To look back on the rich history of Hive Chicago, which evolved into the Chicago Learning Exchange, we called upon Sam Dyson, who has been a leader in reimagining learning over the past decade in Chicago and beyond.
Collaboration, connection, and community. These are the hallmarks of the new Master of Arts (MA) degree in Civic Media at Columbia College, in which graduate students merge activism with media practice. Students are expected to design, implement, and assess project-based solutions that address real community needs.
Across the nation, people are in the streets marching and invoking their names, seizing this moment for change. Whether we are with them raising our voices in public or working for justice behind the scenes, we are really fighting for more equitable opportunities and for the dignity of Black lives.
Studies have shown declining trust in the ability of government institutions and elected officials to address issues, especially among youth. However, this does not mean that young people are civically disengaged. Instead, young people are utilizing digital media and technology tools to create a broader definition of civics than the commonly held perspective that civic engagement is confined primarily to electoral politics.
I remember Robert Friedman rolling out the idea of moonshot groups with a photograph of the moon landing, the astronaut in his uniform, feet planted on the moon’s surface. Those days we met in the basement of the Harold Washington Library at round tables where we started off with coffee, pastries, and conversation.
The virtual check-ins are a reminder of the strength and dedication of the CLX community. When faced with obstacles, our community members come together and find solutions, and use the moment to spur creativity, innovation, and collaboration.
CLX’s mission is to inspire and support innovation that equips digital-age learners and leaders to close Chicago’s opportunity gap. This has been our guiding light from the very beginning, and it will continue to guide us during this time. We are all committed to providing experiences, opportunities, and pathways for Chicago’s youth, now more than ever. Together, we can ensure we stay true to this mission.
Due to COVID-19, it is in everyone's best interest that we postpone Remake Learning Days CHI (RLD CHI). A letter…
CLX is thrilled to announce that RLD CHI is returning for its second year from May 14-17, 2020. With engaging and innovative learning opportunities accessible to those that need it the most in Chicago’s communities in the South and West sides, RLD CHI 2020 hopes to continue its goal of helping close the socioeconomic learning gap.
What if teenagers had a say in the design of the city of Chicago? What if we treated teenagers’ voices…
Fellow CLX members, if you are like me, you sometimes need a break from your work with young people and…
To those who dare to change the status quo, 10 years ago, I was gearing up to head back into…
With more than half of the energy workforce expected to retire in the next five to 10 years, the workers…
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.
After an extensive regional search, I am pleased to announce that the Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX) Board of Directors has…
On November 2, 2019, “Phenom” won the inaugural Brother Mike Award—a new $5,000 no-string attached award to recognize the contributions of mentors in the out-of-school (OST) time space.
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.
The Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX) is excited to announce that it will lead efforts in Chicago to convene and advance equity in computer science through CSforCHI, a new project that will continue to nurture and connect the computer science learning ecosystem.
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.
Have you ever wondered what connected learning might look like in other cities, rural areas, or learning-friendly places and spaces…
The Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX), Digital Youth Network (DYN), and Chicago Public Library (CPL) have teamed up with Chance…
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.
What might happen if you created a library space for teenagers? Why would teens come to the library and what…
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.
One of the most rewarding parts of Chicago Learning Exchange’s (CLX) work is supporting innovative and engaging learning experiences as…
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.