Logan Square Neighborhood Association

Community Learning Centers:Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) Community Learning Centers (CLCs) provide out of school time academic and cultural enrichment opportunities to school-age children and youth. The CLCs are spaces where students and parents know they are both physically safe and emotionally safe to express themselves and feel heard. At the CLCs, LSNA collaborates with schools to develop programs that enrich the lives of students and families. This full-service model focuses on improved results (academic, social, emotional, physical, and civic) for students as well as for families and the community through the provision of integrated student and community supports. Throughout the school year, LSNA works with parents, teachers, and administrators at the schools. LSNA CLCs provide out of school time academic support services to assist students in basic essential math, reading, and science skills; arts and cultural enrichment activities that encourage family involvement and enhance students' physical and socio-emotional skills; digital media and other experiential learning projects; and nutrition and health activities. LSNA coordinates a variety of after-school and evening curricula and activities in partnership with local organizations and consultants to develop a student-driven, STEAM-focused CLC delivery model, within an SEL and restorative framework. The CLCs provide opportunities for parents and any adult in the community to learn new languages and skills and provide pathways for meaningful jobs/careers.

Parent Mentor Program & Parent Engagement Institute:For over 30 years, Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) has trained parents in the Logan Square area, mainly mothers, to help fill persistent achievement gaps by volunteering in classrooms for two hours/day for at least 100 hours a semester. The Parent Mentor Program starts with a week-long training, inspired by restorative practices, during which parents explore their own leadership qualities and dreams, develop networks, learn classroom tutoring skills, and build social capital. After the weeklong training, Parent Mentors are paired with a teacher mentor. They work side-by-side in the classroom two hours/day Monday-Thursday. On Fridays, the Parent Mentor cohort comes together for reflection and professional development. Working together all year long builds strong relationships between parents, teachers, and principals. Parent Mentors give extra attention to students in need, particularly English Language Learner studentsmany of whom need extra support in grades K-3 because they are learning literacy in two languages. Parent Mentors learn how the U.S. school system works and strengthen skills needed to support their own children in school. Meanwhile, they build the confidence, expertise, and networks to advocate for their schools and communities. This begins to transform both the parents and the schoolsboth parents and the schools begin to see the positive impact parents' leadership can bring into the schools and parents also begin to solidify and set steps to meet their own personal goals. The Parent Engagement Institute (PEI), a partnership of Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) and Southwest Organizing Project, coaches community organizations and school districts across the country to replicate and scale the LSNA Parent Mentor Program. PEI sustains program validity by providing a structure for partner community organizations so that expectations are clear and by modeling the values of the Parent Mentor Program throughout its work. PEI cultivates a powerful network of Parent Mentor staff and leaders while at the same time providing individualized coaching to partner organizations, recognizing that every school, organization, and community is unique. PEI sets the strategy to expand the Parent Mentor model across the nation and guides Parent Mentor leaders to lead that campaign.