; Glenn Reedus, Chicago Media Money Monetizer; Dr. Stephen Alexander, Sr. Research Fellow Depaul Univeristy; Tom Tresser, No Games Chicago
- Scott Chesebro, Chicago Center Executive Director introduces 2016 Chicago Olympic Bid Panel to Chicago Center students and community members.
As the International Olympics Committee leaves Chicago and heads to Tokyo (Japan), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), and Madrid (Spain), Chicago Center for Urban Life and Culture congregated a panel of Community leaders and activists to discuss the impact of Chicago hosting the 2016 Olympics on neighborhoods and communities.
Action Now Executive Director, Denise Dixon has fought for a community benefits agreement (CBA) to be passed by City Hall. This legally binding agreement would insure that a portion of jobs, housing, and minority contracts for neighborhood residents would be allocated. Currently, City Council has decided against approving this legal agreement.
Panelist: Dr. Stephen Alexander, Sr. Research Fellow Olympic Study Group DePaul University
Dixon is not opposed to the 2016 Olympics being held in Chicago but asks, “Is he [Mayor Daley] going to sell out the people of Chicago in the communities where the venues are to be held?”
Chicago Center Executive Director, Scott Chesebro states “these issues are exactly why there is need for a community based forum where an assortment of voices can be heard and a discussion can take place on the benefits and the drawbacks that Chicago faces if granted the 2016 Olympic bid.”
Chicago Center is an Urban Education program which provides college students from across the country with internships and seminars designed to broaden their understanding of complex issues and increase their effectiveness as citizens. For forty years Chicago Center has prided themselves on a ‘first-voice’ pedagogy that encourages their students to hear the diverse voices that are represented in Chicago.
This event was for Chicago Center students and was also open to the public and the media.
July 30th, 2008
Tracy at her internship, After School Matters. You can see some of her students in their computer literacy class, and her supervisor Mr. Johnson.
Leesa’s Chicago Communities and Cultures Seminar learned about Chicago’s architecture and sculpture on a walking tour with Executive Director and Instructor Scott Chesebro.
photos by Scott Chesebro and Anna Clement
July 15th, 2008
Scott’s Monday section of the “Chicago Communities and Cultures” course traveled to the Center on Halsted located on the North side of Chicago, which is a community center for Chicago’s LGBTQ community. Students met with one of the Center’s directors and received a tour of the magnificent building, where they learned about what the Center has to offer. Students then traveled a few miles to the Bailiwick Theater, where they met with Artistic Director David Zack. David explained the types of plays the theater hosts, as well as shared some of his personal experiences as a gay man. David asked students about their own college 
environments, as well as their thoughts and opinions regarding personal and public perceptions of the LGBTQ community. Later that evening the students traveled to Andersonville, where they visited Women and Children First bookstore, had dinner at the LGBT diner “Hamburger Mary’s,” and attended the LGBT production of “The Ville” upstairs from the restaurant. “The Ville” is a weekly soap opera that provides an entertaining performance regarding lives of LGBT individuals.
Anna Clement, Class Assistant
July 9th, 2008
On Monday, July 7th, Chicago Center students and staff hosted a panel discussion on youth violence featuring some of our City’s most passionate and influential voices. Panelists included Ronald Holt, father of slain student hero Blair Holt, Wilbert Taylor, Jr., a young man injured by gunfire during a house party, Diane Latiker, founder of Roseland’s Kids Off the Block Club (profiled in Chicago Tribune Magazine on June 15, 2008) and Lisa Rivera, Armenia Rodriguez and Oscar Contreras who, together, have given mothers of youth involved in gang activity a crucial vehicle for support (Rivera, Rodriguez and Contreras were profiled in a May, 
2008 Chicago Sun-Times article).
Panelists shared their life experiences with youth violence and spoke about what Chicagoans must do to make a difference. Jonathan Peck of the Southwest Youth Collaborative facilitated the panel discussion.
Leesa Albert, Instructor
Photos by Pam Adams, Instructor
July 2nd, 2008
2008 Chicago Summer Internships
Our Urban Academic Students work with Chicago Center Staff to find an internship that meets their career and personal goals. Here is a summary of what some of our 2008 Summer students are doing in their internships.
Damen – I am interning at Free Street Theatre located on
West Blackhawk Street. I choose this internship because it is theatre-based. I am also given a chance to find myself within a group and to work within material that I help create. Thus far, we have created a play and come up with workshops that we can teach to kids. Each day, Monday through Thursday, the cast of our play goes to a different park and teaches kids.
Sascha – I am interning at Interfaith- Refugee and Im
migration Ministries. In my studies, I am focusing on migration; especially immigration to the United States. I am helping case workers who support refugees (from Iraq, Burma, and African countries) with applications (such as state ID), and I am doing research on American immigration policy and the causes for migration, mainly from Mexico and Asian countries.
Lauren – My internship is at the Respitory Health Associatio
n of Metro-Chicago in the marketing & public relations department. The reason that I chose my internship was it seemed like a great opportunity to learn more about non-profit organizations and the cause is close to my heart (my brother has severe asthma and continues to be a chain smoker). I’m currently doing PR for an event called Cowalunga. It is a 3 day bike ride at the beginning of August that raises money toward lung-disease research. I am also working on improving the website and newsletter, as well as administrative work.
