Cabrini Madness Episode 3

And now, the Top 10 Plays of Cabrini Madness for February 2010.

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The School of the Art Institute College Visit

10 students, one volunteer (SAIC student Szu-Han Ho) and I visited The School of the Art Institute of Chicago today, one of the largest accredited independent schools of art and design in the country. (We also visited The Art Institute of Chicago.) From our first moments in the Columbus Building, we knew this wasn't your average college. Our first three stops were a room with giant kilns, a sculpture class, and a foundry equipped to pour bronze and aluminum. We then passed through the wood and metal shop to a performance area and painting and drawing classrooms. We also saw the photography, fiber and material studies, and film, video, and new media departments.

SAIC is an amazing school with incredible resources. Students have 24-hour access to studios and most of their materials can be purchased on-site at reduced cost. A lot of them don't receive grades; they have critiques - a group discussion in which you analyze, describe, and interpret art - and they simply pass or fail. Also, as part of a comprehensive liberal arts program, students take classes in humanities, mathematics, sciences, and other subjects, making them well-rounded 21st century artists.

After lunch, we spent an hour in The Art Institute, one of the world's greatest fine art museums. Its collection contains more than 250,000 works of art including paintings by Claude Monet, Henri Matisse, and Vincent Van Gogh. Most of the students had never been to an art museum, so it was my pleasure to walk them through the halls of this famous building. People travel from all over the world to see The Art Institute; all we had to do was take the CTA blue line.

I hope you see this unique experience as an example of the value of tutor/mentor programs like Cabrini Connections. Our learning and enrichment activities are designed to build social, team-building and leadership skills and encourage an interest in arts, technology and social service. This trip was relatively simple to plan and carry out and it cost less than $100 ($45 for CTA passes and $50 for lunch at Subway), but I guarantee their memories of it will last forever. It is important for young people to visualize themselves in college and today, if only for a few hours, that vision became a reality.

ContextMedia donates TV to Cabrini Connections

Thanks to ContextMedia, a beautiful 32" flat-screen television has a new home - on the wall at Cabrini Connections! Chicago-based ContextMedia builds waiting room TV networks that empower healthcare professionals to educate and inspire their patients as they make critical decisions about their lifestyle and clinical treatment. At Cabrini Connections, they have empowered us to educate and inspire over 70 students and 85 volunteers who come to our center on a weekly basis. Everyone has been impressed by the TV so far (lots of oooh's and aaah's) as we have already started to stream announcements.


This is just one example of how a business can step up to help a tutor/mentor program. Leaders in sectors of education, finance, technology, etc. should be looking for ways to pair their assets with needy nonprofits. A simple donation such as this can lead to a long-term relationship. Until more corporations and businesses make pledges to support tutor/mentor programs like Cabrini Connections, we will continue to struggle each year to keep our doors open.

If you are interested in learning more about business involvement, I encourage you to read some of these articles on Tutor/Mentor Blog. Thanks!

Volunteer Spotlight: Sue Gill

Wednesday night College Zone Coordinator Sue Gill (center) has been with Cabrini Connections since November 2009. Back when she was applying for college, she chose to attend Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She graduated in 1985 with degrees in French and Psychology. Thinking back to that time, Sue says, “I didn’t spend as much time thinking about [my decision] as I should have… [Marquette] wasn’t a great match for me.” Sue grew up in Rockford, Illinois – ranked one of the worst places to live because of its joblessness – and, while she enjoyed her time there, she was looking to move to a big city. Unfortunately, Milwaukee wasn’t as big as she’d hoped. This process is a lesson she wishes to pass down to students in the College Zone. “Really think about where you want to be,” she says. “Don’t just go along with other people.”

The most redeeming experience of her four years at Marquette was the calendar year she spent abroad in London, England. “This is what I’m talking about,” she remembers thinking. She studied in the spring and fall and had the entire summer to wander around. Spending that much time away from home “makes you feel like you can do anything,” she says. “Don’t be afraid to go.”

After college, Sue moved to New York City which marked the culmination of her big city dreams. She worked as a prop and wardrobe stylist for commercial photographers. “What makes New York neat is that people sort of live their lives on the street,” she says. Sue did a lot of walking to soak everything up. “I love the different neighborhoods… [New York] is very tall but very small… every second is exciting.” Her passion for the city comes through clear as she talks about it; makes me want to go right now!

Eventually, Sue moved to Chicago to be with her future husband. He is a children’s singer. They publish his recordings and children’s books and sell them online and in stores. They live in Oak Park with their two teenage daughters. Sue loves being a mom. She says, “It is bittersweet to watch them get older, but so exciting.”

