For our Scholars, who are often the first in their family to go college and come from low-income neighborhoods and households, it’s impossible to overstate how much this means them. It doesn’t just validate all of their hard work — it proves that they can go to their dream school, graduate on time, and step up as leaders in their communities and their careers. This shows our Scholars that it’s not just our Chicago Scholars family that has their back — not just our College Counselors, Mentors, Volunteers, and staff members. It shows there’s also a larger community that cares about them and wants them to succeed. The NBA cares about them. LeBron James cares about them. What could be more empowering than that?

On top of all of this, the NBA has invited a group of our Scholars to attend the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 16. And, in the days leading up to the game, there will be other opportunities for some of our Scholars Ambassadors to attend other All-Star events. In fact, a number of them were invited to the Chicago Bulls game on Thursday night — along with students from After School Matters, the nonprofit chosen by Giannis Antetokounmpo — to be honored on the court just after LeBron made his announcement.

As our Scholars learned the news, they were overcome with joy. “I am very proud to be part of this organization,” said Jaiden, a Chicago Scholar from Chicago’s Calumet Heights neighborhood. “I am happy that our work is being recognized because Chicago Scholars is life-changing. I am happy for my fellow Scholars and the opportunity that they have been blessed to receive.”

We are absolutely thrilled to cheer on all of Team LeBron — LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic, James Harden, Nikola Jokic, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Domantas Sabonis, Ben Simmons, Jayson Tatum, and Russell Westbrook — at the NBA All-Star Game. Please make sure to follow us to see all of the latest highlights on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

LET’S GO #TeamLeBron!

It’s February in Chicago, and that means snow flurries and freezing temperatures. But even though summer feels very far away, summer internship season is quickly approaching. Now’s the time to start writing resumes, looking for networking opportunities, and preparing to apply. That’s why we’re sharing a new tip every day this month on our Instagram Stories and recapping them here every week — so our Scholars have all the information they need to land their dream internships this summer. AND because there’s an extra day in February this year, that means there will be an extra tip to help our Scholars leap into their career. Here’s Part 2 in our 29 Tips to Leap into Your Career.

Part 2: Network Like a Pro

8. ATTEND NETWORKING EVENTS

Networking helps you meet potential colleagues, mentors, employers, and friends. Beyond that it can help you keep up with latest trends in your industry and gain access to resources for professional development.

Are you interested in networking but don’t know where to start? Many universities and colleges organize regular networking events for alumni. You may also be able to access networking and professional development opportunities based on goal, industry, or by affinity/identity groups. For example, here is a list of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ professional networks.

9. BRING BUSINESS CARDS

Even in the age of e-portfolio’s and LinkedIn, many networkers still find the value in having an easy way to share contact information. Giving potential employers something to physically hang onto is a great way to make sure that they will remember you after the event.

If you are still in college and do not have a business card, you can use free online resources like Canva and Avery to access free templates. Some college and university career centers also offer cheap or free ways to make business cards.

However, please don’t feel like you have to pass out your card to everyone you meet. Only do so when you feel you have connected with someone and that it could be a mutually beneficial relationship

10. KNOW WHO IS IN THE ROOM

Often networking events will distribute a list of speakers (especially if there is a panel discussion) and organizations represented. Before attending the event, do some research into the organization and representatives using LinkedIn and their organization’s websites. Have an idea of the questions you may ask, or the achievements you would want to present in a conversation. Being strategic will help you manage your time and increase chances of you being remembered among the crowd.

11. THE ELEVATOR PITCH

Have an elevator pitch prepared, but only use it if you are asked a broad question like “So tell me about yourself?” Craft a statement that is informative, but also conversational. Be authentic and professional and stray away from language that comes off as a sales-pitch.

According to BusinessTown “only 2 percent of all sales occur in the first meeting. So your goal in the first meeting or the first contact is to get the second meeting. That’s the purpose of the elevator pitch, to generate enough interest that they say ‘tell me more, let’s set up another time to meet.’”

12. THE NETWORKING MINDSET

The key to networking is to focus on relationship-building. Your goal is to start a conversation and present yourself as someone who your potential employer would like to work with. Win people over with your enthusiasm and passion for the industry or company. Genuine excitement and passion can be contagious and memorable. Here are some other helpful tips.

• Ground yourself in your purpose: Why are you attending this event? What do you hope to gain?

• Treat it as a conversation: Be a conversationalist, not a talker. Eye contact, active and thoughtful listening, and repeating the person’s name are all just as important as promoting yourself and your accomplishments.

13. THE NETWORKING LOOK

Within the first seven seconds of meeting, people will have a solid impression of who you are — and some research suggests a tenth of a second is all it takes to determine traits like trustworthiness. One of the first steps to making sure you make a good first impression is to dress and groom appropriately.

Remember – everyone at a networking event is a potential colleague, supervisor, or friend. You want to make an impression that is going to stick for the right reason. It’s important to dress professional and appropriately for the event. For example, if you are attending a networking happy hour, consider dressing business casual rather than in a suit which could appear too stuffy for the occasion.

Ultimately, it’s important to dress in a way that makes you look and feel at the top of your game. Pick an outfit that’s professional, comfortable, and makes you feel like your best self.

14. TAKE NOTES

Networking can be daunting when there are so many people to meet and keep track of. Taking thoughtful notes will help you keep track of each conversation you have. It also demonstrates to the potential employer that you are engaged and actively listening. It will also provide you will useful information when you follow-up after the event.  Here are more useful tips to ensure you are taking effective notes:

• Wear something with pockets or bring a small bag so that you can conveniently carry a couple of pens and a small notebook with you.

• If/when you exchange business cards, you should jot down a couple of notes about what was most compelling in the conversation and any shared interests that came up.

15. CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION

Networking is where the conversation begins. It’s up to you to continue it. If you’ve had a great conversation, make sure to get that person’s business card or contact information. If you’ve taken good notes, you will have something to reference from your conversation when you reach out. It’s best to get in touch within 48 hours of the event so the person knows you’re active and interested.

When following up, keep it brief and clearly state what your intentions are:

• Do you want to continue the conversation over a scheduled call or lunch meeting?

• Would you like to stay in touch and meet each other again in the distant future?

• What is your call to action?

We hope you found these tips helpful. Come back for Part 3: Interviewing next week!

It’s February in Chicago, and that means snow flurries and freezing temperatures. But even though summer feels very far away, summer internship season is quickly approaching. Now’s the time to start writing resumes, looking for networking opportunities, and preparing for interviews That’s why we’re sharing a new tip every day this month on our Instagram Stories and recapping them here every week — so our Scholars have all the information they need to land their dream internships this summer. AND because there’s an extra day in February this year, that means there will be an extra tip to help our Scholars leap into their career. Here’s Part 3 in our 29 Tips to Leap into Your Career.

Part 3: Ace Your Interview

16. DO YOUR RESEARCH

Prior to your interview, you should spend some time on the website of the organization you are interviewing with to identify relevant information to discuss. Memorize the names and positions of the people you will be in the room with. Look them up on LinkedIn to see if you have a connection. Be prepared to talk about your unique experiences as they relate to the job description and the organization’s missions and values. Be ready to answer common interview questions.

