💻 From Under the El
Oh look, it’s snowing again. Did anyone besides me go from having the worst spring allergies of their entire life over the weekend to being blindsided by yet another snow this morning? This winter has had some of the weirdest weather I’ve ever experienced. Good thing there’s good news. Happy Monday, Chicago.
⏰ tl;dr
Illinois students have already saved $30 million through the state’s free professional test-prep program, which will now continue through 2027
A Chicago school is tackling food insecurity with an urban agriculture program that teaches students to grow food and feed their community
The Woodlawn Community Summit returns Saturday, bringing neighbors together to shape the future of their neighborhood
🌻 What’s Going Right In Chicago Today
🥬 A Chicago school is growing food and life skills
CCA Academy launched an urban agriculture program that helps feed the community while teaching students hands-on food production.
At a Chicago school, rows of vegetables are doing more than just growing. Students at CCA Academy are learning how food systems work from the ground up (literally) through a hands-on urban agriculture program designed to combat food insecurity while teaching practical skills.
The program teaches students how to plant, grow, and harvest food while connecting them to the larger issues of food access in their own neighborhoods. Instead of learning about food systems in a textbook, they’re cultivating them in real tim
We wanted to teach kids to eat healthy and to grow their own food. We started with four garden beds, and now we have 10 city lots that we use to grow food and chickens and bees and teach students skills that they would not otherwise learn.
Last year, the program doubled its annual food production — a new milestone that allows it to provide even more food to local community families.
🏊 Chicago River Swim returns as an annual tradition and charitable effort
The Chicago River Swim will return in 2026, continuing a philanthropic event that funds ALS research and swim education for Chicago kids.
Not long ago, the idea of swimming in the Chicago River would have sounded like a punchline, but now, it’s a yearly tradition.
The Chicago River Swim, first held last year, marked the first organized open-water swim in the river in nearly a century, a milestone made possible by decades of environmental restoration. The event raised money for ALS research and youth swim education while proving that the river can safely host large public events.
“The Chicago River Swim reflects my administration’s commitment to restoring and activating the river as a safe and accessible public asset. This event celebrates decades of environmental progress and demonstrates what is possible when the City partners with community leaders to expand opportunity, promote public health, and bring Chicagoans together around our shared waterways.”
Organizers announced this week that the swim will return September 20, sending hundreds of swimmers through a one- and two-mile course stretching from Wolf Point to State Street. Beyond the spectacle, the event supports real programs: ALS research at Northwestern and expanded water-safety instruction for Chicago kids. More than 4,000 children have already received swim education through the initiative, giving young Chicagoans a life-saving skill that lasts a lifetime.
🤝 Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Image credit: logan.boyle / Instagram
CHIditarod teams raised $140,000 and thousands of pounds of food
This year’s CHIditarod raised six figures and thousands of pounds of food for Chicago food banks, all while putting on a spectacle of an event, with costumes, music, and tons of fun.
🎓 Illinois will continue its first-in-the-nation program to provide students with free test prep
Illinois students have already saved more than $30 million in test-prep costs thanks to the state’s free licensing and graduate exam preparation program.
Preparing for professional exams is expensive. Really expensive. MCAT prep, bar exam prep, or nursing licensing prep can easily run into the thousands. So Illinois tried something unusual last year: It made test prep free.
Through the state’s Prepare for Illinois’ Future program, students at Illinois public universities (and several community colleges including Malcolm X College and Morton College) can access Kaplan courses for major professional and graduate exams at no cost. More than 12,000 students have already enrolled, collectively saving an estimated $30 million.
“I am committed to making Illinois the best state in the nation to obtain an affordable education and pursue postsecondary opportunities. Thanks to our continued investments in career advancement tools like our first-in-the-nation free test prep program, we are making life more affordable for thousands of students by helping them prepare for their careers now and earn more in the future.”
The program also appears to be moving the needle where it matters most. Nursing students using the prep achieved a 97% predicted NCLEX pass rate, and participation among low-income students has increased dramatically. The governor has now proposed continuing funding through June 2027, which could make Illinois the first state to permanently remove one of the most expensive barriers to professional careers.
🗓️ Eye On the Chi
2026 Spring Job Club
A weekly class designed to help job seekers with disabilities and veterans build skills, find opportunities, and connect with employers.
When: Wednesdays, March 18-June 3
Where: The Chicago Lighthouse (in-person) and Zoom
17th Annual Woodlawn Community Summit
Neighbors, youth groups, local businesses, and community leaders gather to discuss the future of Woodlawn and the South Side in a resident-led forum on housing, safety, and development.
When: March 21, 8 a.m.
Where: Edith Abbott Hall
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Till next time,
Good News, Chicago
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