Youth Opportunities
Youth Development Programming
My CHI. My Future. App Updates
Youth, families, and community-based organizations can see updates from the monthly Anchor Organization network convenings, Kickback events, and the Micro-Grant program in the 15 My CHI. My Future. community regions. *These events are located across the City of Chicago*
My CHI. My Future.: Jobs Playlist
My CHI. My Future. has an updated website for youth looking for summer and full-time employment opportunities. There are positions and resources relating to jobs within and outside of the city of Chicago.
Chicago Youth Service Corps has a year round program that provides paid opportunities for youth ages 16 to 24 years old to engage in community service, project-based learning, and leadership development.
The Young Entrepreneur Institute
The Young Entrepreneur Institute (YEI) leverages the participation of the community of teachers, educators, and entrepreneurship organizations around them to share best practices in entrepreneurial education. Then, equipped with expert knowledge, educators guide their students through curricular and experiential programs. Their website features additional games, resources, and Pitch Challenge Information!
PopUp Science (Homewood Science Center)
PopUp Science is the first program designed and executed by Homewood Science Center to provide FREE community-based, hands-on STEM learning opportunities, attracting people from all across the South Suburbs, and connecting them with topics in STEM. No registration required. Drop in for a few minutes or a few hours! All ages welcome!
Shedd Aquarium Teen Learning Lab
Teens are invited to use this free lab space to make new friends, work on projects, and explore careers in aquatic science. When youth are ready to dive into the Teen Learning Lab, direct them to one of the new teen orientations, where they’ll be introduced to the mentors, projects and resources available within the lab.
Participating in the EarthEcho Water Challenge is a great way to be a part of the solution to water issues worldwide. The Water Challenge builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local bodies of water.
Brokering Youth Pathways Toolkit
A new toolkit from the Hive Research Lab was created to share tools and techniques around the youth development practice of “brokering” or connecting youth to future learning opportunities and resources.
PowerMinds.org offers a powerful platform where children, youth and adults can connect to qualified tutors and counselors online. The online network consists of volunteers that are experts in their areas and are willing to share their knowledge and help you succeed.
The Illinois Science & Technology Institute’s Mentor Matching Engine (MME) is an invitation-based web platform that connects Illinois high school students and their teachers to STEM professionals who serve as online mentors. MME facilitates mentor engagement and collaboration through strategic matching, forum-style chatting, video-conferencing and document sharing.
National Geographic Explorer Classroom
Explorer Classroom connects afterschool programs around the world with National Geographic Explorers, bringing science and exploration to life through live video events. Each month Explorer Classroom features a new theme and provides supporting resources for educators. To learn more about upcoming themes and opportunities, click here.
Safety, Health, and Nutrition
Mental Health Awareness and Resources For Youth
The Public Health Working Group of the Mayor’s Youth Commission and the Chicago Department of Public Health developed videos on what it means to ask for help and what resources are available to Chicago’s young people for support.
NAMI Chicago: Mental Health Website for Youth
NAMI Chicago has created an engaging and easy-to-digest mental health website for youth in 3rd grade and up. There are different topics, guidance, support resources, and more for different grade levels. To access this information, click here.
Contests & Scholarships
eCYBERMISSION is a web-based STEM competition FREE to students in grades six through nine that promotes self-discovery and enables all students to recognize the real-life applications of STEM. Teams of three or four students are instructed to ask questions (for science) or define problems (for engineering), and then construct explanations (for science) or design solutions (for engineering) based on identified problems in their community. Students compete for State, Regional and National Awards.
Summer Opportunities
High School & College Readiness
Free Help For FAFSA Applications
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is hosting free one-on-one virtual help available for students who might need assistance completing the FAFSA or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid. Please note: for students currently in college or who might be planning on it for the 2024-25 school year know that it’s not too late to get their financial aid application submitted! Students can book a virtual meeting up to seven days in advance, and there’s an option to meet with a Spanish-speaking ISACorps member if they prefer.
Maryland Out of School Time College and Career Readiness Toolkit
This is a guide from the Maryland Out of School Time Network to help middle and high school out-of-school-time programs get focused on building 21st-century skills and supporting young people as they navigate through the complex world of planning for their advanced education and careers!
Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) Residents (ages 15-20) can receive one-on-one coaching from an Education Navigator to support post-high school plans, or to assist in continued post-secondary enrollment through Project S.O.A.R.
Additional Resources & Activities
Get Schooled is an organization that will help students prepare for different experiences related to college and career exploration. Get Schooled will review students’ resumes and provide actionable feedback for FREE within a week of submission!
Internet Essentials from Comcast gives access to affordable, high-speed internet to low-income families. To be eligible, households must have at least one child who is eligible for the National School Lunch Program, receive HUD housing assistance or are a low-income veteran receiving state and/or federal assistance.