• Why do you want to work here? Why should we hire you?

• What’s an example of a challenge you’ve overcome and what did you learn from it?

17. SCHEDULE MOCK INTERVIEWS

Practice! Practice! Practice! Reach out to your school’s career center or your College Success contact at Chicago Scholars to set up a mock interview. You can also recruit friends, family members, or teachers to conduct mock interviews. Hearing yourself answer questions out loud is the best way to prepare and build confidence. Be ready with a solid elevator pitch to introduce yourself effectively and concisely at the beginning of your interview.

18. SHAKE OFF NERVES

Nerves can be one of the biggest challenges to overcome in interviews. Making sure that you are emotionally ready for the interview is important. Remember, you are interviewing because the hiring team chose you over other applicants. You deserve this! Here are other tips to help you prepare:

• If you are unsure of the interview location, consider doing a travel test run so you can be aware of any potential hiccups.

• Make sure your business professional outfit is ironed, dry-cleaned, and ready at least one day before your interview.

• Make sure to arrive early so you have time to prepare and practice mindful mediation. However, do not arrive more than 30 minutes early. You could be running into other interviewers or seem overly eager for the position.

19. BE YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF

When you are in the room, start the conversation with a smile. It sets an upbeat and confident tone for the interview. During the interview, don’t answer questions the way you think you’re supposed to; answer in a way that is true to you. Authenticity can help interviewers relate to you or better understand your life story. Remember, they are there to get to know the real you! However, be mindful to not overshare.

20. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TIME

Make sure you answer all questions concisely, specifically, and thoughtfully. Use every opportunity to demonstrate your potential value to the organization and to discuss relevant achievements. Make sure to have an impactful close. According to Harvard Business Review, the final 10% of the interview is perhaps the most important, since the greatest amount of information per unit of time is generally exchanged during this time interval.

21. ASK GOOD QUESTIONS

Be prepared with two to three good questions that you can’t find on Google or through a quick scan on a the organization’s website. Questions demonstrate your interest in the organization and your desire to match with an institution that will fit your unique needs and interests. Good questions to ask would be about culture, work style, team-specific dynamics, etc.

22. FOLLOW-UP

At the end of the interview, make sure to get a business card or contact email before you leave. Often times the receptionist at the front will have them but ask the interviewer(s) first. Send your follow-up email the same day. Thank them for their time and be sure to include details that were brought up during the interview and/or a good question that you didn’t have time to ask in person to continue the conversation.

We hope you found these tips helpful. Come back for Part 4: Career-Readiness next week!

It’s February in Chicago, and that means snow flurries and freezing temperatures. But even though summer feels very far away, summer internship season is quickly approaching. Now’s the time to start writing resumes, looking for networking opportunities, and preparing for interviews. After you’ve received and accepted the offer it’s important to make sure that you are thinking about your career and professional growth from day one. That’s why we’re sharing a new tip every day this month on our Instagram Stories and recapping them here every week — so our Scholars have all the information they need to land their dream internships this summer. AND because there’s an extra day in February this year, that means there will be an extra tip to help our Scholars leap into their career. Here’s Part 4 in our 29 Tips to Leap into Your Career.

Part 4: Career-Readiness Tips to Ensure a Smooth Transition into the Workforce

23. MANAGE RELATIONSHIPS

Your summer internship can lead to many different opportunities down the road, whether it be an invitation to continue the internship, a job offer, or to expand your professional network. Treat every interaction with colleagues as ones that could yield future opportunities.

24. KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS

Many professionals spend a lot of time trying to overcome weaknesses rather than promote their strengths. Identifying your unique talents and value-add when you start your position will be helpful as you choose or are given opportunities and projects to work on. Make sure your employer understands or is aware of these strengths and how they relate to the mission and goals of the organization.

It is okay to be in the process of learning and developing your strengths. Personality and work-style assessments like Clifton Strengths and 16 Personalities are great tools to help you identify and provide language on how to talk about what you are great at.

Still unsure of your strengths? Ask about 5-10 people to use adjectives to describe you. Take note on trends that may arise.

25. PRACTICE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Emotional Intelligence refers to the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. This entails having a deep level of personal (self-awareness and self-management) and social (social awareness and relationship management) competence.

It’s vital to understand the importance of knowing, developing, and practicing emotional intelligence in the workplace. Emotional intelligence plays a major role in personal and professional perceptions and interactions.

26. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Every internship and job provides opportunities to build your skillsets and accomplishments. Make sure you are identifying what your achievements are and recording them so you can incorporate them in your resume when you are ready to apply for your next position. Regularly keeping track of this list encourages reflection to determine what the right career path is for you and what skills you want to be spending your time on developing.  According to Lifehacker, “writing down and reviewing your accomplishments can be a great motivator for doing even more good work.”

27. ADOPT A GROWTH MINDSET

Many organizations offer or support opportunities for professional and leadership development. Ask your manager or HR department if there are any resources for interns to perfect their craft. Even if opportunities are not available, your colleagues will know that you are actively seeking to improve your skills and be professionally successful. Here are other helpful tips to adopt a growth-mindset:

• Ask a lot of questions.

• Don’t be afraid of making mistakes or asking for help.

• Embrace feedback. Leaders continuously improve and become more efficient and effective when they have an open mind to feedback, reflecting, and failing forward.

28. IDENTIFY COLLEAGUES FOR MENTORSHIP AND NETWORKING

Many student’s summer internships are not relevant to the career they end up in. That’s ok! One of the goals of a summer internship is to learn what excites and resonates with you about an organization’s day-to-day tasks, mission, culture, and values. It’s important to reach out to colleagues across the organization to gain insight into what their career-path looks like. This could result in you finding a mentor or a career that really does excite you. Reaching out to collegaues both in and outside of your department will help you figure out what your interests are.

How does this internship relate to your broader career goals? If you realize that your summer internship is not in a career that is right for you, that’s fine!  Studies show that people change careers 5-7 times within their lifetime. Don’t fret and think about the skills you are developing and how they can translate into other industries and positions.

Having a clear sense of what your career goals are, being aware of what you need to achieve them, and embracing the natural flux that comes with professional life will set you up for future growth and success.

This concludes our 29 Tips to Leap Into Your Career. We hope you learned helpful skills to launch a fulfilling career!

Every year, International Womxn’s* Day compels us to reflect on the great strides made across the globe to advance gender equity and representation. We are also reminded of the work that still needs to be done. This day gives us space and encouragement to identify tangible ways to forge a gender equal world, celebrate womxn’s achievements, raise awareness against bias, and take action for gender justice.

For Chicago Scholar Cristal Caballero, International Womxn’s Day is every day. Cristal, who is a junior at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, believes gender justice is “about waking up every day and deciding that we will take care of ourselves and each other.” Her work elevates the stories of Black and Latina Womxn, and offers encouragement and support for womxn challenging systemic and interpersonal discrimination. That’s why Cristal stepped up this year to represent La Casa Cultural Latina as Co-Chair of the annual Black and Latina Womxn Summit at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

The Black and Latina Womxn Summit “aims to ensure that each and every person in the room is able to take something home with them, whether it be a new lesson learned from our wonderful speakers and presenters or a new relationship that will create impactful collaborations in the future.”

