Citizens Now is a 12-week after-school program conceived and implemented by ICE to teach 5th and 6th graders at Chicago’s Public Schools the skills of citizenship and the importance of participating and working with others in our democracy. 

RESULTS:

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  • The first 13 students from Newton Bateman Elementary School in Irving Park graduated from the Citizens Now program in May 2015.

  • Quantitative analysis of the program pre/post-questionnaire showed positive improvements on questions testing students’ knowledge and self-reported communication with adults and peers.

  • 60 additional "young citizens" graduated from Chalmers, Dvorak, DePriest and Penn Elementary Schools in North Lawndale and Austin in 2016-17. 

  • 43 additional “young citizens” graduated from Chalmers, Dvorak, Johnson and Penn Elementary Schools in North Lawndale in 2017-18. 

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ICE Board chair Pat Vader accepts check from Sherry Silvers, founder of 100 Women Who Care - Chicago Chapter, to support Citizens Now program, June 6, 2017

ICE Board chair Pat Vader accepts check from Sherry Silvers, founder of 100 Women Who Care - Chicago Chapter, to support Citizens Now program, June 6, 2017

Chair Pat Vader and Citizens Now Program instructor Rapheal Arteberry thank 100 Women Who Care for their support, Kamehachi Restaurant, July 24, 2017

Chair Pat Vader and Citizens Now Program instructor Rapheal Arteberry thank 100 Women Who Care for their support, Kamehachi Restaurant, July 24, 2017

10th District Police Officer Jamil Brown and community organizer John Reynolds respond to questions from Penn and Dvorak young citizens at the Gallery in North Lawndale, June 3, 2017 

10th District Police Officer Jamil Brown and community organizer John Reynolds respond to questions from Penn and Dvorak young citizens at the Gallery in North Lawndale, June 3, 2017 

“Ideally, in my dream, the Citizens Now program would be available for every student.”
— Former Assistant Principal Efrain Martinez, Newton Bateman Elementary School, Irving Park, Chicago

Anastacia Jackson (Participant of the Citizens Now Program for 3 years) speaks with Rapheal Arteberry (Citizens Now Program Lead Facilitator) 5/30/2019.