Deep Learning: Supporting Youth In the Age of AI
It's 2002, I am a senior with a major case of senioritis, trying to fill my proverbial cup during my…
Find out how Chicago Learning Exchange and our partners are remaking learning in Chicago.
Letter from our Executive Director, Sana Jafri
This year I’m reflecting on a significant milestone: my 10-year anniversary with the Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX)–an intermediary of out-of-school (OST) organizations who are in service of young people in Chicago. It’s also my 5-year anniversary as Executive Director (ED). It’s been a wild ride with so many ups and downs, triumphs, challenges and profound experiences. When I began at CLX in 2015, I remember being so excited about the possibility of working in the OST space especially after being a classroom teacher.
CSforCHI February '22 Committee Meeting
It's nice to imagine that soon we may be able to have fewer Zoom events replacing our beloved in-person ones—maybe while still supporting a hybrid option. Here are some highlights from our February '22 Core Group Committee Meeting.
2021-2022 Brother Mike Award Nominees
“To educate as a practice of freedom” says the late bell hooks in her seminal book, Teaching to Transgress. This philosophy also informed the work of Chicago-based poet, activist, digital media educator and mentor “Brother Mike'' Hawkins, who sought to lead and teach with love. In a 2012 interview, Brother Mike said, “Mentorship, at its core, is about love.” The idea of infusing mentorship work with the edict of love is a radical testament to Brother Mike's legacy. Annually, the Chicago Learning Exchange, Northwestern University, Chicago Public Library and SocialWorks honor the nominees and grant recipients with the Brother Mike Award and celebrate those who dedicate their careers to teaching and mentoring Chicago youth. Please read more about the 2021-2022 Brother Mike Award Nominees below:
Bringing #CSEdWeek to Chicago Public Libraries
Computer Science Education Week is an annual call to action to engage and inspire youth through learning opportunities, to advocate for equity in the landscape, and to champion those who work year-round preparing the next generation of computer scientists. Thanks to grants from CSforALL and CME Group, and Lego Education, CLX has been able to engage in this work through our CSforCHI program. In 2020, we worked with community partners to create the CSforCHI Strategic Plan—which you can read on our community site. With CSEdWeek this year as our first touchpoint, we partnered with two Chicago Public Library branches and began to take action on that plan.
Reflections on our Anti-Racist Community of Practice (CoP)
James Baldwin once stated, “The paradox of education is precisely this - that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated. ” The civil uprisings of 2020 ignited the consciousness of many. Last spring the Anti-Racist, Urban Initiatives, and CLX launched an Anti-Oppression Community of Practice (CoP). This CoP offered space, time, and tools to reflect on personal and organizational anti-racist and anti-oppression journeys for Chicago’s youth development community.
Roots for a Strong Youth Summer
Roots are foundational to plants. Although often unseen to the naked eye, we know they are essential for growth, resilience, and overall health. At the Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX), one of CLX’s research based-beliefs is that learning is relational. High-quality learning and work emphasize the importance of positive relationships for youth development. See Search Institute’s research on the importance of developmental relationships in youth success linked here. Similar to plants, learners need strong roots and support from their peers and mentors to overcome challenges and to grow.
CLX and UI Launch Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Community of Practice
Imagine a world where anti-racism and anti-oppression were instilled in every person and organization. On March 18, 2021, the Chicago…
A Look Back on 2020: Reinforcing Our People and Innovation
Transitioning to Zoom. Increasing programming from monthly to weekly. Getting COVID-19. Crowdsourcing and sharing digital divide and engagement resources. Creating…
A Letter from Chicago Learning Exchange’s new Executive Director, Sana Jafri
To those who dare to change the status quo, 10 years ago, I was gearing up to head back into…
CLX+ ISEIF Sparking Interest and Equity in Energy Pathways
With more than half of the energy workforce expected to retire in the next five to 10 years, the workers…
Maria Hibbs Reflects on CLX Growth and Predicts a New Decade of Possibilities
When Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX) Board Chair Daniel Ash announced last week that my colleague Sana Jafri will become CLX’s new Executive Director, reality finally sank in. In less than three weeks, I will be retiring. After 45 years in journalism, corporate public affairs, philanthropy and non-profit leadership, it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation of leadership, and I do so with tremendous optimism.
Announcing CLX's New Executive Director
After an extensive regional search, I am pleased to announce that the Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX) Board of Directors has…
CLX community goes to the national stage at the 2019 Connected Learning Summit
The Chicago Learning Exchange Professional Learning Community — a dynamic group of over 200 youth serving organizations and educators — was well represented on the stage and leading workshops at this year’s Connected Learning Summit October 2-5 in Irvine, CA.
YOUmedia Turns 10: Connected Learning in theory and practice at Chicago Public Library
What might happen if you created a library space for teenagers? Why would teens come to the library and what…
CLX Powers Summer Digital Learning Opportunities for Chicago Youth
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.
CLX-Supported Teen Lit Fest Celebrates Fourth Year
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.
Energizing Opportunities
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.
Lighting a FUSE to Ignite Learning
The launch of Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX) builds upon more than nine years of work encouraging innovation in learning that…
6 Equity Gaps That Hinder Learning
Chicago is a city of abundance. Yet, despite the city’s many opportunities, we know that too many gaps separate these…
Engaging Youth in a Digital World: A Pioneering Report on the Status of Digital Media Tools and Technologies Used in Chicago
Many in the out-of-school time (OST) community have worked to ensure that all youth have equitable access to OST programming…
CLX: "Start-up" with an 9-Year Track Record
The Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX) may be a new name in town, but its launch builds upon more than nine…
Realizing the Vision: Building Collaborations to Connect Learning In and Out of School
Chicago is a vibrant region for educational innovation, both in and out of school. Several organizations and initiatives are working…
One Summer Chicago: A Trailblazing Partnership
Drinking from a firehose. That’s how I’d characterize the summer of 2016. The Hive Chicago Fund for Connected Learning…
CLX Sponsors Inaugural Connected Learning Summit at MIT
This summer, the Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX) proudly sponsored the first annual Connected Learning Summit (Summit) hosted at the MIT…
What is Chicago Learning Exchange?
Check out CLX's new video to learn how the Chicago Learning Exchange is working to remake learning in Chicago.