Now in its fifth year, the Black and Latina Womxn Summit (BLWS) is a student-run summit open to all people interested in learning more about how womxn can collectively help each other make strides in professional development, academic success, and wellness. According to Cristal, the Summit “aims to ensure that each and every person in the room is able to take something home with them, whether it be a new lesson learned from our wonderful speakers and presenters or a new relationship that will create impactful collaborations in the future.” This year, the BLWS took place on February 29 and included workshop topics that spanned from writing love letters to oneself to advocating for sex workers rights. As this year’s Co-Chair, Cristal was excited to see the summit grow from 25 attendees in its first year to nearly 300 in its fifth.

While BLWS is primarily run by and for Black and Latina Womxn, Cristal encouraged members of all gender and racial identities to attend and participate. According to Cristal, the committee members and co-chairs “made an effort to reach out to different departments, students, and community-based organizations to invite them to the summit.” The inclusivity of the event encouraged critical dialogue about sex, racism, and gender equity among people of all identities. This year, attendees even included Chicago Scholars from neighboring universities. Cristal also invited both of her parents and translated workshop content to Spanish in real time. To her surprise, they both really enjoyed the workshop on destigmatizing sex work!

Cristal first became aware of the BLWS during her freshman year at Champaign’s La Casa Cultural Latina when she was invited to attend the first summit. Coming from a home environment in which she grew up among strong and empowered womxn—including her mother, Lorena, who is one of her greatest inspirations and advocates—Cristal naturally gravitated to spaces on campus created for and by other womxn.

At the first BLWS, Cristal was struck by the keynote speaker, Zahira Kelly-Babrera, an Afro-Dominicana artist, speaker, and activist, who encouraged audience members to hold on to their truth and to stand firmly in their power. Ever since, Cristal has committed herself to advocating for womxn and all marginalized peoples on her campus and in her home community. Her work involves creating space for collective support, and sharing her art and poetry; both fixating an unflinching spotlight on the injustices she sees, and elevating the voices of those paving the way for a more equitable society

  “…the standing ovation was not for me, but rather every kid who has died on the streets.”

During this year’s BLWS, Cristal, “being in a space surrounded by powerful and phenomenal womxn,” felt comfortable to share her poetry publicly for the first time. Her poetry included a piece “Kevin Lives,” a tribute to her late friend Kevin Diaz, and to all members of Chicago and her community (63rd street in Chicago) who have died of gun violence. In her poem, she calls for the state to provide communities with more resources, radically imagining what Kevin’s and others’ lives could be, and what racial justice should look like for those living in the South Side of Chicago. At the end of the poem, the crowd stood up to applaud. Cristal felt “very humbled because the standing ovation was not for me, but rather every kid who has died on the streets.” You can watch Cristal’s moving performance on her LinkedIn page (Content Warning: Gun Violence).

“One thing that is certain is that I will always stay true to my beliefs, my culture, and my community.”

Being a Co-Chair of BLWS has meant a lot to Cristal. She sees it as a way to pay forward the groundwork of the summit’s creators. She was welcomed into this space and believes it’s only right to continue to usher in the next generation of Black Latina and Afro Latina leaders. While she is uncertain of where her future will lead her, she knows that she wants to play a role in building a Chicago in which “black and brown kids know that they matter and that their existence is important.” With unwavering conviction she adds, “One thing that is certain is that I will always stay true to my beliefs, my culture, and my community.”

 *For this piece we use “womxn” intentionally to semantically untether gendered titles and identities from “man” and to advocate for greater inclusivity in gender equity movements for people with marginalized genders, including transgender and gender nonconforming people.

Cristal Caballero is a Junior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign majoring in Political Science with a minor in Global Studies and a concentration in Human Rights. She hails from the Chicago Lawn/Gage Park neighborhoods of Chicago. In addition to being an artist-activist, she enjoys playing soccer and creating her own stickers, keychains, and poems that encompass her various identities. You can find more of her artwork on her Instagram page @c.crstl.

As her Organic Chemistry class comes to an end, Ceidy Ovalle closes her computer and heads upstairs. She has an hour before Biology starts, and she hopes to use the time to tutor her nine-year-old brother, who has autism and ADHD, and answer any questions he might have about his school work. After Biology is her Spanish Writing class, and after Spanish Writing, Ceidy is going to drive her mom to work. Then, after all of that, her day will really start to get busy with homework, attending office hours, Science Writing class, and more tutoring before Ceidy eventually returns to pick her mom up from work at 1:00 in the morning.

Like many of our Scholars whose colleges and universities have moved to virtual classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ceidy has returned to Chicago and is stepping up as a leader at home while learning to navigate a new online system of classes and coursework. She’s maintained excellent grades in all of her classes, and she’s determined to be there for her family during difficult times. “It’s been very challenging,” Ceidy says. “But I am definitely glad that I’m able to spend this time with my family.”

As a freshman Biology major and Spanish minor at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, Ceidy felt like she was just starting to adjust to life on campus when she and her fellow classmates had to pack up their belongings and head home for the remainder of the semester. At Denison, Ceidy was incredibly involved on campus and an expert at finding resources and support. She was a wellness ambassador at the school’s clinic, a teaching assistant, a research assistant, Secretary of the multicultural organization La Fuerza Latina, a Posse Scholar, a Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar, and a Chicago Scholar. She frequently went to the library and attended study groups. Now, she studies in the basement at home, attends virtual office hours, and has video calls with friends and lab partners.

“I was very homesick my first semester, and I was just exploring the resources on campus. I was discovering new places to study or to hang out with friends,” Ceidy says. “Now, it’s just completely different. Studying is different, doing homework is different. I’m navigating a new system regarding my science labs and tests. But I’m managing it well, and I’m motivated to persevere.”

By far, the biggest change in Ceidy’s life has been adding her responsibilities at home to her already busy college schedule. But her family, especially her relationship with her younger brother, keeps her motivated. “I come from a low-income family, and I’m a first-generation college student. I want to be able to set an example for my little brother. He has a lot of difficulties in school because he does have ADHD and autism,” Ceidy says. “He talks about how he wants to be an engineer and work with cars. I want to be a role model for him and show him that he can do it.”

On top of the hours spent tutoring her younger brother every day, Ceidy drives her mom to and from her job, where she cleans and sanitizes offices in Chicago. Because both of her parents have preexisting health conditions, Ceidy does all of her family’s grocery shopping to help minimize her parents’ possible exposure to COVID-19.

When asked how she is able to balance all of her responsibilities and excel in her classes, Ceidy points to the people who are there for her. “I feel like I have amazing supporters, amazing friends, and I have a Chicago Scholars mentor and also a Posse mentor that I can reach out to whenever I need help.” Ceidy says. “I feel like having that strong support system has really helped.”

