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# ITAV

Tomorrow Belongs To The Children Who Are Prepared Today

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://itavschools.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [News & Blog](https://itavschools.org/resources/news-blog/)
- [Why New Books Matter: Voices, Value, and Visibility at ITAV](https://itavschools.org/why-new-books-matter-voices-value-and-visibility-at-itav/) - Every child deserves to see themselves in the stories they read, but for many students today, those stories are disappearing from shelves. It Takes a Village Family of Schools has long been dedicated to giving children a space where they can truly be themselves.
- [Protect SNAP Benefits](https://itavschools.org/protect-snap-benefits/) - Access to healthy food is essential for children to grow, learn, and thrive and we’re raising our voices so the 42 million families who depend on SNAP to feed their children don’t lose that support due to the ongoing government shutdown.
- [A Tribute to Congressman Danny K. Davis: A Legacy of Unwavering Service](https://itavschools.org/a-tribute-to-congressman-danny-k-davis-a-legacy-of-unwavering-service/) - Ms. Nolen's Kindergarteners' Grassroots Campaign to design a new playground. Learn how these young students are advocating for safe spaces and fundraising to make their dream playground a reality.
- [ITAV Secures $2.1 Million in New Market Tax Credits to Expand and Empower Through Education](https://itavschools.org/it-takes-a-village-secures-2-million-in-new-market-tax-credits/) - It Takes A Village (ITAV), is thrilled to announce successfully closing on $2.1 million in New Market Tax Credits. -
- [A Legacy of Learning: ITAV Leadership Academy’s Bold New Chapter in Bronzeville](https://itavschools.org/a-legacy-of-learning-itav-leadership-academys-bold-new-chapter-in-bronzeville/) - Explore the impact of ITAV LA’s Bronzeville campus, celebrated with community leaders and a commitment to empowering future generations through holistic education.
- [Creating Opportunities: How Darrell Brown and ITAV Are Transforming Early Childhood Education](https://itavschools.org/creating-opportunities-how-darrell-brown-and-itav-are-transforming-early-childhood-education/) - In the fast-evolving landscape of early childhood education, leaders who create opportunities, drive impactful change, inspire others, and elevate educational standards are invaluable.
- ["Liberated Voices" Campaign: A Powerful Stand Against Book Banning with Zetta Elliott](https://itavschools.org/liberated-voices-campaign-a-powerful-stand-against-book-banning-with-zetta-elliott/) - Zetta Elliott, shared her journey, offering ITAV LA students a compelling look at how societal gatekeepers have historically excluded diverse voices from mainstream publishing.
- [ ITAV Selected as the Only Illinois Grantee for Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation’s ‘Game-On Community Places to Play’ Initiative!](https://itavschools.org/itav-selected-as-the-only-illinois-grantee-for-dicks-sporting-goods-foundations-game-on-community-places-to-play-initiative/) - ITAV has been selected as the sole nonprofit in Illinois to receive funding through Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation’s highly competitive ‘Game-On Community Places to Play’ initiative.
- [Architect Pascale Sablan Inspires ITAV LA Students with Lessons on Equity and Greatness](https://itavschools.org/architect-pascale-sablan-inspires-itav-la-students-with-lessons-on-equity-and-greatness/) - Architect Pascale Sablan visited ITAV LA to inspire middle school students with her journey as a Black woman in architecture, sharing insights and lessonsfrom her book GREATNESS: Diverse Designers of Architecture. To be Featured on WGN's Black History Month special, February 27th.
- [World Scholars Program: Game Changer for Black and Brown Students](https://itavschools.org/itavs-world-scholars-program-a-game-changer-for-black-students/) - Since 2010, ITAV's WSP has been traveling with groups of young people. These trips are more than vacations—they are immersive experiences designed to cultivate leadership, global awareness, and cultural appreciation in Black and Brown students from Chicago.
- [IYIP Grant Awarded to ITAV to Expand Youth Job Opportunities](https://itavschools.org/iyip-grant-awarded-to-itav-to-expand-youth-job-opportunities/) - ITAV awarded IYIP grant to support youth employment in Cook County. The program offers paid apprenticeships, job training, and career pathways for at-risk youth ages 16–24.
- [Kindergarteners Lead Campaign for Creating Safe Spaces to Play in Bronzeville](https://itavschools.org/kindergarteners-lead-campaign-for-creating-safe-spaces-to-play-in-bronzeville/) - Ms. Nolen's Kindergarteners' Grassroots Campaign to design a new playground. Learn how these young students are advocating for safe spaces and fundraising to make their dream playground a reality.
- [ ITAV Supports HB 4412, Streamlining Criminal Background Checks](https://itavschools.org/itav-supports-hb-4412-streamlining-criminal-background-checks/) - ITAV celebrates the recent passage of HB 4412 in the Illinois State Legislature, streamlining criminal background checks for child care facilities to enhance safety and efficiency.
