Working In The Schools - WITS

Summer is finally in full swing, and you know what that means: time for ice cream 🍦

Stop by Jeni's in Gold Coast on Thursday, June 18th, from 4 to 7pm for a sweet treat, and 25% of all sales will be donated back to WITS!

See you there ☀️

What an amazing night we had at the WITS Book Bash! It was wonderful to see so many passionate individuals come together to celebrate and contribute to keeping WITS programming free for Chicago Public Schools’ students and teachers.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors, Board of Directors, Associates Board, mentors, staff, and donors who made this event possible ❤️

Tonight is the big night!

At WITS, we have just wrapped up our program year, said goodbye to all our students and mentors for the summer, and sent all our students home with culturally relevant books of their own to add to their home libraries.

You made this possible. By attending or supporting the Book Bash, you are helping our students grow into stronger, more engaged, joyful readers. Thank you.

If you can't make it, you can make a donation at the link below:

https://ow.ly/2Apj50Z4TPV

Send McAuliffe Elementary students home with a set of brand-new, culturally diverse books at no cost to families or teachers by donating to WITS.

McAuliffe Elementary is located in the Logan Square neighborhood on Chicago’s northwest side. Most of its students are Latinx, and almost half of the student population speaks a language other than English as their primary language. Increasing access to diverse books that mirror students’ identities improves their reading scores.

WITS has partnered with McAuliffe Elementary since 2015, giving thousands of diverse books that reflect their unique student population. These books lay the foundation for a lifelong love of reading and learning.

Book ownership boosts literacy rates, reading enjoyment, and educational outcomes, and is an essential part of the WITS mission.

Your support today will have a lasting, positive impact on McAuliffe Elementary students.

Make a donation and give books to McAuliffe Elementary students at the link below:

https://ow.ly/1jgN50Z4uv4

Chapman and Cutler LLP (Chapman) has spent over a century helping clients and giving back to their community.

WITS is proud of Chapman’s partnership, which goes beyond financial support. Chapman employees serve as mentors, dedicating over 125 hours annually to encourage young readers.

Read more at the link below:

https://ow.ly/sOez50Z2Xmg

One month away!

We are so excited to read Xochitl Gonzalez’s new book, Last Night in Brooklyn, releasing tomorrow for purchase. Presale ends today, so get it while you can!

Join us on June 17 at 5 p.m. CT for a special WITS Study Hall event: A Night with Xochitl Gonzalez, moderated by Melissa DuPrey.

During this event, we will be joined by author Xochitl Gonzalez and actress Melissa DuPrey as they discuss Xochitl’s newest novel, Last Night in Brooklyn. There will be time for questions and comments during this event.

"Gonzalez’s latest novel brings the enclave of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, to brilliant light. The author of Olga Dies Dreaming and Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a master at shaping distinct characters that leave an indelible impression on each other and themselves. Exploring potential, obligation, and living out your wildest dreams, this is literary fiction at its most evocative." - Harper's Bazaar

Register for the event and purchase the book at the link below:

https://ow.ly/Hzmk50Z2pyu

Send Brown Elementary students home with a set of brand-new, culturally diverse books at no cost to families or teachers by donating to WITS.

Brown Elementary is in the Near West Side neighborhood in Chicago. Most students at Brown Elementary identify as Black or African American. By donating to WITS, you provide culturally relevant texts that boost students’ self-esteem and sense of belonging.

WITS has partnered with Brown Elementary since 2002, giving thousands of books to hundreds of students and laying the foundation for a lifelong love of reading and learning.

Book ownership boosts literacy rates, reading enjoyment, and educational outcomes, and is an essential part of the WITS mission.

Your support today will have a lasting, positive impact on Brown Elementary students.

Make a donation and give books to Brown Elementary students at the link below:

https://ow.ly/c4fF50Z0iN8