But at the end of the day, it’s Ceidy’s natural leadership and ability to preserve that allows her to be there for her family while transitioning to online classes. Her dreams for the future are clear — she wants to become a bilingual Physician Assistant so that she can give back to those in need of medical help, just like medical professionals have done for her family throughout her life. “My goals aren’t only mine,” Ceidy says. “They are the product of two strong individuals — my parents — who came to the United States so I could become a successful and thoughtful leader. My journey is just starting.”

When the pandemic began, our first plan of action was to survey our 2,000 College Scholars about their needs. The top requested supports regarding their careers were around job search, managing finances, and overall adjustment. When asked to describe how they feel about the job search process, Scholars shared the following words, “behind, stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, frustrated,” and more.

“Initially, I thought I had more time to secure a job and was looking at the east-coast market. However, since the COVID-19 outbreak my priorities have changed.”

The survey results also revealed how Scholars are coping with the impacts of being unexpectedly uprooted from their campuses and the challenges they are facing while completing their academic year online. While the impact of COVID-19-related college and university closures have impacted all students, we have seen a disproportionate impact on low-income, first-generation students, and students of color. Our Scholars are also feeling anxiety as their summer internships have either been canceled or transitioned to virtual platforms. As one Scholar wrote to us, “initially, I thought I had more time to secure a job and was looking at the east-coast market. However, since the COVID-19 outbreak my priorities have changed.”

Based on Scholars’ needs, we developed a series of webinars related to career and leadership amidst COVID-19. Planned webinar topics include searching for a job during uncertain times, virtual interviewing, leveraging strengths and competencies, and bi-weekly coaching sessions. We are also creating and sharing career development tips and resources weekly. You can view the first webinar, “Job Search Strategies in Uncertain Times” on our YouTube page.

“Due to COVID-19, my summer plans were cancelled recently, but I’m hopeful to now be able to use the summer to explore more in terms of my career,” one Scholar wrote. “I’m taking this time to find experiences that would allow me to explore new fields that I’m interested in.”

Despite these challenges, we continue to encourage our Scholars to apply for professional opportunities that will set them on a trajectory to career success and happiness. Many of our Scholars are staying positive and focusing on best ways to use this time to grow professionally, “due to COVID-19, my summer plans were cancelled recently, but I’m hopeful to now be able to use the summer to explore more in terms of my career,” one Scholar wrote. “I’m taking this time to find experiences that would allow me to explore new fields that I’m interested in.”

Summer offers the opportunity for Scholars to complete meaningful internships. For many of our college graduating seniors, this time typically marks the beginning of their careers. Internships as well as your first job after graduation are crucial experiences that can influence career pathways. Beyond gaining the hard skills and industry specific experiences; internships are also opportunities for students to grow their networks and find mentors who can offer life-long career guidance and support. Especially for low-income, first-generation students, these internships provide a critical pathway to upward mobility and financial security that supports their growth as leaders in their communities.

A virtual internship or remote role may be the best option for our college students right now. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 36% of companies have transitioned their internships virtually, and 34% have implemented a delayed start date. Virtual internships allow for adaptability for student schedules and serve as a great option for valuable experience. Although they require a bit more intentional planning and structured communication, they are an important option to consider during this time. Chicago Scholars is happy to work collaboratively with your company or organization to design a meaningful and quality virtual experience. We are happy to share best practices and offer support along the way.

There are so many other ways to show your support for Chicago’s young leaders:

• We are looking for career partners to host our Scholars for summer internships and cultivate talent that will constitute our future’s workforce and leadership. Learn more about partnering with us.

• Consider hiring a Scholar for a part time role or micro-internship. Relevant work can help young people gain valuable experiences and build their skill sets.

• Chicago Scholars has many ways for your employees to engage and support talented young leaders. If you would like to directly support and empower Scholars as they prepare for the hiring process and position themselves for future opportunities, please contact Sasha Pena.

• Help our Scholars achieve their dreams by making a financial contribution.

If you are interested in any of the opportunities above email us a teamlead@chicagoscholars.org.

Through intentional collaboration, we can work together to support our young diverse talent during this unprecedented time.

Sasha Pena currently serves as the Director of Career and Leadership Development at Chicago Scholars, where she oversees key career programming that help Scholars explore careers, develop as leaders, and expand their networks. Sasha is eager to eliminate systemic barriers for under-served students through her use of her strengths as a connector, resource manager, and program developer. She is a Latino Policy Forum Multicultural Leadership Academy Fellow (2019) and a current Surge Institute Fellow. She is a proud Chicagoan and Chicago Public Schools Graduate. 

It’s a balmy summer day in Chicago and roughly 600 newly minted Chicago Scholars take a reprieve from the heat and funnel into a cool auditorium at Illinois Institute of Technology. The room sparks with nervous excitement as they focus their attention on the day’s presentations. It’s New Scholar Orientation, an annual event where Scholars learn all about our seven-year program: college counseling, career and leadership development, and more.

The conversation pivots to mentorship. Scholars are told stories about infamous mentor/mentee relationships like Valerie Jarrett and Barack Obama, and even Yoda and Luke Skywalker (this year may even feature a Baby Yoda extended storyline). There’s a pause. The back doors open, and the auditorium is filled with cheers as nearly 200 Mentors from Chicago’s professional community storm the room to meet their new mentees.

Although New Scholar Orientation will be virtual this year, it will include a chance for Mentors and Scholars to first meet online. After all, mentorship is at the core of what we do at Chicago Scholars. Mentorship offers a powerful resource for youth seeking guidance as they enter college, start their career, and when making important life decisions. The impact is even greater for young adults who face opportunity gaps. Even as U.S. high school and college graduates reach record highs, students of color and those from low-income and first-generation backgrounds still lag behind their white and wealthier peers.

Studies show that mentorship can offer a powerful boost for these students. For example, young adults who face an opportunity gap but have a mentor are 55% more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor (The Mentoring Effect, 2014). Beyond college, mentorship prepares young adults for their careers by helping them set career goals and taking the steps to realize them.

Having a mentor means having someone “walk with you through your journeys in life. They are people that help you see the things in yourself that you’re too blind to see.”

At Chicago Scholars, we offer a two-year mentorship program that supports Scholars through the college application process, their transition to college, and throughout their freshmen year. However, many of our Scholars and Mentors find that their bonds last a lifetime. For Marquionna Gordon, a Chicago Scholar and graduating senior at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, having a mentor means having someone “walk with you through your journeys in life. They are people that help you see the things in yourself that you’re too blind to see.”

During her junior year of college in 2019, Marquionna had the opportunity to study abroad and explore different engineering techniques at the globe’s leading companies. Despite encouragement from a university professor and the curiosity that international travel piqued in her, she still faced the decision with trepidation. “I was afraid at first to travel internationally,” she confided. “Before going to college, I had only been to one other state.” Also weighing on her mind was the financial burden of the trip and concerns from her family who were also strangers to international travel. Looking for guidance she reached out to her Chicago Scholars Mentor, Nicole Granacki.

