We’re in Chicago: Isaiah Moore

What is your current role? How would you describe the work that you do?

Social Studies teacher for Leo High School for almost 3 years. In my time working with Leo High School, I’ve gained a lot of practical and social skills that have yielded me great benefits. Not something I went to school for, but fell into the profession because of the policy changes I’d like to make as a future politician. The high school is all boys Catholic academy, and has been around almost 100 years. I’ve been able to cultivate amazing relationships with these young men of color. It’s important because they are being targeted and eliminated, and it brings me great joy to bring structure and curriculum for them to stay alive and give them a reason to stay alive. They need someone in their life regardless of how they’re doing that day. I’m there everyday to provide them structure, safety, instruction, and guidance to be their best self in the future.

What was your Chicago Scholars experience like?

I am of the class of 2019, and when I was going through the program as a junior in high school, we weren’t in the current office, and we didn’t have half of the staff that we see here today in the organization. The program was very different, with a lot of new things being tried, in addition to leadership transition. DJT made a lot of strides in CS and brough the program more structure. At the time, a lot of the workshops were optional and the mandatory events were there, but not as many as the program has now. As a Scholar, you had to put 110 percent into the program to yield that much of the reward. I went to almost every workshop, though most were optional. Tried to go to every core event. Back then, you had certain milestones you were reaching for, and there would be an event or celebration that marked achieving each milestone. I achieved all of them, and finished the program with flying colors. Chose a college without looking at the finances and CS helped me with my transfer when it became apparent I could not afford it. When I went to all the people at De Paul, I remembered that I was touring colleges the year before, and Governor State was a school I came across and toured. Said I’d never go there because the age population was older and they were only accepting their first freshman class that year. Fast forward a year, I toured there, applied, got in, and financial aid was able to cover everything. I still graduated in 4 years. CS and their engagement contacts helped me to have a clear mind on making decisions on the next place I would spend my educational journey. After 4 years of success in undergrad, started the next term in grad school at the University of Chicago for my Masters in Urban Planning and Policy. Worked in my field for a little bit after finishing masters at 24, and was laid off. Found the teaching profession because there is a shortage in teachers. In private institutions especially, they are looking for folks to put in that work. I’ve been doing the work for three years and view it as giving back to the community and as an opportunity to get field experience so when I make legislation, it is practical because I’ve been there for decisions made in the classroom, worked with admin for curriculum placement. I know what is needed in the curriculum to successfully educate a kid. When I move into my role as a politician, I will cherish the time now, giving back to the community and giving back to the education system.

How did Chicago Scholars support you to be the person you are today?

One, would say their core beliefs always supported grit and enduring practices. It has a lot of hefty meaning because the programming of CS helped me persevere through things other people would’ve had a hard time processing at such a young age. Having to transfer from a school after one year due to finances is traumatizing. But going through CS, I was able to ground myself in the moment and make decisions that were beneficial in the long run. The staff has always been on the side of the Scholar, always found ways to support the individual and not look at them as a program participant. And CS is 10 times better at this through the years. Proud to be an alum of such a progressive org that definitely puts 110% behind its deliverables, and they’ve been delivering for 30 years. It’s why so many alums, so many only have positive things to say. The program speaks for itself, no matter who is in what position. That programming piece, when delivered correctly, makes a world of difference. People pay thousands of dollars for counselling, scholarship, jobs. CS, through programming, allows for those very expensive commodities to have access to folks that have been denied those resources. Appreciate the impact goal that CS has, it’s built into mission, the way they operate. Though I completed the program, I will always participate to make sure the program continues to succeed and thrive.

What advice would you have given yourself just after being accepted into the program?

I would remind myself that what I’m seeking is also seeking me. You lose that vision so many times when you are in the moment of trying to grasp something so big. Always had amazing big dreams and being accepted to cs only intensified that because I was the only scholar/person that applied to CS in my school to be accepted. Back then, there were way smaller cohorts, not even 7 Scholars per cohort. You got to know your peers really well. Still the case, but I feel like if I had reminded myself or known that, I would always be encouraged to give 110% of my energy. The more you put into something, the more you’ll find it. If you put your energy into looking for growth, you’ll find that, even if it takes a long time or doesn’t look like how you imagined. What we need isn’t always what we want. Sometimes what we want brings us more harm than we realized.

What advice do you have for current Scholars?

Always embrace grit and getting through things. One thing I learned, it was so crazy because, I entered college thinking that I’d get the degree and have a whole bunch of money, dream job, and that it wasn’t gonna be hard. Grit is a lifelong process, you need to lean into it. Nothing worth getting is attained easily. If you want wealth and to prosper, you’re gonna have to put work into it. Unless you’re born into wealth. But most of us, if we want to attain more than we have, we have to work for it. Embrace hard work. Even when it gets hard, keep going. A college degree is proof you know how to do something. When you go on to get a job, that job, you won’t know how to do it. Each org, each different entity has its own operating procedure. Maybe you do MarComms, but Facebook does it differently from Twitter. Same job. Always embrace discomfort, learning new things. You get better because you’re doing it. Experience is key. Go after all experiences, become an Emerge scholar. Do what CS has laid out for you, because when you leave college, you’ll have a fully loaded resume that can carry you to heights you didn’t think were possible before starting the journey.

What does being from Chicago mean to you now?

Means that I was given an opportunity that millions of people weren’t given. Have access to resources and opportunity that a lot of people would swoon, die to have. With that, I have a great responsibility to uphold the good image of Chicago. There are opinions about Chicago because of the media, or a story from a friend that visited. To live here, a native, someone who embraces Chicago in all its identities, there is more gold here than there is tragedy. A lot of that is not shown on TV, or Social Media, but if you lived here, breathed here, gave here a chance, there are a lot of great things happening for people across the Chicagoland area. It’s not all doom and gloom. Chicago to me means that I have been given the opportunity to help other people in ways that they may need. And just the rich culture, rich African American culture, reminds me every day, no matter how I feel, that I am blessed to be alive and contribute to a city that will be in world history books. To be a name, hopefully a bigger name in the future, is everything to me.

What do you wish people knew about Chicago Scholars, as well as the city of Chicago?

I wish what people knew about CS is that it is the only program guaranteed to equip you with the skills you’ll need post college. I know there are a lot of programs out there and I applied to a lot of them in high school. CS holistically offered the best outcomes. Other programs offered it in parts, but this program offered the wraparound, hit everything it needed to to ensure that Scholars can be successful in any venture outside of CS and school. The programming is holistic, effective, and practical. The mentorship aspect is unmatched. Something that is the backbone of the org. Without good counselors and effective mentors, a lot of pieces can fall by the wayside. The city, home to some of the best food, people, and some of the most memorable moments in world history. A land worth protecting, and a lot of people are hellbent on its destruction and it losing relevancy. But the fact is, Chicago and CS have always been relevant. CS is one of the biggest nonprofit educational orgs in Chicago and the US. We have other states asking what our methods are for success rates. When you put it all together, CS and Chicago make a mighty duo, and singlehandedly provide talents unmatched in any other US city.