- [ITAV LA Travels to Brazil for a Transformative, Immersive Educational Experience ](https://itavschools.org/students-from-itav-la-travel-to-brazil-for-a-transformative-immersive-educational-experience-in-afro-brazilian-culture/)
- [Anita Andrews-Hutchinson Wins 2024 Vistage Impact Award for Transformative Growth](https://itavschools.org/visionary-leadership-anita-andrews-hutchinson-wins-2024-vistage-impact-award-for-transformative-growth/) - Anita Andrews-Hutchinson, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of It Takes A Village Family of Schools (ITAV), has been recognized with the prestigious 2024 Vistage Impact Award. This award highlights her exceptional leadership in transforming ITAV into a thriving educational organization.
- [How It Takes a Village Family of Schools Are Shaping the Future](https://itavschools.org/how-it-takes-a-village-family-of-schools-are-shaping-the-future/)
- [Robert R. McCormick Foundation's $500,000 Grant Fuels Expansion of ITAV's Educator Test Prep Program](https://itavschools.org/robert-r-mccormick-foundations-500000-grant-fuels-expansion-of-itavs-educator-test-prep-program/) - ITAV receives $500,000 from Robert R. McCormick Foundation to expand the Professional Educator License Test Prep Program, enhancing educator support in Chicago.
- [It Takes A Village Acquires Historic Hales Franciscan for $9 Million](https://itavschools.org/it-takes-a-village-acquires-former-hales-franciscan-campus/)
- [Interview with ITAV Karate Sensai, Marquinn McDonald](https://itavschools.org/interview-with-itav-karate-sensai-marquinn-mcdonald/)
- [ITAV Hosts Virtual Money Matters Expo](https://itavschools.org/moneymatters/) - Use the passcode: Fb4+xK*R
- [ITAV'S Freedom School Empowers Through Social Justice](https://itavschools.org/itavs-freedom-school-empowers-through-social-justice/) - ITAV’s Saturday Freedom School centers on social justice, teaching students about their rights, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting activism.
- [Parents Discover A Growing, Thriving Village at ITAV and VLA](https://itavschools.org/parents-discover-a-growing-thriving-village-at-itav-and-vla/)
- [ITAV Hosts Ribbon-Cutting for New Wabash Location](https://itavschools.org/it-takes-a-village-hosts-ribbon-cutting-for-new-wabash-location/)
- [Inspire. Teach. Transform. Join ITAV’s Education Revolution!](https://itavschools.org/it-takes-a-village-family-of-schools-launches-hiring-initiative-inspire-teach-transform-join-itavs-education-revolution/)
- [Chicago Explorers Summer Camp 2024](https://itavschools.org/chicago-explorers-summer-camp-2024/)
- [Project Darfur (A Children's Movement)](https://itavschools.org/project-darfur-a-childrens-movement/) - It is easy to convince yourself that you are powerless to the problems of this world.
- [Early Childhood Workforce Registration Event September 2, 2022](https://itavschools.org/early-childhood-workforce/) - APPLY NOW
- [The Robert R. McCormick Foundation grants ITAV $200,000 for the PEL Test Preparation Program Pilot](https://itavschools.org/the-robert-r-mccormick-foundation-grants-itav-200000-for-the-pel-test-preparation-program-pilot/)
- [ITAV Pumpkin Patch 2023](https://itavschools.org/itav-pumpkin-patch-2023/)
- [Juneteenth Village Fest: Celebrating Family & Freedom](https://itavschools.org/juneteenth-village-fest-celebrating-family-freedom/)
- [ITAV Accepts $151,000 Chicago Beyond Award](https://itavschools.org/chicago-beyond-award/)
- [NBC: VLA Principal Discusses the Real Pressing Issues Facing Education](https://itavschools.org/nbc-vla-principal-discusses-the-real-pressing-issues-facing-education/) - On May 1st, 2011, NBC-5 TV held an Education Nation Teacher Town Hall in Chicago.
- [World Scholars Wednesday's: Dominican Republic](https://itavschools.org/world-scholars-wednesdays-dominican-republic/) - For a third grader, Jevon has a surprising sense of what he wants to accomplish and how he plans to do so.