Nicole is no stranger to travel and has enjoyed a mostly international career. She currently works for IES Abroad, an organization that educates students to become global leaders through study abroad and internship experiences. After discussing Marquionna’s desire to study abroad and the financial challenges looming over her, Nicole jumped into action and advised her to apply to Chicago Scholars’ Educational and Leadership Development (ELD) Opportunity Grant—which provides financial support for college Scholars to engage in educational and leadership opportunities—and wrote her letter of recommendation. Throughout the process, Nicole touted the benefits of abroad experiences and encouraged Marquionna to have the confidence and determination to make her dreams a reality.

Marquionna was awarded the ELD grant, coincidentally on her birthday, and was excited to find that the grant covered the entire cost. She was ready to embark on a twelve-day whirlwind tour of France, Italy, and Scotland. Beyond the opportunity to network with the globes most esteemed engineering practitioners, she also was able to “learn a new language, try new food, and learn other people’s points of view on life and America.” She left her abroad experience with an appreciation for global diversity and a newfound zeal for travel.

For Nicole, being there for Marquionna exemplifies what mentorship is all about — “having someone there to support you who is invested in your success, and who wants to help you dream big.”

Interested in mentoring with us?

Marquionna Gordon is a graduating senior at North Carolina A&T State University and is studying for her MCATs as she prepares for a career in medicine. 

Nicole Granacki is a Program Manager at IES Abroad. She has been a mentor with Chicago Scholars for over 10 years, co-founded the Chicago Scholars Associate Board, and has also been honored as Chicago Scholar’s 2019 35 Under 35.

While we at Chicago Scholars value global experiences and learning, we are aligned with the Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization’s recommendations to practice physical distancing measures. These include limiting non-essential travel. We are hopeful that global efforts to care for others will scale back the spread of COVID-19 so that we and our Scholars can enjoy the benefits that global travel has on knowledge, empathy, and leadership.

Dear Chicago Scholars Family,

The events of this last week and weekend weigh heavy on me. In addition to being an advocate for social justice and the CEO of Chicago Scholars, I am processing these events as a mom. My daughter is an artist, and last week she shared with me a picture she drew of a young black girl standing in front of blue and red police lights, her fist raised in the air, and surrounded by the names of the Black lives lost to senseless and reprehensible acts of violence.

While I am so proud of her artistic ability and her ability to comprehend what is happening in our country, it makes me incredibly sad that my 11-year old’s hope and innocence is being stolen. That same hope and innocence is being stolen from our Scholars and from Black youth all across our nation. I’m sad. I’m angry. But I’m also determined.

We all grow up believing and even teaching our children the tenants of a social contract that is supposed to exist in America. That social contract tells us that our hard work and college degrees would provide us some semblance of equity. But the events of the past weeks have been a painful reminder that this social contract does not exist for many of us — especially our Black and Brown students.

In order to build a future society that works for everyone, we need leaders who have determination, talent, and compassion. I believe that systemic change in our country cannot happen until more people of color from marginalized communities are in positions of leadership and power. We need more leaders like our Scholars.

What’s happening across the country is about social justice, and education is social justice. We know that well educated people have access to better jobs with higher pay and raise healthier children. However, this work is about more than that. We must account for the fact that our Scholars face traumatic experiences throughout the course of life from harassment, poverty, racism, and violence. That’s why Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access are so important to our philosophy of change.

We must start recognizing the differences in our lived experiences in America if we truly want that social contract to exist for all. In the coming weeks and months, as we move to rebuild our neighborhoods, and rewrite that social contract for all, we have the opportunity to do it in a more just and equitable way. Black Lives Matter. We need more of our citizens, our organizations, our policymakers, and our corporations to say it. And we need to act on it.

Scholars and Alums, we see you and we are here for you. You are the leaders our city and our country are seeking, and we are determined to make sure you have the resources, support, and opportunities to get there. There is so much more work to be done.

Dominique Jordan Turner

CEO, Chicago Scholars

After months of networking, follow-ups, job shadowing, and patience, Malcolm Fox was recently hired by the McDonald’s Corporation, landing what he states is his dream job. Malcolm is a Chicago Scholar and a Cubs Scholar, and is a senior at Howard University. We had the opportunity to talk to Malcolm over email about what it took to reach this point in his career.

What is your official title, and when will you start?

I am joining McDonald’s Corporation as an Operations Associate. I was assigned to the Denver, Colorado, Field Office, and I will be starting in August 2021, after graduating from Howard University.

What does it mean to you to get this job?

It means the world to me. I am a person who is heavily involved in the community so joining a company that not only supports that, but has similar goals to consistently make our world a better place is extremely exciting. I began working to put myself in position to receive this opportunity in February of 2018, so to see my dream come true has done nothing but motivate me to continue to aspire high. From working to raise my GPA a full point in two semesters, to countless emails sent to McDonald’s employees, I finally have my foot in the door, and I can’t wait to get started!

How did Chicago Scholars help you to land this position?

Back in 2018, I attended a Resume & Networking workshop while home for the holidays that was hosted by Chicago Scholars. At that workshop, I had the opportunity to connect with David Small, who happened to be a former employee of McDonald’s. After informing him of my plans to switch my major to Supply Chain Management, he informed me that he had a good friend who currently was one of the VP’s of the Supply Chain department at McDonald’s. He connected us via email, which eventually led to me being invited to a job shadowing at the McDonald’s Headquarters in Chicago. After being blown away during the job shadowing, I knew that McDonald’s was the company I wanted to join after graduating. I continued to connect and network with employees I met during the shadow, as well as with employees that would accept my request on LinkedIn, which ultimately led me to where I am today!

What advice do you have to give to Scholars about landing your dream job at the McDonald’s Corporation?

I have multiple pieces of advice that I believed helped me land this position.

1. Strive High – Initially, I was under the impression that it would be too hard to land a position at McDonald’s. I had limited job experience, a non-competitive GPA, and didn’t know exactly what career path I wanted to take. Through countless prayers, talks with mentors, and dedication, I was able to raise my GPA a full point, add two job experiences to strengthen my resume, launch a business (Gratitude Chicago), and mature in ways that ultimately prepared me to be able to accept this offer. If you want something, find out what you need to do in order to put yourself in the best position to receive it! Don’t settle for anything! If your goals seem too easy, then you’re not striving as high as you can.

2. Fix your Focus – If you want to get somewhere you’ve never been, you’re going to have to do something you’ve never done. For me, that included narrowing my focus to only the things that mattered (school, family, and work) and block out all distractions. You must remember that your focus determines your reality. With that understanding, you will put yourself in position to succeed!

3. Have an Effective Relationship with Your Mentors – I have countless number of mentors that I rely on. I have mentors that I go to for professional advice, encouraging words, etc. Mentors can be extremely effective and impactful on your future success. It is extremely beneficial to have a more experienced professional in your corner to give you advice and help you connect with others.

4. Attend the Workshops/Events Hosted by Chicago Scholars – I can humbly admit that during my freshman and sophomore years I got sidetracked. I was too focused on hanging out and enjoying my freedom away from home. With that being said, I wasn’t paying enough attention to the things that mattered. After a life-changing experience, I fixed my focus. My first step to refocusing myself was to attend the Resume & Networking event that was being hosted by Chicago Scholars. If I never attended this workshop, there’s a possibility that I wouldn’t be where I am today because I met the individual who offered me this job opportunity at that event. I share this to get you to understand not to make the same mistakes that I did and to take full advantage of the amazing opportunities that are afforded to you as a Chicago Scholar.

