Project LEAD (Leadership, Education, Academic Development) is BBF’s signature out-of-school time program and serves elementary school children from five to 12 years old. 

How It Works

We enroll more than 80 children a year currently and intend to increase that number to 100 with our move to the new BBF Community Center.  LEAD operates from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm during the school year and from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm in the summer as well as on days that CPS and/or charter schools are closed.  BBF provides van service to transport the children from school to the program site and from the site to home each day (given that the child lives within the boundaries of the North Lawndale community area). 

Program Objectives

The methodology underlying LEAD is one of supporting the whole child.  Program activities thus address academic, social and emotional development of individual participants within their own unique life circumstances.  The program’s objectives are to:

• Provide North Lawndale children with safe and high-quality out-of-school time activities;  
• Provide mentoring related to academics and healthy socio-emotional development;
• Improve academic performance and attitudes toward learning;
• Involve parents through active participation in the LEAD Parent Council;
• Increase participants’ leadership and social skills;
• Foster cultural awareness; and
• Enhance physical and creative development. 

Staff and Programming

LEAD’s staff is comprised of a Program Director and a cadre of licensed teachers, teachers-in-training and/or those studying for degrees in elementary education who work directly with the children after school and in the summertime.  LEAD programming combines a focus on academic enhancement with age-appropriate social and recreational activities. 

Among the special program options offered to LEAD participants for the current program year are on-site book clubs for girls and boys, professional tap dancing instruction, and voice/choral lessons. 

Because LEAD is supported in part by the Chicago Department of Children and Youth Services (CYS) Child Care Program, parents seeking to enroll their children must be working at least 20 hours a week or be enrolled in a full-time vocational training program.  Nominal program fees are assessed in accordance with the City’s Child Care income guidelines. 

For more information on Project LEAD or to schedule an appointment to enroll your child, contact Miracle Moss, Director, Project LEAD, at 773-542-7312 or by email at miracle.moss@betterboys.org.