- [Kindergarten Transition Day 2022](https://itavschools.org/kindergarten-transition-day-2022/)
- [ITAV Pumpkin Patch 2022](https://itavschools.org/pumpkin-patch-2022/)
- [The VLA Experience with Director of Student Affairs, Tanekia Henderson](https://itavschools.org/the-vla-student-experience-with-director-of-student-affairs-tanekia-henderson/)
- [The Watering Hole: Our ITAV Founding Story](https://itavschools.org/the-watering-hole-our-itav-founding-story/)
- [ITAV Hosts Chicago Housing Summit](https://itavschools.org/itav-hosts-chicago-housing-summit/)
- [Kids Driven to Change: The Importance of Pairing Academics with Service Learning](https://itavschools.org/kids-driven-to-change-the-importance-of-pairing-academics-with-service-learning/) - Before kids can internalize education as important, they need to feel they are important. They need to know they are valued in every way and the world needs them to make things better.
- [Life Lessons From Water: Real Learning by Doing](https://itavschools.org/life-lessons-from-water-real-learning-by-doing/) - Practically all its properties are anomalous, which enabled life to use it as building material for its machinery.
- [A Commitment to Clean Water: Science & Social Justice](https://itavschools.org/a-commitment-to-clean-water-science-social-justice/) - The students came into class prepared to learn about the water filtration process.
- [Interview with VLA Principal, Dayo Harris, on Social Justice Education](https://itavschools.org/interview-with-vla-principal-dayo-harris-on-social-justice-education/)
- ['Becoming a Teacher' Interview with Nikita Bailey of ITAV-CCS](https://itavschools.org/becoming-a-teacher-with-ms-nikita-bailey-of-itav-ccs/)
- [Social Justice Books Curriculum with Jasmine Span, ITAV Education Coordinator](https://itavschools.org/jasmine-span-itav-education-coordinator-on-social-justice-books-curriculum/)
- [Interview with Darrell & Makeya of the ITAV ECW Program](https://itavschools.org/interview-with-darrell-makeya-of-the-itav-ecw-program/)
- [ITAV Hosts Chicago Education & Job Training Summit](https://itavschools.org/itav-education-summit-2021/)
- [Mr. Nikita of ITAV West Wins 2021 ECEA Social Justice Award](https://itavschools.org/nikita-walls-social-justice-award/)
- [Interview with Ms. Shirley of River City](https://itavschools.org/interview-with-ms-shirley/)
- [A Celebration of Women](https://itavschools.org/a-celebration-of-women/) - Women’s History Month. Many thoughts come to mind such as: What women should we celebrate when there are so many important women in our lives past and present?
- [Making A Difference Starts With Me](https://itavschools.org/making-a-difference-starts-with-me/)
- [ALL CHILDREN CAN LEARN AT HIGH LEVELS - VLA GrassRoots Campaigns](https://itavschools.org/all-children-can-learn-at-high-levels/) - This is a statement that VLA staff unpacked, debated, and ultimately agreed upon during our professional development this summer.
- [How to Turn Your First Grader into a Water Activist](https://itavschools.org/how-to-turn-your-first-grader-into-a-water-activist/) - With the recent water crisis in Flint, Michigan my first grade students were anxious to learn about the state water in their homes and environments.
- [This Is What Community Healing Looks Like](https://itavschools.org/this-is-what-community-healing-looks-like/) - We all want to be happy and healthy, but as we know, life sometimes throws us curve balls.
- [Exploring the Historical Narrative of Art with Kerry James Marshall: Mastry](https://itavschools.org/exploring-the-historical-narrative-of-art-with-kerry-james-marshall-mastry/) - If you look at the historical narrative of art…we have to deal with the idea of the old masters, and in the pantheon of the old masters there are no black old masters…
- [Students' Migration Stories: The Power of Oral History](https://itavschools.org/students-migration-stories-the-power-of-oral-history/) - After learning about Chicago's history and the Great Migration, students interviewed a family member to find out how their families arrived in Chicago.
- [The Power of Sharing Your Identity](https://itavschools.org/the-power-of-sharing-your-identity/) - As part of the All About Me unit, each of our middle school classes completed “I am” poem in our unit exploring power.
- [The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks](https://itavschools.org/the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks/) - Most students consider science a class that focuses solely on experiments, labs, and hands-on activities.
- [WSP 2015: “The Panama Canal: A Channel of History”](https://itavschools.org/wsp-2015-the-panama-canal-a-channel-of-history/) - The day finally arrived! After months of learning about the beautiful country of Panama, VLA students, parents, and staff were ready to embark upon our journey together.
- [Social Justice in Primary School](https://itavschools.org/social-justice-in-primary-school/) - Social Justice means many things to many people. Although it is traditionally taught in university settings, a few elementary schools, including Village Leadership Academy, have taken the bold step to teach it to primary students, including those in kindergarten!
- [The Freedom to Teach](https://itavschools.org/the-freedom-to-teach/) - Before coming to VLA, there had always been a binder full of steps of what I needed to teach and when I needed to teach it by.