When I was a child, I would ride in the car with my parents and see different parts of the city. While I didn’t know why I felt compelled to point out various buildings, I knew what I wanted to do with them – turn them into youth centers for the community. Before I knew what leadership meant, I knew I wanted to change things for the better. And as I grew up, I did that work at every turn.

My first job in high school was as a youth T-Ball instructor and tutor for a program called Kids With A Positive Attitude. Then I served as a youth leader in volunteer programs in my church, and in college, I mentored in the Columbia Missouri YMCA as part of a program with my fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi. When I graduated, I taught youth bible study and summer camp with my church New Faith Baptist Church International, in Matteson, before joining the mentoring organization 100 Black Men of Chicago. I continued to do this work serving on the Local School Council at King College Prep and eventually on numerous non-profit boards, all focused on helping youth. Mentorship and youth leadership has always been the work I was purposed to do. I’m honored to continue it as the next CEO of Chicago Scholars. 

Our city needs leaders to step up now more than ever. We are failing our young men of color. The data and daily headlines confirm it. We cannot afford to wait any longer. Mentorship and exposure, coupled with education and career opportunities, are critical components of changing things for the better. For the past 25 years at Chicago Scholars, we have done that work and done it very well. Now we need to do more. We must deepen personalized engagement and expand our technical capabilities to reach more young people. We must continue to work with our College and Corporate partners to create inclusive environments welcoming to our Scholars. We must prepare the world for our Scholars while we continue to prepare our Scholars for the world. We must commit wholeheartedly to READI (Racial Justice. Equity. Accessibility. Diversity. Inclusion) work because it is essential to the success of our community.

I am honored to lead Chicago Scholars. I am our Scholars. As the first black male in my family to graduate from college, I represent my ancestor’s wildest dreams come true, and I represent a focal point of what our Scholars can become when given opportunity and access. I, however, never get to this point without a supportive family and parents who sacrificed to ensure that I had every opportunity they could provide. For my village and their support, sacrifice, and prayers, I am forever grateful. That’s why I recognize that Chicago Scholars must continue to be that supportive family for other young people who may not have the same supports. More now than ever, our organization must be strong both internally and externally; we must be financially healthy and well-connected in the community and corporate sectors; we must always put the Scholars at the center of our decisions to best help them navigate and thrive in a post-pandemic world.

I’m excited to be the person chosen to lead the next phase of work at Chicago Scholars. And I’m very ready to get started. We need you to join us; we need you to work in partnership with us to change this city and country for the better. We have hard work to do, but I know we can do so together. We will create a vibrant Chicago powered by diverse leaders from every neighborhood. This is the way forward. We owe it to our young people, to our next generation of leaders, to get this right. Let’s get to work.

Last year in March, Victor Luis Garcia had the first few pages of his children’s book, Alphie—a work in progress—on display at the Illinois High School Art Exhibition, and was recognized as one of their Top 20 Scholarship Recipients. Victor is one of our Chicago Scholars’ Ambassadors, and is currently a freshman at the University of Michigan. Today, in honor of Children’s Book Week, we followed up with Victor on his life since the exhibition, and on the progress of his book.

– Victor Luis Garcia – Chicago Scholars Class of 2024

The last time we spoke, you had just received an award for the art from this book. What have you been up to since then?

I started my first year at the University of Michigan Stamps School of Art and Design! I don’t need to pick a major within Visual Arts because the Stamps curriculum allows for, and encourages, students to experiment with a variety of mediums. Since then, I have been working with a nonprofit called Healthy Hood Chicago under the Mural Movement team, where we have been working closely with a variety of Chicago-based artists to beautify underserved communities. We have worked on two Black and Brown Unity walls, a mural in memory of Vanessa Guillen, a mural to honor those we have lost to Covid-19, a mural in San Diego for a children’s play area for those who are seeking asylum—which was the first time I got to actually paint a mural instead of assist artists—and we are currently working on a mural project to honor Adam Toledo, where we will then have a vigil to go alongside it.

What inspired you to create Alphie?

As a Queer Chicano Artist, I am passionate about exploring identities and intersectionality through my work. I want to tell the unique and important individual stories of minority groups that don’t often get appropriately told in the media. Something I needed to hear at a younger age was that it was okay to be gay. I internalized homophobia at such a young age, and it affected my personal development as I got older. It doesn’t sit well with me knowing how common this experience is within the queer community, especially knowing that it is still relevant today. I needed to find a way to eliminate the self hatred queer youth have towards themselves as this demographic has the highest suicide rates. I find it heartbreaking knowing there are people who never lived a day of their life being their true, authentic selves.

The messages taught in your book, or at least in its concept, seemed like it could apply to everyone. Why direct it towards children as opposed to other people around your age or older?

I wanted to make this children’s book as a resource to be used for younger audiences to engage with. The overall goal of this book is to teach the importance of self love and acceptance. If I knew at a younger age how liberating being your authentic self could be, I would have done it way sooner! The benefit of this book is having adults read this book to children. The book covers heavy issues of anxiety and disownment within a family. Being queer in today’s society isn’t easy, and the last thing I wanted to do was depict an untruthful story. When a cisgendered heterosexual reads my book to children, they will also gain a deeper understanding of queer folk by seeing what goes on behind the scenes. Everyone gets to learn something, and together it will slowly wash away ignorance and preconceived ideas of the LGBTQ+ community.

What are your hopes for your book?

Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has really slowed down my process in publishing this work, but I do hope to one day publish it!

What are your plans for the future, academically? Artistically?

I plan to graduate with a Bachelor in Fine Arts and a Minor in Marketing. Although I am unaware if I will continue children’s books, I know I will still work with broader themes of identity and intersectionality. I have a few big plans for my future. I plan to one day open up an Art Museum on the east side of Chicago in order to bring resources to the communities in the area. Another goal I have is to open up a Maker Space which will allow for creative youth, who don’t have a studio space nor the art materials to be creative, to explore with equipment they might not have access to at home. This space will allow for youth across the city of Chicago to come together, establish a community, and create meaningful relationships. Overall, these two goals are similar in the grand idea of providing free resources to youth in order to keep students off the streets and somewhere safe where they can engage with visual art!

How did The New York Times feature come about?

Kind of, I guess, randomly you could say. I occasionally look at The New York Times and read their opinion section because I started writing about a year ago and I figured reading opinion essays from some of the most prominent writers is a good way to learn the craft a bit. One day there was this little call for submissions from readers. They asked readers to discuss how they felt about the George Floyd case a year after his death. So, I just submitted, not thinking anything of it, because hundreds of thousands of people read The New York Times, and about two or three days later, they emailed me and said, “We’d like to use your response. As long as you give us the okay, we’ll go ahead and publish it.”

That’s incredible! And you only just started writing last year? 

