Project LEAD (Leadership, Education, Academic Development) is a year-round program that provides academic support, mentoring, and recreational and cultural activities to children ages five to 12.  Programming includes daily meals, transportation from school to the program site and from the site to home each day. Yearly enrollment averages 90.

Project LEAD operates from 1:30pm to 6:00pm during the school year and from 8:30am to 5:30pm in the summer.  The program is open full day when children attending CPS Track E Schedule schools are out and when any schools is out for fall, winter, or spring breaks or for teacher training days.

For more information on Project LEAD or to schedule an appointment to enroll your child, contact Pamela Blackman, Director of Project LEAD, at 773-542-7312 or pblackman@betterboys.org.

LEAD’s primary programmatic goals are to:

• Provide a safe environment for all children through maintenance of secure facilities, careful screening of all agency staff and volunteers, and the creation of a programming environment that is warm, welcoming and supportive of all.
• Bolster academic achievement through daily homework help, academically enriching special projects, access to state-of-the-art technological resources, and alignment of academic activities with Illinois State Learning Standards.
• Promote healthy physical, social-emotional and ethical growth through a spectrum of structured and age-appropriate activities that foster positive interaction among peers and between adults and children.
• Encourage creativity/cultural awareness by providing opportunities for artistic/cultural engagement as well as regular access to the many cultural resources of the city of Chicago.
• Partner with parents, teachers and the larger community in delivery of program services to regular and open lines of communication as well as accountability to all stakeholders.

 

LEAD staff strive to achieve these goals through a carefully structured calendar of age-appropriate activities that include the following core components:

• Academic Support
• Mentoring
• Fitness/Recreation/Arts
• Leadership/Social Skills Development
• Cultural Exploration
• Parental Involvement

 
For more information on Project LEAD or to schedule an appointment to enroll your child, contact Pamela Blackman, Director of Project LEAD, at 773-542-7312 or pblackman@betterboys.org.
 

Stories from Project LEAD

Markeita
Project LEAD Participant

“The staff cares about the kids. They give us one-on-one help with homework, and they are fair to everyone.  Nobody is the favorite.  It’s like everyone is the favorite.  We all get a snack and get to go on field trips.  We all get presents and a party at Christmas time, which is really fun.  I really do look forward to coming to BBF after school. Sometimes I can’t wait to get here.”

Shaun
Project LEAD Participant

“I like BBF because I get an opportunity to learn new things.  I have learned photography, and I am learning how to knit.  I like how the BBF vans pick us up from school and take us home in the evenings.  I also like the Big Brothers/Big Sisters club because I really like my Big Brother.  He fits in with us at BBF.  I look forward to seeing him here on Thursdays.  It makes being at BBF extra special. ”

Diane
BBF Parent

“BBF has given all of us in the North Lawndale community upstanding programs for our children.  My son has struggles at school, and it makes him feel low.  I work late at night, and I cannot always help him with his studies when I get home.  BBF takes the time to work with him one-on-one, and he has really improved since starting in Project LEAD.  He has more self confidence, and we both have hope for a better life and a better future.”