On Friday, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and First Lady Amy Eshleman joined with Chicago Public Library Foundation (CPLF) to announce “Make 2021 Yours”—a new campaign to support, engage and motivate Chicago’s youth this winter season. During Chicago Public School’s (CPS) winter break, which runs from December 19th to January 3rd, the City will be providing enriching, virtual content and resources to the city’s young people.
“Chicago’s youth have been forced to make countless sacrifices and adjustments over this past year in response to the ‘new normal’ of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “That’s why it’s so important for us to continue to support our young people in every way we can as we enter 2021 by keeping them as fully active, curious, and engaged as possible while we navigate this virus and prepare them for our recovery that will follow.”
“Make 2021 Yours” provides Chicago’s youth of all ages with the opportunity to stay connected through more than 150 activities focused on:
- Culinary
- Sports/Wellness
- Art/Music/Dance
- STEM
- Academic/College Readiness
In addition to self-paced, pre-recorded online content, there will also be live, online Master Classes offered most days through a variety of City Departments and non-profit partners. Youth are encouraged to visit MyCHIMyFuture.org starting December 19th to access these activities and much more.
“Make 2021 Yours is a project that was created in response to what youth told us they wanted: opportunities to get better at their interests as they prepare for 2021. This shows us that we have so much to learn from our young people, most importantly, the continued resilience while seeking opportunities for growth,” said First Lady Amy Eshleman. “I am so proud to be a part of this effort which brings together public, private and non-profit partners to lift up and support Chicago’s best asset, our youth.”
There will also be Grab & Go Activity kits for both younger children and teens filled with hands-on projects that can be picked up for free from the Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Libraries starting on December 21st at 9 A.M. These kits are provided through funding from the Chicago Public Library Foundation and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events through their partnership with Allstate.
“The thread that runs through all our work is our commitment to action that drives equity,” said Brenda Langstraat, President of the Chicago Public Library Foundation, “from providing broader access to resources, activating programs that provide space for creativity and learning, and build immersive experiences for our youth and all our Library’s patrons. We’re proud to be a part of this partnership.”
This initiative is the latest project of Mayor Lightfoot’s signature youth initiative, “My CHI. My Future” – a multi-year, youth-focused initiative designed to connect youth across Chicago to meaningful out-of-school experiences. The MCMF family of more than 200 organizations, has been designing the initiative, with a focus on organizing and connecting the opportunity ecosystem in Chicago and galvanizing caring adults, all over the city, to ensure that every young person has a plan for out of school engagement.
The year 2020 has presented many challenges, not only to Chicago’s youth but to entire families. That is why, additionally, youth and their families can access mental health resources and support through the website.
To learn more visit MyCHIMyFuture.org and follow @MyCHIMyFuture on Instagram for updates.
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