Yeah, I actually started writing, at least partially, in response to George Floyd’s death. I think it was a culmination of a lot of things: growing up Black, being around nine or 10 years old when Trayvon Martin died, and just having a lot of things to say, but not necessarily knowing how to articulate it, and I think that finally came to a head about a year ago. I ended up getting published in the Chicago Sun-Times and then the Chicago Tribune to start. I just took that as kind of a reason to keep going—people saw my writing as valuable and my words as having meaning. So, I kept writing, and I’m still writing today.

Your commentary piece in the Chicago Tribune is about the moment that you realized the world viewed you—a young Black male—as a threat. It also offers up equity in civics education as a path forward for our country. Why is education so important and how do you see it as having the power to create change?

I’ve been raised in a household where education was the top priority. I continue to believe that education is the way to change lives. It’s the way to change moral opinions. I think education can shape a nation. It can build or break a nation. I guess that goes to the point of how critical race theory is being debated today, because people recognize the power in education and are willing to fight tooth and nail to be educated in a certain way. I think that is the way to shift perspective, especially when it comes to racial issues. You can’t change a perspective if you don’t know that you’re living with tunnel vision. You can’t change your mind if you don’t know what the other opinion is. And so I think change is possible by broadening people’s viewpoints with education, giving them the opportunity to explore the history of the United States and to explore how they have amassed power and privilege.

In The New York Times, you talk about how 52 years have gone by since your grandmother turned 18, and that her experiences growing up were similar to yours. Can you expand on a few of those experiences? 

I actually wrote an article about it in The TRiiBE, which is a local magazine. I reached out to my grandmother because I figured it was quite ironic that both 2020 and 1968 were years where there was a groundswell of activism in the US, and it felt like the future of the country was very precarious. There was a lot of chaos, both good and bad, and that’s a very stressful time to become an adult. So of course, I looked to my grandmother, who had lived through a similar experience before, for advice. She talked a lot about her decision whether or not to engage in activism, and whether or not it would be productive for her. And that really informed my decision to engage in writing as a form of activism.

She told me that it seemed like there was news everywhere about what was going on in the world. For her, it was Bobby Kennedy getting assassinated, the Vietnam War protests, the election, things of that sort. For me, it was also the election. It was the murder of George Floyd. Climate change as well, and the wildfires in California. These huge events informed both of our opinions and our perspectives on life and really shifted the way we viewed ourselves and how we related to our outside world. For me, that meant really focusing on my studies because I figured that investing time in my studies now meant that I’d be able to have a huge impact later on. For her, that meant the same thing. But I think the one difference between us was that I also focused on writing and felt a deep desire and deep urge to get involved in the activism and the now, because it felt like the moment could not be passed up. You can’t just live through that moment and not have done anything. And so that’s what pushed me to get involved. She also felt that urge but decided to stick with her studies.

What does it feel like to know that a lot of the issues that we’ve gone through in this country and in Chicago are still prevalent to this day, more than fifty years later? 

Of course, it is saddening to know that things have not changed, but at the same time, I know the nature of change is hard to pin down. Things could not change for 50 years, and then suddenly change in the next one year. So, even though there is cause to be cynical or perhaps pessimistic about things not changing, I also hold out hope that things will change. I think that 2020 and even 2021 have been evidence that things are changing. There’s a lot of pressure on political and economic systems. I think it’s pressure that we haven’t really seen before, except perhaps in 1968. And so, I’m excited. I’m excited about the future even though the past gives me no reason to be excited. I have hope, and I’m going to continue to have hope because I think that’s the only thing you can do. Hope and get involved in the now.

The fact that you are only 18 is astounding! Where do you picture yourself in social justice advocacy in three years? 10 years? 30 years?

Well, I guess I’ll start by saying I know I’m 18, but I feel much older. It’s hard to say where I see myself in the next three years or even 10 or 30 years. There was one point where I wanted to be an entrepreneur and that was the way that I would push for social justice: through my dollars. Now, I would’ve never thought that I’d be writing, but here I am writing. I’ve also been interested in politics for a long time. So I think for me to try and determine what I’ll be doing even tomorrow is an exercise in futility. Because honestly, I could not tell you. My interests change. But I do think my passion for social justice and for civics will always be there. I’m excited to figure out whatever form that takes. Perhaps I go from entrepreneurship to politics, to protesting on the streets in grassroots organizations to writing for a newspaper. But I honestly couldn’t tell you and I think that’s okay. I think it’s okay to not know and to figure it out, and I’m excited to try and figure it out in the future.

Finally, what advice do you have for our readers? 

Your voice matters. I think it’s really important to recognize that in a democracy. You have the power to affect change, you just have to commit to doing it. Once you recognize that your voice matters, that’s incredibly empowering, and you’ll start to see doors open up to you and see things happen that you would have never expected to happen.

Rachel Nguyen, a Chicago Scholar and senior at Walter Payton College Prep, has been interviewed by both Fox 32 Chicago and CBS Chicago about her family’s story and her involvement in Chicago Scholars. Rachel shared the following speech at our 25th Anniversary Celebration in October 2021.

When I think about the power of education, I think about family dinners. I’ve lived in Edgewater for my entire life with my parents, my grandparents, and my two younger sisters. Food has always been a prominent part of my culture and my roots. However, we’ve never really had the chance to enjoy the food together. We’ve never had sit-down dinners.

My parents came to the United States in 1975 as refugees from Vietnam, and they have worked extremely hard all of my life to make sure our family has everything we need. My mother is a nail technician, and she works from nine in the morning to eight at night, almost 12 hour shifts. My father owned a restaurant called Simply It, located in Lincoln Park, for 14 years, and the demanding hours have resulted in many nights sleeping in the dining room chairs instead of his own bed. My parents have always left really early in the morning and come home late, and so I’ve been like a third parent to my younger sisters who are 11 and 5 years old.

Growing up, I always had meals by myself. But when I went to my friends’ houses for dinner, their parents worked 9-to-5’s, so it was easy to come together at the dinner table and share a nice meal. I’ve always dreamt of those sit-down dinners for my family in the future. And I know that education—a college degree and a well-paying job—is the way to get there.

When I started high school at Walter Payton College Prep, the idea of college was immediately thrown around. It was a bit of a culture shock—hearing names like Harvard, Columbia, Yale, and Stanford were foreign to me. At that age, I was like “I’m going to Truman for sure” because the City Colleges of Chicago were the only colleges I knew about. Other schools felt unrealistic for someone like me, a first-generation college student.

But I continued to work hard in school, to be there for my sisters, and my family. And I’m proud to stand before you tonight, and tell you that I just completed seven college admission interviews at Onsite earlier today. I interviewed at Pitzer College, Northeastern University, and Middlebury College, just to name a few. This was an extremely valuable opportunity, as I had the chance to speak to my regional admissions officers and provide a story beyond the numbers on my application, to provide a face to the essays that they would be reading. I am happy to announce that at Onsite, I was granted my very first acceptance to DePaul University, located in the heart of Chicago.