- [Examining the Tuskegee Syphilis Study: My First Experience Teaching Social Justice](https://itavschools.org/examining-the-tuskegee-syphilis-study-my-first-experience-teaching-social-justice/) - I knew I wanted to begin having conversations with my students that allowed them to see intersections between social justice and science, but I wasn't sure how to begin.
- [A Teacher's Duty: Activism as Education](https://itavschools.org/a-teachers-duty-activism-as-education/) - On Tuesday, November 25th, teachers at Village Leadership Academy decided it would make sense to take some of our young leaders to Chicago's City Hall to a protest initiated by the Black Youth Project 100.
- [Treasures Found in Unexpected Places](https://itavschools.org/treasures-found-in-unexpected-places/) - The photograph above is from our World Scholars Program (WSP) trip in June to the Dominican Republic.
- [Speak to Another Man's Heart](https://itavschools.org/speak-to-another-mans-heart/) - A foreign language class is like no other class it creates and instills an openness for things that are foreign to oneself...
- [Faith in Humanity & Harvest, A Teacher's Reflection](https://itavschools.org/faith-in-humanity-harvest-a-teachers-reflection/) - The demands of a teacher are many. The demands of a teacher at a social justice school like Village Leadership Academy are both numerous and complex.
- [Haven't Felt This Way Since 2007: A Teacher's Reflection](https://itavschools.org/havent-felt-this-way-since-2007-a-teachers-reflection/) - Four months ago I had no idea what I was getting myself into!
- [Second Grade Students Adapting and Leading!](https://itavschools.org/second-grade-students-adapting-and-leading/) - It always amazes me how small children can be so adaptable. After our first GRC presentation, our class decided to change the topic for our Grassroots Campaign.
- [Complicating 'Homelessness' for First Graders](https://itavschools.org/complicating-homelessness-for-first-graders/) - Homelessness seems like a simple cut and dry problem to most young people. At the beginning of the year, I could see it in my students’ eyes each time we gathered together on the carpet for a discussion.
- [Food Deserts: Redlining & the Shut off from Healthy Goods & Services](https://itavschools.org/food-deserts-redlining-the-shut-off-from-healthy-goods-services/) - “Ok class, it’s time to brainstorm the topic we will be working on for our Service Learning Project.”
- [Domestic Violence:  It's Much More Common Than We Thought](https://itavschools.org/domestic-violence-its-much-more-common-than-we-thought/) - As an educator, I am very rarely left speechless. In fact, you could say that, as a teacher, I am paid to speak.
- [Grassroots Campaign Reflection- Don't Throw That on the Ground!](https://itavschools.org/grassroots-campaign-reflection-dont-throw-that-on-the-ground/)
- [Kindergarteners Building A Playground!](https://itavschools.org/kindergarteners-building-a-playground/) - I thought introducing the grassroots campaign to kindergarteners was going to be challenging, but I found doing the show and tell to be very helpful.
- [No More Violence, No More Silence](https://itavschools.org/no-more-violence-no-more-silence/) - When my students selected violence as the target of our grassroots campaign, we knew that, in order to be successful, we would need to put forth lots of time and effort.
- [VLA Students Discuss Wages in the Dominican Republic](https://itavschools.org/vla-students-discuss-wages-in-the-dominican-republic/) - The Dominican Republic is a nation of incredible wealth and natural beauty; however, much of the nation's population is impoverished.
- [Who’s most likely to live in a food desert?](https://itavschools.org/whos-most-likely-to-live-in-a-food-desert-2/) - Through the GRC process, I am learning that it is impossible to take students through a process to activate and transform their thinking and not be transformed in the process.
- [Faith in Humanity & Harvest, A Teacher’s Reflection](https://itavschools.org/faith-in-humanity-harvest-a-teachers-reflection-2/) - The demands of a teacher are many. The demands of a teacher at a social justice school like Village Leadership Academy are both numerous and complex.
- [Complicating ‘Homelessness’ for First Graders](https://itavschools.org/complicating-homelessness-for-first-graders-2/) - Homelessness seems like a simple cut and dry problem to most young people.
- [Just Say “No” to Soda Pop](https://itavschools.org/just-say-no-to-soda-pop-2/) - In my third year of teaching Social Justice, this project personally felt different to me.
- [Kindergarteners Building A Playground!](https://itavschools.org/kindergarteners-building-a-playground-2/) - I thought introducing the grassroots campaign to kindergarteners was going to be challenging, but I found doing the show and tell to be very helpful.
- [Lessons From the Congo](https://itavschools.org/lessons-from-the-congo/) - The opportunity to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a group of students this past summer was nothing short of amazing.
- [Big Stories from Little People](https://itavschools.org/big-stories-from-little-people/) - During a high school religion class, I remember reading this book, Ultimate Questions by Clyde F. Crews, and being struck by his words, “One of the oldest and deepest of human passions is the need to tell stories, and to hear them.”
