DUSABLE CAMPUS COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Our vision for Community Schools is “One Campus, One Community”

Currently offers numerous after school programs including:

  • STEPPING by Chicago Style Steppin’ is a dance style that originated in Chicago’s inner city during the early seventies and has now spread throughout many cities nationwide. Darryl and Donnie Davis continue the legacy of stepping and have become instrumental in providing authentic dance instruction to several studios, households, and groups across the country. Step classes at DuSable are designed to teach the basics of steppin’ and prepare students for intermediate and competitive levels. Davis’ company, PDP Productions, features 3 Instructional DVD’s and a Steppin’ music compilation CD.

  • SPOKEN WORD by Verbal Balance: is an awesome ensemble of poets, singers, and various neo soul artists that provide creative arts workshops. Students are exposed to various ‘spoken word’ techniques designed to teach students culturally relevant, age-appropriate, opportunities to creatively express themselves using various poetry styles and role plays. Students will have the opportunity to compete in Chicago’s Louder Than A Bomb (the largest youth poetry slam where thousands of young Chicagoans learn to hone their own skills as poets). M’reld is currently our main contact and lead poet.

  • HIP HOP YOGA by Mindful Practices Yoga Created the Yoga-Centered Wellness Curriculum (YCWC). YCWC is a progressive approach to improving student health through yoga-centered activities, Mindful Practice, and health and nutrition education, coupled with community outreach, and tailored to the needs of each school community.  Mindful Practices works closely with each school to create an individualized health and wellness plan that responds to the community’s need.  YCWC curricula have been implemented at diverse elementary schools and high schools in the Chicago area, as part of the school day or as an after school offering. At DuSable, group instruction is provided weekly and infuses physical fitness with proven relaxation techniques.

  • ENVIRO CLUB by The Cob Connection offers school-based initiatives to promote green living and healthy lifestyles. The Cob Connection builds cob (e.g. adobe-like mixture of clay, sand and straw) structures and develop skills and discover resources that enhance communities. And Chicago Conservation Corp (C3)

  • CAMPUS NEWS by Youth Communications trains teens in writing, photography, and illustration as they produce New Expression, a teen newspaper. Interested DuSable students are instructed weekly by a tandem of Columbia College students teaching the basics of journalism while allowing students to write and produce their own school newsletter.

  • TUTORING Homework Club and Recovery Room are campus-wide initiatives that will serve to support students’ academic needs. In partnership with the counseling department and Community Schools team, this intervention serves as an additional tool to assist in our school’s academic on-track goals. Homework club is designed to be a voluntary center where students can utilize after school tutors and teacher assistance to improve their grades. The Recovery Room offers more intensive students attention for those students who are identified as “at-risk” for failing core courses.

  • NEW - INTRAMURALS Have you ever wanted to play a sport, but just didn't have the time to commit? Well, we hear you and here's what we're doing about it.T he intramurals program will offer students an opportunity to participate in various sports throughout the school year. Stop by room 118 to find out how to register.

  • NEW - ROBOTICS This new DCCS offering invites you to explore and compete in the world of robotics.  As a team, students will build and program a robot using the popular Tetrix kit and compete in the IIT FIRST Tech Challenge tournament hosted by Illinois Institute of Technology on December 13, 2008.

  • NEW - CAMPUS CHOIR The DuSable Campus Choir is a school-wide opportunity whereby students will sing an acapella piece, practice using their own instruments, and demonstrate three different styles of music in 2-3 minutes. Program meets every Thursday from 3:15 - 5:15p in room 266.

WHO SUPPORTS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS?

WE ALL DO!

MGRF—The Marilyn G. Rabb Foundation-is a direct service foundation and the fiscal agent/lead partner agency for the DuSable Campus. 

Located at DuSable Campus, in Room 118 includes our

Resource Coordinator, Chasda Martin chasda@mgrf.org and

Program Assistant, Shiji Mathew shiji@mgrf.org

OC—Oversight Committee—A governance body comprised of one student, parent, teacher, and principal from each school. Policy and fiscal decisions as to how Community Schools is managed at DuSable Campus are governed by our Oversight Committee.  Oversight Committee includes,

Bronzeville Scholastic Institute:
Dr. Latunja O. Williams, Principal; Coach Thomas, Coach; Lucrica Kennedy, Parent; & Cierre Beecher, Student;

DHW Prep:
Diann Weston, Principal; Karen Williams, Parent; Kathryn Todd, Student; & Beatrice Miles, Teacher

The MGR Foundation:
Martin Aramburu, Director of Programs; Vesna K. Stelcer, Executive Director; & Chasda Martin, Resource Coordinator

Linda Layne, DuSable Campus Manager and Allen Bearden, CHSRI

PAB-Parent Advisory Board—coalition of parents representing each school in partnership that contribute to the overall development and sustainability of the Community School.  Parents – are you interested in being on our Parent Advisory Board, click here to Get Involved

Polk Bros–The Polk Bros Foundation—has provided us the opportunity to develop a fully functional community school at DuSable Campus providing three years of funding, after which it is our shared responsibility to continue the vision of Community Schools.