CHA Summer Programming Connects Youth Residents with Workforce Development, Higher Education, and Career Pathways
The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) today announced its 2026 summer programming lineup. This year, paid summer opportunities have reached 2,307 CHA residents ages 13-24, offering early exposure to career and education pathways while helping curb summer learning loss.
Among the programs available this summer is the PeacePlayers Chicago, a youth development initiative offered through a partnership between CHA, PeacePlayers Chicago and Intentional Sports. The program offers a unique blend of basketball, leadership development, career readiness, and peace building for male students ages 13-15. They earn a $600 stipend for their participation.
It was so successful last year that it has expanded to a second location in 2026.
For 14-year-old CHA resident Charles Morris, who hopes to become an engineer and build homes in his community one day, the appeal is straightforward.
“This program gives young people like me a chance to stay off the streets and stay committed to something positive,” said Charles Morris. “The coaches are great, the foundation they’ve built is real, and I’m looking forward to meeting new people and new coaches this summer.”
The PeacePlayers is just one of CHA’s several summer programs. Many of CHA’s summer programs kicked off last week and most last through July 31.
The 2026 CHA summer programming slate includes:
Become an Animator
In this six-week, hands-on intensive, participants ages 15-24 learn the full animation pipeline—from concept development and character design to storyboarding, animatics, production, sound, and final exhibition—with mentorship from professional artists and DePaul creatives. DePaul’s animation program is nationally recognized, ranked #13 in the U.S. and #1 in the Midwest by Animation Career Review. Participants will build a portfolio-ready project and explore career pathways in animation, game design, VFX, motion graphics, advertising, and digital content creation.
Become a Filmmaker
In this award-winning program, female participants ages 15-20 learn every step of filmmaking—from story development and producing to camera operation, lighting, sound, and editing. Youth will work in small groups supported by film students and professional filmmakers to complete their films. The short films they create will be submitted to festivals and competitions nationwide. Participants will also meet industry experts and go on experiential field trips, including a tour of Cinespace, the largest film studio outside of Hollywood. Partner is DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts in the College of Computing and Digital Media.
Be Your Own Boss*
During the Future Founders’ Be Your Own Boss program, high school students will work together to build a startup solution to a problem you are passionate about solving. Through a mixture of virtual sessions, in-person team meetings, and site visits, students will be led through an accelerated entrepreneurial process with the guidance of real entrepreneurs, innovative business professionals, and Future Founders staff. From learning how to identify opportunities and find your first customers, to building prototypes and pitching your idea to investors, students will walk away from this internship with a set of skills that will prove valuable for a lifetime.
CHA Student Internship Program
The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) 2026 Summer Internship Program is a 10-week program that is designed to provide opportunities for college students (both undergraduate and graduate) to participate in a professional environment, building workplace skills and gaining valuable experience in preparation for future employment. Participants in the internship work a five day per week schedule of 40 hours per week excluding designated holidays.
Day Camp Counselor in Training
The Chicago Park District and the CHA have collaborated to provide teens 15 years of age with a summer opportunity as a Day Camp Counselor in Training (CIT). Teens will gain leadership and financial literacy training skills, enjoy fun challenges and unique perspectives from guest speakers. They will also learn about using Chicago parks safely all while keeping campers 6-12 years old active, engaged, and safe.
2026 Summer Mural Program*
A select group of young adults ages 18-24 will work alongside mural artist Dorian Sylvain to design and render an exterior large-scale painted mural on Hyde Park Art Center’s building. Sylvain will lead participants to develop artistic skills and explore their creative potential while working with Art Center staff and community to design a mural that resonates with the community. The young artists will also be exposed to other professional artists and public art throughout Chicago.
Learn and Earn: Career Connections
Students ages 13-15 can explore career fields like entrepreneurship, arts and technology, culinary, coding, healthcare and more through hands on projects and real-world experiences and make meaningful connections to academic subjects like math and reading. This program meets four days a week from 10am – 2pm with in-person and remote options. It’s a fun way to explore student interests, sharpen your reading and math skills, and earn money. Partners are After School Matters and City Colleges of Chicago.
Next Level Photography*
Students 15-24 can take their smartphone photography skills to the next level by learning how to operate a professional camera. In this hands-on intensive, students will master the technical foundation of photography, explore major genres (nature, portraits, sports, commercial, street photography), and develop original style. The program includes multiple field trips across Chicago’s rich cultural landscape —including an opportunity to shoot a White Sox game from the media pit. Each participant will create a digital body of work that will serve as a portfolio for future freelance work and be entered into a contest to win a professional-level camera package. Partner is DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts in the College of Computing and Digital Media.
Summer of Code*
Students can learn how to develop a mobile app from scratch. This program is designed for youth ages 16-24 to build a solid foundation in programming fundamentals using Swift as the language. Students will gain practical experience with the tools, techniques, and concepts needed to build a basic iOS app from scratch. Students will also learn user interface design principles which are needed to make iPhone apps. Partner is Everyone Can Code Chicago.
Summer Youth Employment Program
The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) offers young people, ages 15 – 24, meaningful, paid work-based opportunities with a variety of industries throughout the city. Participants explore their interests, career pathways, build employability skills and financial literacy over the course of six weeks during the summer. Partners are Centers for New Horizons, The Kindness Campaign, Lifeline to Hope, Metropolitan Family Services, Near West Side CDC and UCAN.