- [Wait, There is More to Occupy?](https://itavschools.org/wait-there-is-more-to-occupy/) - Everyone is talking about Occupying Wall Street: how the top 1% controls close to 40% of the wealth;how they dominate in decision making; and how all of this interferes with democracy (let alone human rights).
- [Relearning School: An Educator's Social Justice Journey](https://itavschools.org/relearning-school-an-educators-social-justice-journey/) - The Path. When I look back on my own elementary education, I realize my education was mostly marked with fear.
- [Move Towards Social Action: Empowerment through Physical Education](https://itavschools.org/move-towards-social-action-empowerment-through-physical-education/) - Teaching Social Justice is an ongoing and holistic effort, rather than a 50 minute time block in the academic day. We use Physical Education, such as Capoeira (a Afro-Brazilian Martial Art), as an opportunity to teach children resistance and social justice concepts.
- [“Changing Education Paradigms:” A Thought Worth Considering](https://itavschools.org/changing-education-paradigms-a-thought-worth-considering/) - Ken Robinson's talk on Changing Education Paradigms has an excellent point for restructuring our schools.
- [Inescapably White](https://itavschools.org/inescapably-white/) - Yesterday I was reading about the universe in Bill Bryson’s book “a short history of nearly everything”.
- [ABCs, 123s, and Social Justice](https://itavschools.org/abcs-123s-and-social-justice/) - When I first heard that I was going to teach "social justice" to my Kindergarten class of 5 year olds back in August, I wondered "Really?
- [A Growing Classroom](https://itavschools.org/a-growing-classroom/) - A garden is a growing classroom. It is also a path to sustainability and self-reliance. In many neighborhoods around Chicago, residents do not have access to healthy food.
- [A Teacher Makes All Things Possible](https://itavschools.org/a-teacher-makes-all-things-possible/) - Who taught reading to professors? Who taught science to doctors? Who taught writing to authors?
- [Never Too Young to Make an Impact](https://itavschools.org/never-too-young-to-make-an-impact/) - Project Darfur, led by Miesha Ebacher and her first grade class, has led me to question popular assumptions about youth: Are "growing up" and "gaining experience" the only prerequisites for becoming important individuals who inspire others?
- [Create Opportunities for Creativity](https://itavschools.org/create-opportunities-for-creativity/) - 3rd and 4th graders had a wonderful trip to the Contemporary Art Museum, where they explored the ways art, people and environment interact with one another.
- [A Challenge for Teachers Who Are Stuck in the Business of Education](https://itavschools.org/a-challenge-for-teachers-who-are-stuck-in-the-business-of-education/) - Let's say for a moment, you are an elementary school teacher for inner city kids (and maybe you are), and you received the opportunity to preview the actual future of your students.
- [Alexander the "Who?"](https://itavschools.org/alexander-the-who/) - So far, students have studied history, culture, current issues, and perspectives from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
- [Parental Involvement in Transforming Education](https://itavschools.org/parental-involvement-in-transforming-education/)
- [Listen to What Children Have to Say About Peace...](https://itavschools.org/listen-to-what-children-have-to-say-about-peace/) - The first grade class will be teaching high school students next week. Youth Connections Leadership Academy High School has invited our students to host a teach-in about the genocide that is currently happening in Darfur.
- [An Impressive Field Trip: 4th graders Touring the Tour Guide at the Art Institute of Chicago](https://itavschools.org/an-impressive-field-trip-4th-graders-touring-the-tour-guide-at-the-art-institute-of-chicago/) - To wrap up our Asia Unit and our emphasis on social justice in the religious domain (aka respect towards all religions), the second, third, and fourth graders took a field trip to an Asian Art Exhibit at the famous Art Institute of Chicago yesterday.
- [First Grade Service Learning Project: Developing our Understanding](https://itavschools.org/first-grade-service-learning-project-developing-our-understanding/) - For Project Darfur, we review the Sudanese timeline, and I ask them questions to try and see who has retained some of the information we have discussed in the last month and who has lost the facts in the fun.
- [Some Schools Need to Change](https://itavschools.org/some-schools-need-to-change/) - Retaining Chicago Public School students is a failing system. I realized this nearly ten years ago when we were tutoring children who had repeated third grade two times.
- [We Don’t Just Have Jobs, We Have Commitments](https://itavschools.org/we-dont-just-have-jobs-we-have-commitments/) - There is true magic that happens in Village Leadership Academy (VLA). Popping into any one of the classrooms throughout the course of the day, you can feel the magic permeating through your very being.
- [Valuable Lessons About Cultural Diversity](https://itavschools.org/valuable-lessons-about-cultural-diversity/) - As an advocate for true quality education, I feel comforted to know that Village Leadership Academy students are not only learning about cultural differences, but also about bridging them to see the core of humanity.
