CHICAGO — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates and other educational leaders sat down with a group of Collins Academy High School students Thursday to hear what is needed to improve their educational journey.
One of Johnson’s visions is to work toward expanding the sustainable community schools program. Under the program, schools would serve as a center bringing in services that would offer mental health resources, healthcare, tutoring and even food pantries.
According to Johnson, the hope is to transform the Collins Academy High School into one of those centers.
“This is about making sure every child every single family has what they deserve,” Johnson said.
“It could actually serve as an infrastructure as a hub that a neighborhood needs that kids need,” said Randi Weingartden, President of the American Federation of Teachers.
Students told the academic and political leaders assembled their West Side neighborhood could benefit from the transformation, in light of the battle the North Lawndale community has experienced with decades of disinvestment.
“North Lawndale is considered a food desert,” Damarion Spann. “We have to travel to Oak Park, Cicero to get groceries.”
Students didn’t hold back when asked what is needed to help them set up for success in the future.
“If we have greater connections to other colleges that don’t see us as a good high school,” said Donovan Roberts, a junior at Collins Academy High School. “If we can change their mind about that.”
“I feel like we should have a law program here because I feel like us Black people, we should know the law, another student said. “I feel like we should know the law more, just in case some type of situations happen, we know the law.”