Sue discovered Cabrini Connections online while searching for opportunities to volunteer. College Zone Coordinators Stephanie Rogers and Carla Reyes helped her get acclimated in the fall, so now she’s pretty comfortable with the routine. “I love it,” she says. “It is really helpful for [the students] to talk to somebody who can sit with them and go back and forth [about the application process.]” There are a broad range of possibilities and Sue hopes to expand the bank of choices they think they have.

Thanks for all you do, Sue! We are happy to have you as part of the team.

Student Spotlight: Imann Mitchell

11th grader Imann Mitchell lives on the west side and attends Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center. She is in the African American Club; she is on the step team; and she used to play basketball and run track. Her favorite subject is math (She will take college algebra next year) and her least favorite subject is science, though that is changing. She looks forward to taking forensic science as a senior. To be successful in high school, Imann’s tips are: be organized, use your agenda, pay attention, and ask questions. “I used to be real quiet,” she says, “but now I can’t stop raising my hand.”

As Imann nears the college application process, one of her biggest requirements is a warm climate. She would like to live in Atlanta, Miami, or anywhere in California. Her top choices for schools include historically black colleges and universities such as Spelman and Clark Atlanta. She has always lived in Chicago – a city she loves – but she is excited to move away and experience a new setting. She visited her sister, who goes to Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia, and loved it.

Imann has been at Cabrini Connections since 7th grade, which makes her a five-year veteran in the program. Her mentor, Anne Davies, has been with her every step of the way. “Anne is real. I don’t know how else to say it… She definitely motivates me. She has faith in me.” When Imann first started, she was very shy. “There used to be a real shell around me,” she says, “but Anne broke that shell, and now I’m out.” (She can’t help but crack a huge smile as she says this.)

One of Imann’s short term goals is to apply to People to People Student Ambassador Programs. She has never been out of the country and would love to do some exploring. Her long term goal is to become a dermatologist because of her interest in skin and skin problems. Lastly, one of her general goals is to assume more independence. She hopes to move out and pay her own bills by age 22.

Imann has one sister, three brothers, and she would like to give a special shoutout to her nephew, Cameron. “I love you!” We love you, too, Imann. Thanks for being a great ambassador for our program.

Cabrini Madness Episode 2

With the first pick in the 2010 Cabrini Madness Draft, "Each One Reach One" selects...

For more information about Cabrini Madness, click here. 13 teams are looking for support. Who will you root for/donate to?

Previously: Episode 1

Volunteer Spotlight: Shannyn Nellett

Writing Club Coordinator Shannyn Nellett (left) grew up on a farm in Ohio where she learned to see the simple side of life. Her family didn’t go out to eat – everything was homemade. They picked vegetables from their own garden and went to country markets for proteins. They didn’t have a computer or cable television, so Shannyn and her sisters were forced to entertain each other. Their entire lifestyle was very frugal and self-sufficient.

Growing up on a farm, Shannyn was not exposed to a lot, and, therefore, developed a wild imagination. “Creating things became a tool for me,” she says. She loves to write, paint, and sketch – anything artistic. “It’s a way of expression… You can create your own experience.”

When it came time for college, Shannyn took a train out to California to study comparative literature at San Diego State University. She was in for an extreme culture shock, but instead of being afraid, she was completely fascinated. The biggest difference was that people in California are very self-interested, whereas people in her hometown are more concerned with taking care of others. But, different as they may be, she managed to have a good time.

After college, Shannyn worked on the east coast for awhile before moving to Chicago. She wanted to make a big change after originally taking a job as an account manager. Now she works as a freelance writer and artist. She also works at restaurants near Wrigley Field when the Cubs are in-season. She loves Chicago because it is so diverse and there is so much to see and do. Her favorite place in the entire world is Barnes & Noble. She does most of her writing there and jokes that it’s her office.

Shannyn heard about Cabrini Connections through a friend who wanted to implement a writing program at a tutor/mentor center. On their first day here, they came in with brownies to meet students and tell them about a new writing club. The next week, they brought journals, stickers, and markers, and it was a hit! Shannyn wrote a message in each student’s journal to express appreciation, and, for about a year, they had 10 students every week.

Numbers have been a bit lower this year, but the club has carried on. Anyone is welcome to join at any time. Writing Club is for students who enjoy expressing themselves or want to improve their writing skills. (It’s also important to note that they bring food, such as Subway or McDonald’s.) You can see what they’ve been working on on their blog and their Facebook group.

Shannyn’s personal goals for 2010 and beyond are 1) to get published, 2) to get a master’s degree, and 3) to learn more about photography. Good luck with your goals, Shannyn, and thanks for all that you do!