- [Puzzle Me a New](https://itavschools.org/puzzle-me-a-new/) - I feel very blessed and honored to be a part of this movement at VLA...we can call it that right?
- [Standardized Thinking in an Innovative World?](https://itavschools.org/standardized-thinking-in-an-innovative-world/) - When we were in school, we were graded on correct answers versus incorrect answers.
- [Simple Practice, Simple Justice](https://itavschools.org/simple-practice-simple-justice/) - When I tell others that my school is pioneering the creation of a “Social Justice curriculum for elementary students,” I’m usually met with confused stares.
- [What Social Studies Teachers Should Do and Think (but often don't)](https://itavschools.org/what-social-studies-teachers-should-do-and-think-but-often-dont/) - I was reading AEI's latest research: "Highschool Civics: What Social Studies Teachers Do and Think" and felt a great disappointment in the misuse of (and even lack of) a comprehensive, critical, and rigorous social studies curriculum in our schools today.
- [First Grade Learns What?!](https://itavschools.org/first-grade-learns-what/) - Here is a sample lesson of integrating Reading and Social Studies in our Africa Unit.
- [Changing with Collaboration](https://itavschools.org/changing-with-collaboration/) - Gathered around small desks in the French room, I watched our diverse, young, intelligent, and passionate staff members open their laptops and take out pens and papers for our weekly staff meeting.
- [A Dangerous Education of Human Ignorance](https://itavschools.org/a-dangerous-education-of-human-ignorance/) - About two weeks ago, while walking home with a friend, i saw it: the education of ignorance looked as dangerous as any threat to humanity.
- [Commands Cannot Correct](https://itavschools.org/commands-cannot-correct/) - I live my life by one simple law. I have one single belief. I allow all other parts of my identity rest in ideas that are more or less maluable.
- [Depaul University Speech & Language Partnership](https://itavschools.org/depaul-spl-partnership/)
- ["Change the Name" VLA Documentary Now Free Online](https://itavschools.org/change-the-name-doc/)
- [ITAV Recognized for COVID-19 Prevention](https://itavschools.org/itav-recognized-for-covid-19-prevention/) - Read the full story here: https://gazettechicago.com/2021/09/staff-testing-for-covid-19-can-keep-schools-safe/
- [Zahir Mbengue Featured in #Turnthepageproject](https://itavschools.org/zahir-mbengue/)
- [Creating Human(itarian) Beings: The Importance of the World Scholars Program](https://itavschools.org/creating-humanitarian-beings-the-importance-of-the-world-scholars-program-on-impressionable-young-minds/) - While being interviewed for our annual World Scholars Program ‘recap’ video, I was asked a few very interesting questions that brought me back to South Africa and reminded me how much I as an adult learned by traveling abroad to the Motherland.
- [A True Social Justice Education](https://itavschools.org/a-true-social-justice-education/) - When I think of teaching our children social justice, I mean that we need to teach them how to identify, strive for, and practice justice in spite of injustice.
- [VLA World Scholars Engage with Dominican Republic Race Relations Expert, Dr. Nataka Moore](https://itavschools.org/vla-world-scholars-engage-with-dominican-republic-race-relations-expert-dr-nataka-moore/) - Recently, the World Scholars Program was honored to welcome Dr. Nataka Moore as a guest speaker. Dr. Moore is an Associate Professor in the Doctor of Clinical Psychology Program at Adler School of Professional Psychology.
- [World Scholars Wednesday's: Meet Eden](https://itavschools.org/world-scholars-wednesdays-meet-eden/) - Eden is aware that as a student who speaks Spanish, she will have a unique experience on the trip to the Dominican Republic (DR).
- [We Can’t Wait to Show You How We Make the World a Healthier Place](https://itavschools.org/we-cant-wait-to-show-you-how-we-make-the-world-a-healthier-place/) - For our Grassroots Campaign, our second grade class has chosen healthy eating and making healthy food choices.
- [Who's most likely to live in a food desert?](https://itavschools.org/whos-most-likely-to-live-in-a-food-desert/) - Through the GRC process, I am learning that it is impossible to take students through a process to activate and transform their thinking and not be transformed in the process.
- [Inspiring Students Through Service Learning](https://itavschools.org/inspiring-students-through-service-learning/) - Teaching is hard. There’s no doubt about it. It’s probably even the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
- [Teaching for Social Justice: the Challenge of Selecting Teachers](https://itavschools.org/teaching-for-social-justice-the-challenge-of-selecting-teachers/) - Most administrators would agree that teacher quality and effectiveness are the best predictors of student achievement.

