In 2017 and 2018, the Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX), previously known as the Hive Fund for Connected Learning, made two seed investments in its longtime network member, Project Exploration who had identified a major problem. In the Austin neighborhood, there were a plethora of opportunities to participate in sports, but very few opportunities for youth to participate in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programming.
It is with mixed emotions that I share the news that Maria Hibbs, the Chicago Learning Exchange’s Executive Director, plans to retire on December 31, 2019.
As a New Sector Fellow, I spent this summer becoming more acclimated with the public sector and using my placement at CLX to increase their capacity to process data and effectively administer the LRNG platform in Chicago through a partnership with the City of Chicago’s One Summer Chicago (OSC) program, the second-largest youth employment program in the country.
The Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX)—a nonprofit that supports remaking learning for the digital age—today announced 11 new grants totaling nearly $100,000 that support summer digital learning opportunities for predominantly African, LatinX, Asian, Arab, and Native American (ALAANA) middle-school and high-school aged-youth in Chicago.
Darius Ballinger, Founder and Executive Director of Chasing23, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting young men of color through entrepreneurship and mentorship, was recently named an Echoing Green Fellow. The prestigious fellowship is awarded to a highly selective group of social entrepreneurs working on bold social challenges.
Long-time CLX community member and educator Gina L. Grant has been named CLX's Director of Community. Gina is picking up the community leadership baton from Jia Lok Pratt, who has served as CLX’s Network Curator for the past 18 months, organizing convenings and professional development offerings, and helping the community through the transition from Hive Chicago to CLX.
What do you get when 33 lit-loving Chicago teens collaborate for eight months to share their passion for words with their peers? The ChiTeen Lit Fest -- a by-teens, for-teens literary festival for youth aged 13-19.
Last month from May 16 -19, 2019, the Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX) presented Remake Learning Days Chi (RLD Chi), Chicago’s first festival for the future of learning and work.
CLX collaborated with founding partners WTTW Kids, Project Exploration, Chicago City of Learning, and EvanSTEM, and over 70 events hosts from Chicago to Evanston to make the vision a reality. Together, through Remake Learning Days Chi, we turned Chicago neighborhoods, particularly on the South and West sides, into a learning laboratory.
With support from the Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation, the Chicago Learning Exchange is leading Energizing Opportunities, an innovative project to illuminate learning pathways to careers in the electrical utilities industry for high school-age youth.