See Rachel on CBS Chicago

SCHOLAR TESTIMONIALS

“The Elevating Futures Scholarship has really given me the opportunity to focus on my academics as an engineering student at Purdue University while keeping the stress of financial burdens low my first year of college. I am grateful the EF scholarship caters to STEM majors and allows us to expose ourselves as scholars to our communities. This is a scholarship for anyone passionate about making a difference in the world through innovation and hard work. I definitely encourage fellow STEM students to apply!” —Chicago Scholar Sabine Hernandez

“The Elevating Futures Scholarship has really helped me by supporting me financially and enabling me to further pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management at Loyola University Chicago!” —Chicago Scholar Axel Hernandez

“To be a part of the Wentchner Scholars Program, it means being someone who’s passionate about learning, and not just learning, but using that knowledge for good, and making sure you give back to the community. This program definitely helps me mend the financial gap that was going to lead me to having to take out loans when it came to choosing a school.” —Chicago Scholar Julia Bafia

“Because of the Renaissance Scholarship, I get to focus on my studies and other school opportunities instead of having to worry about loans.” —Chicago Scholar Peter Podobinski

“Howard was my first choice, but I was almost unable to go because of financial restrictions. Then I got the Renaissance Scholarship which took a weight off. I decided on Howard an hour before the decision deadline, and I’m really happy I did!” —Chicago Scholar Kayla Cain

If you are a Scholar with a question about CS Scholarships, or if you are interested in sponsoring a scholarship for our students, please contact us at scholarships@chicagoscholars.org.

At Chicago Scholars, we believe that diversity is critical for the success of our organization. Reading the recent stories about Brian Flores, the former Miami Dolphins head coach who is suing the NFL for hiring discrimination, we were reminded of the issues within our own world: the lack of diversity among nonprofit leaders.

Our CEO, Jeffery Beckham Jr., recently wrote an article for NonProfit PRO that touches on the importance of diverse perspectives within an organization. Check it out!

When Giovanni Garcia looks back on how he spent his summer, his internship with Cars.com stands out. “This experience was invaluable to me,” Giovanni says. “I literally could not ask anyone in my family about an internship like this—I’m the first to experience it.”

A rising junior at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Giovanni had the opportunity to serve as the Associate Performance Manager Intern at Cars.com through the Emerge Summer Career and Leadership Program. Created in partnership with Invest for Kids and Chicago Scholars, Emerge pairs college students with career partners around Chicago for paid internships. This summer 51 Scholars were paired with 30 of Chicago’s top companies and organizations. Not only did Emerge Scholars gain first-hand job experience, they also expanded their networks by having a direct supervisor at their internship, an Emerge Coach at Chicago Scholars, and by spending time with other Emerge Scholars at Friday Growth Labs and networking events.

“I am very grateful for the support system at Cars.com. I was given a mentor on day one,” Giovanni says. “And through my internship, I have become more comfortable in a nine-to-five work environment.”

But Giovanni wasn’t the only Scholar who interned at Cars.com this summer. In fact, there were a total of nine Scholars at Cars.com. For D.V. Williams—the Chief People Officer at Cars.com, a member of the Chicago Scholars Board of Directors, and a Chicago Scholars Alum—it was important for the company to get involved in Emerge.

“Cars.com is focused on investing in next-generation talent through our internship program,” says D.V. “Our goal is to continue to invest in communities in which we work, and we have refocused our internship efforts around that theme. Partnering with Emerge was a natural fit due to the quality of the talent pool and its critical focus on talent development.”

Diana Sanchez was another Emerge Scholar at Cars.com. A rising sophomore at Stanford University, Diana gained professional experience that will add to her resume, and she expanded her network. “The principal items that I have gained from Emerge have been building my network early on,” Diana says. “In the beginning, I didn’t really dedicate much time to cultivating my resume or LinkedIn, but Emerge has really stressed this aspect as vital in building a network which has paid off for me. I have also been able to connect with people in the program, even if it was virtually. These interactions were meaningful in building a larger network.”

This was Emerge’s fourth summer connecting Chicago’s college students to internship opportunities. After hosting nine interns this summer, the talent of Chicago’s young people stands out to D.V. “More companies should get involved with the Emerge program mainly because of the quality of talent, and the rigor around the ongoing development of that talent. Some of our interns have stayed on with us, and are valuable additions to the culture and team at Cars.com.”

For more information on Emerge and to learn how you or your company can get involved, check out the resources below. Our Scholars also put together an Emerge blog, where they shared reflections on their internships and essays about their lives.

As people around the globe practice social-distancing measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19/coronavirus, many workplaces and schools have closed their doors and transitioned their employees and students to virtual work and learning. If you’re new to remote work, you may need to change some of your habits and routines to adapt to this new normal.

Remote work can come with unique challenges depending on your preferred work style, home space, available technology, and need for interpersonal connection. Even with its challenges, working from home offers unique opportunities to develop healthy boundaries between your personal and professional lives, build a sense of culture between classmates and colleagues, and maintain a growth mindset. Below are 8 tips for having a more fulfilling and productive remote working and learning experience.

FOLLOW A SET WORK SCHEDULE

When working from home, it’s easy to both under- and over-work. Setting and adhering to a predetermined schedule, including a start and end time, will help you segment your day and align your tasks and priorities accordingly. One of our College Scholars, Jeanpierre, recommends setting alarms to remind you of when you have scheduled classes and meetings.

KEEP YOUR MORNING ROUTINE

Even though you are not leaving your home, following your normal routine will help you get into a work-ready mindset. Adhering to a normal schedule can be beneficial to mental health and provide an anchor amidst continued uncertainty. We recommend you set an alarm, shower, dress up, and eat a hearty breakfast to jumpstart your day.

DESIGNATE A WORKSPACE

When working from home it’s important to identify a space where you can focus and get things done. This may be challenging in the current pandemic, especially for those who live in a full house with others who may be competing for internet bandwidth, meeting space, and in need of care. However, it’s still important to identify a space that can be yours and that you associate with productivity. It’s best to not confuse your work and leisure spaces and to keep the area clean as you would in the office or classroom.

MANAGE EXPECTATIONS

It’s important to be open and honest with your supervisors and professors about the challenges you may face working from home. For example, you might now be responsible for childcare or eldercare and may be unable to meet deadlines or work at the same schedule you normally do. It’s okay and healthy to state what your needs are during this time. As long as you are upfront about your situation, you, your colleagues, and/or your classmates can plan accordingly.

SCHEDULE BREAKS AND TIME FOR SPECIFIC TASKS

Know your organization’s or classroom’s policy on scheduled break times and take them. It’s best to not spend more than 15-20 minutes looking at your computer or phone at one time. Stretch, eat, socialize with friends, and exercise if you are able. Try apps like SmartBreak for Windows or TimeOut for Mac to schedule computer lock-out periods to ensure you are taking breaks! If your gym has been closed due to nationwide shutdowns, see if they are offering virtual or on-demand fitness classes.

TAKE YOUR SICK DAYS

Put your health first! It’s easy to work through sickness when you are remote. However, if you are feeling unwell, whether it is related to coronavirus or not, it’s important to give yourself time and space for a speedy recovery.