## Pages

- [Homepage](https://itavschools.org/)
- [Careers](https://itavschools.org/careers/) - Open Positions
- [World Scholars Program](https://itavschools.org/approach/worldscholarsprogram2026/) - EVERY DONATION MATTERS Every donation, no matter the amount, directly supports student learning.The World Scholars Program is an academically rigorous and culturally immersive learningexperience, and each contribution helps prepare participants for meaningful study in Japan. For over a decade, the World Scholars Program (WSP) has empowered young leaders through immersive global experiences. From service-learning projects in Rwanda and the Yucatán to cultural exchanges in Brazil and Ghana, WSP fosters global citizenship. In June 2025, our scholars will journey to Kenya—support their transformative journey today!
- [Chicago Explorers Summer Camp 2026](https://itavschools.org/programs/summer-camp/)
- [ITAV LA](https://itavschools.org/vla/)
- [River City](https://itavschools.org/about/rivercity/)
- [Workforce Programs](https://itavschools.org/workforce-programs/)
- [Donate](https://itavschools.org/resources/donate/)
- [Giving Tuesday 2025 - Support Liberated Voices: Reading is My Revolution!](https://itavschools.org/about/giving-tuesday-2025/) - HELP US REACH OUR $100,000 GOAL! SAVE THE DATE! Support ITAV This Giving Tuesday, December 2. THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS! Interested in Corporate Sponsorship? Contact Kenya Joyce Hatch, Director of Developmentjhatch@itavschools.org • 312.237.6298
- [Elementary School](https://itavschools.org/learning-pathway/elementary-school/)
- [Giving Tuesday 2025 - Support Liberated Voices: Reading is My Revolution!](https://itavschools.org/about/giving-tuesday-2025-support-liberated-voices-reading-is-my-revolution/) - HELP US REACH OUR $100,000 GOAL! Together, We’ve Already Made Powerful Progress Last year, our Village came together and raised $23,000 to begin this initiative.You helped us take the first step — establishing the foundation and curating the first wave of transformative titles. This year, we are continuing the journey. Our goal is to raise
- [About](https://itavschools.org/about/)
- [Our Team](https://itavschools.org/about/our-team/)
- [ITAV Impact Report](https://itavschools.org/itav-impact-report/)
- [Locations & Contact](https://itavschools.org/contact/)
- [Enroll](https://itavschools.org/resources/enroll/) - Follow Us
- [Social Media](https://itavschools.org/social-media/)
- [Preschool](https://itavschools.org/learning-pathway/pre-school/)
- [Infant & Toddler](https://itavschools.org/learning-pathway/infant-toddler/)
- [Child Care Services](https://itavschools.org/about/location-child-care-services/)
- [Early Learning Center](https://itavschools.org/about/location-early-learning-center/)
- [Watch Our 2024 Juneteenth Village Fest Recap Video!](https://itavschools.org/villagefest/) - Follow us on social media for updates!
- [Volunteer Opportunites](https://itavschools.org/about/volunteer-opportunites/)
- [The Village Campus](https://itavschools.org/bronzeville-village-campus/)
- [Learning Pathway](https://itavschools.org/learning-pathway/)
- [Resources](https://itavschools.org/resources/)
- [Social Justice Educator Cohort](https://itavschools.org/social-justice-educator-cohort/) - SOCIAL JUSTICE EDUCATOR COHORT Apply Today Social Justice Educator Program The Social Justice Educator Cohort (SJEC) is a year-long social justice leadership program for educators. This development program will bring together a group of dynamic Chicago educators to collaborate on projects that will advance racial justice in schools. SJEC Program Goals • Understanding the ways
- [AOK Chi](https://itavschools.org/aokchi/) - Tweets by aok_chi
- [Approach](https://itavschools.org/approach/)
- [The Village Votes](https://itavschools.org/village-votes/)
- [Social Justice Curriculum](https://itavschools.org/social-justice-curriculum/)
- [Apply (VLA Teachers)](https://itavschools.org/vla-apply/)
- [Apply (Teachers)](https://itavschools.org/apply/)
- [Our Funders](https://itavschools.org/our-funders/) - JUNETEENTH VILLAGE FEST SPONSORS
- [Test](https://itavschools.org/test-2/)
- [ITAV Open Houses](https://itavschools.org/itav-open-houses/)
- [Programs](https://itavschools.org/programs/)
- [Slider](https://itavschools.org/slider/)
- [Family Services](https://itavschools.org/approach/family-services-2/)
- [Community Partners](https://itavschools.org/about/community-partners/)
