STEP-UP ISU's Urban Education Interns Present Final Projects
Published: July 24, 2015
Illinois State University (ISU) education #STEP-UP interns emersed themselves in Chicagoland once again this summer. Living in under-served communities for 4-weeks summer, while teaching at Chicago Public Schools (primarily), during the day and working at local Community Based Organizations (CBO), including the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporatiopn (GADC) during the afternoon.
The ISU defines STEP-UP as ISU's premier urban education summer internship. With rigorous selection criteria, intense scheduling, and rewarding experiences, STEP-UP is the best way to prepare you to become a Chicago Public School teacher.
STEP-UP (Summer Teacher Education Partnership for Urban Preparation) is a 4-week teaching and community internship and summer residency program for pre-service teachers from Illinois State University. STEP-UP is one component of the larger TEACHER+PLUS (Teacher Education and Assessment Continuum for High-need Educators and Resources + Principal Leadership for Urban Schools) Project, which prepares and recruits teachers for high-need content areas in Chicago public schools .
Students who are selected for STEP-UP (STEP-UP Fellows) will live in Chicago in a partner neighborhood where they will participate in a rigorous 4-week program. During the program, Fellows will assist in Chicago Public School (CPS) classrooms during summer school, serve as an intern at a community-based organization, complete TEACHER+PLUS related coursework, and participate in other civically engaged activities in the community. The program has a strong focus on the role community plays in education and the ways in which teachers are a part of the greater community effort toward improving the quality of life for all residents. STEP-UP will provide Fellows an in-depth understanding of one partner community by fully immersing them in the neighborhood. STEP-UP ran from late June 27th - July 24th. See the full write up at ISU STEP-UP web site.
The Greater Auburn-Greasham Development Corporation (GADC) hosted eight (8) STEP-UP interns this summer. They where split amongst several active projects and/or newly kicked off projects. All the projects ensured the ISU interns were engaed in community planning or execution around "real" and "needed" community based projects to support the GADC's mission for the communities we serve.
CLICK THIS LINK To See slide show STEP-UP Presentations
Projects included:
- Research, community outreach and tracking of potential Corporate and local business for potential monetary and in-kid donations, including outreach for the upcoming 79th Street Renaissance Festival.
- Developing a local community engagement campaign "Your Voice Matters," which consists of an on-line survey and a mini-paper survey, and an outreach strategy to capture input from the community and request participation on local community taskforces, based around key topic areas of interest. The taskforces will create a 10 year plan, for revitalizing the neighborhoods we serve.
- Development of an interactive Website, including integration to payment sites and a new face to a Blog for local non-profit P.U.M.P.S. organization and Nicole Loves Shoes, online business.
- Deep dive analysis of Auburn Gresham community assets, from the raw dataset, generated by the University of the Chicago, MAPSCorps summer STEM program, of which GADC is one of the host sites. An Auburn Gresham oinly analysis was completed which gives us a base market analysis across the entire community and not just the commerical cooridors. A commercial vacany rate and market analysis was completed.
We are sincerely thankful and greatful for all the hardwork during the assignments at the Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation and look forward to the culimanting event, with all the STEP-UP community partners this coming Friday.
Good luck to all in the upcoming semesters at ISU! We look forward to seeing the seniors, who are finishing their course work next year, at Illiniois State University! We especially look forward to seeing those who have selected to return to elementary and high schools, in Auburn Gresham. See you next year!