Our Stories

With the holidays fast approaching, I thought now was the perfect time for us to highlight something we can all celebrate: kindness. In 2017, Stand and other valued partner organizations launched Teach Kindness, a suite of best-in-class social-emotional learning activities, to help schools teach students the skill of kindness. We knew then that social and emotional […]

As Stand for Children Illinois’ Community & Family Partnerships Director, I am thankful for the connections and relationships I have built in the communities that we serve. Also, I feel very strongly that it is my job to share resources with our communities and families. So, it was both a privilege and honor to lead […]

I recently crossed off an item on my to-do list, and I hope you’ll join me by making sure your voice is heard as CPS gathers community feedback on how they measure school quality. This helps the district know what’s working, find and fix things that aren’t, and be transparent with our Chicago community. Add your voice […]

Exactly 66 years ago today, on December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her act of courage has inspired countless others to make the world a better and fairer place, including those of us at Stand for […]

“How can I help?” Four magical words that I need to remember to say more often to friends, family, and colleagues. Here’s how six volunteers are helping Stand Illinois fight for educational equity and justice. Perhaps they may spark in you an idea for helping others; these folks definitely inspire me. Melissa Hostetter is a first-grade […]

Growing up in Northern Virginia, we often took our out-of-town visitors to Mount Vernon and Monticello. What I remember most about being ushered past the red velvet ropes through the crowded, 18th century-styled rooms is how the guides refused to answer my questions. In response to the guide’s prideful exclamation that “The General” always wore […]