- [GrassRoots Campaigns](https://itavschools.org/approach/grassroots/)
- [VLA Parents](https://itavschools.org/vla-parents/)
- [Referral Team](https://itavschools.org/referral-team/)
- [Alumni](https://itavschools.org/about/alumni/)
- [Head Start / Early Head Start](https://itavschools.org/programs/head-start-early-head-start/)
- [Illinois College Options](https://itavschools.org/programs/illinois-college-options/)
- [Privacy policy](https://itavschools.org/privacy-policy/)
- [High School](https://itavschools.org/learning-pathway/high-school/)
- [Modules](https://itavschools.org/modules/)
- [test](https://itavschools.org/test/)
- [Tuition](https://itavschools.org/resources/tuition/)

## Categories

- [Blog](https://itavschools.org/category/blog/)
- [News](https://itavschools.org/category/news/)

## Tags

- [school](https://itavschools.org/tag/school/)
- [VLA](https://itavschools.org/tag/vla/)
- [RiverCity](https://itavschools.org/tag/rivercity/)
- [ITAVwest](https://itavschools.org/tag/itavwest/)
- [celebration](https://itavschools.org/tag/celebration/)
- [documentary](https://itavschools.org/tag/documentary/)
- [changethename](https://itavschools.org/tag/changethename/)
- [news](https://itavschools.org/tag/news/)
- [ecw](https://itavschools.org/tag/ecw/)
- [earlychildhoodworkforce](https://itavschools.org/tag/earlychildhoodworkforce/)
- [rc](https://itavschools.org/tag/rc/)
- [ccs](https://itavschools.org/tag/ccs/)
- [elc](https://itavschools.org/tag/elc/)
- [education](https://itavschools.org/tag/education/)
- [socialjustice](https://itavschools.org/tag/socialjustice/)
- [fss](https://itavschools.org/tag/fss/)
- [events](https://itavschools.org/tag/events/)
- [funding](https://itavschools.org/tag/funding/)
- [sponsorship](https://itavschools.org/tag/sponsorship/)
- [philanthropy](https://itavschools.org/tag/philanthropy/)
- [gift](https://itavschools.org/tag/gift/)
- [Hales Franciscan](https://itavschools.org/tag/hales-franciscan/)
- [Bronzeville](https://itavschools.org/tag/bronzeville/)
- [Parent Ambassadors](https://itavschools.org/tag/parent-ambassadors/)
- [freedom school](https://itavschools.org/tag/freedom-school/)
- [freedom fellows](https://itavschools.org/tag/freedom-fellows/)
- [special needs](https://itavschools.org/tag/special-needs/)
- [nciu](https://itavschools.org/tag/nciu/)
- [ITAV](https://itavschools.org/tag/itav/)
- [alumni](https://itavschools.org/tag/alumni/)
- [content](https://itavschools.org/tag/content/)
- [WorldScholarsProgram](https://itavschools.org/tag/worldscholarsprogram/)
- [WSP](https://itavschools.org/tag/wsp/)
- [Immersive Education](https://itavschools.org/tag/immersive-education/)
- [Brazil](https://itavschools.org/tag/brazil/)
- [awards](https://itavschools.org/tag/awards/)
- [recognition](https://itavschools.org/tag/recognition/)
- [Anita Andrews-Hutchinson](https://itavschools.org/tag/anita-andrews-hutchinson/)
- [community](https://itavschools.org/tag/community/)
- [New Market Tax Credit](https://itavschools.org/tag/new-market-tax-credit/)
- [Chicago education](https://itavschools.org/tag/chicago-education/)
- [quality education](https://itavschools.org/tag/quality-education/)
- [ITAV LA](https://itavschools.org/tag/itav-la/)
- [media announcement](https://itavschools.org/tag/media-announcement/)
- [grant](https://itavschools.org/tag/grant/)
- [PEL](https://itavschools.org/tag/pel/)
- [banned books](https://itavschools.org/tag/banned-books/)
- [challenged books](https://itavschools.org/tag/challenged-books/)
- [social justice](https://itavschools.org/tag/social-justice/)
- [Dick's Sporting Goods](https://itavschools.org/tag/dicks-sporting-goods/)
- [violence prevention](https://itavschools.org/tag/violence-prevention/)
- [Places to Play](https://itavschools.org/tag/places-to-play/)
- [Pascale Sablan](https://itavschools.org/tag/pascale-sablan/)
- [Architecture](https://itavschools.org/tag/architecture/)
- [Black History Month](https://itavschools.org/tag/black-history-month/)
- [Kenya](https://itavschools.org/tag/kenya/)
- [Global Leaders](https://itavschools.org/tag/global-leaders/)
- [ITAV Curriculum](https://itavschools.org/tag/itav-curriculum/)
- [Youth Employment](https://itavschools.org/tag/youth-employment/)
- [Cook County](https://itavschools.org/tag/cook-county/)
- [IYIP Grant](https://itavschools.org/tag/iyip-grant/)
- [paid apprenticeships Illinois](https://itavschools.org/tag/paid-apprenticeships-illinois/)