Joe – I am interning at Access Living. I chose this internship because I w
anted to gain more experience in a field of social work which I have not yet been exposed to. I assist with the agency’s “Home Again” program working with senior citizens who are ready to leave the nursing home. They contact us and we work with them to find affordable housing and help them develop skills to live successfully on their own.
Okwara – My internship is at Free Street Theatre. We go around 
parks in Chicago teaching kids some games and warm ups used to energize and help with voice, body, mind, and soul. After the workshop, we all perform a play we made during orientation week. I chose this internship because I like working with kids for one, it helps me as an actor to gain new skills to warm up, and discovering more about myself.
Kristin – My internship is at the Chicago League of Theatres. I
t is downtown in the loop at Jackson and Wabash. I chose this internship because it is a nonprofit organization. There are only 6 full-time people in the office, making it personable and friendly, and also allowing me to get my hands into multiple projects dealing with marketing. On my first day, I have written a press release on the upcoming theater productions for theater Thursdays for July and I have been doing research on-line for updates in theaters around the city.
Sam – My internship is at the Lill’ Street Art Center where I help te
ach for the gallery as well as assist Artreach (a non-profit organization working through Lill’ Street). I’ve been following teachers around and assisting with a few kids classes. I will also be teaching a few of my own art classes to kids of various ages. I wanted to work with kids, but I also wanted to see the behind-the-scenes work of an art gallery. This job seems to cover both pretty well.
Maria Rodriguez – My internship is at Casa Aztlan, located in Pi
lsen. I chose that internship because I saw the necessities that the Hispanic community have in Pilsen, and I decided that I wanted to be part of the helping group of Casa Aztlan. In my internship, I teach basic English classes, help translate some papers, help answer the phone, serve lunch to the kids, and teach Spanish. Each day is a little bit different. The main thing that I do is teach English and Spanish classes. The English classes are held three days a week and the Spanish class is one day a week.
Tosha – My internship is at the non-profit organization Alternatives, Inc. I chose to do this internship because I really wanted to work with children this summer and use both my psychology and sociology major. So far, I’ve been helping to run a summer camp. I am in charge of my own group each day, and I will run my own workshop.
Tracy – I am working at the Better Boys Foundation in North
Lawndale. I am working in the Department of Family Services. I chose this internship because they have so many services for at-risk children, adolescents, and families. I have been afforded the opportunity to interact with the community in ways I never thought I would. I have spent time in the teen room supervising 13-16 year olds. I also visited a placement facility for homeless teens. I sat in on a Stop the Violence panel with the 10th district police department. Most recently, I visited an elementary school summer program where I will be working with the children on Tuesdays. I love this internship and I definitely made the right choice.
Beth – My internship is at Community TV Network. I chose that
internship because I wanted to work with film production and to become familiar with the equipment and production process. At my internship I have been working with high school students in the After School Matters program. I help them film public service announcements about issues that are important to them. I make sure they have what they need and help them if needed.
Liz – My internship is with Thresholds South, a psychiatric rehabil
itation center on 47th. The primary reason I chose to work with Thresholds is because of the great work they are doing to promote the recovery of its members and to reduce the stigma of mental illness. They offer a variety of programs that are geared toward providing members with the skills they need to become more independent and to become active participants in their communities. So far I’ve been involved in a few of the community support groups which have allowed me to meet some of the members and observe the staff in action. Eventually, I’ll be participating in more aspects of the individual and community groups, as well as observing a case manager. Everyone at Thresholds is on a first name basis, and that kind of familiarity makes Thresholds an awesome place to intern at. Even though I’ve only been there three days, I don’t feel like a stranger.
Shannon – I’m interning at the Public Defender’s Office Juvenile and Child Protection Division. It puts me in a position to work directly with attorneys, supervisors, judges, and clerks; which I feel will help prepare me for law school and court endeavors in the future. Recently I have been organizing a TPR case, which is dealing with terminating a parent’s rights from their children. In addition, I have been sitting with Defense Attorneys in the court room for both the Juvenile and Child Protection sides. Here, I have been able to watch probation hearings, sentencings, and violations of probations. On Thursday, I will be organizing an Extended Jurisdiction Juvenile (EJJ) case.
Amy - My internship is at Deeply Rooted Productions. I chose this internship because I am very interested in pursuing a masters degree in dance therapy and Deeply Rooted does a lot of work in connecting body, mind and spirit within dance. There is no opportunity for me to really observe theraputic dance in Michigan and Deeply Rooted struck me as a very unique opportunity. It is a mainly African-American based dance company so I have the op
portunity to work with populations much different than my own.At my internship I work as the scholarship coordinator and open-ear counselor for the students attending the Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre 2008 Summer Intensive. I also am interning as training management for the Mature Hot Women Program which is a Modern Dance Program that promotes health and emotional wellbeing and release in women over 30. It is a three hour dance class that covers three different styles of modern dance. The class includes two circles which encompass emotional freedom and free thought and speech. Women feel open to tell their stories and relate to one another through movement. I have been mainly organizing work assignments for scholarship students and listening to them when they are getting overly stressed or worked up about any given problem. I take class with the Mature Hot Women program every Wednesday and I plan on taking more classes with the summer dance intensive students.
- compiled by Keith Zabel
