Project OneTen
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Project OneTen is a academic support and leadership development program for young men of color in Chicago, Illinois.
Project OneTen creates intentional spaces for Black and Brown boys during the critical transition to high school through mentorship and peer-to-peer community building. We aim to help them cultivate their strengths, innate brilliance, and unique identities as they build a foundation for success in high school and beyond.
06/04/2026
We're excited to announce that Leslé Honoré will be joining us as a special guest at Summer Soirée 2026!
A poet, activist, educator, and nationally recognized voice, Leslé has dedicated her work to helping people find courage, purpose, and the power of their own stories, values that deeply align with our mission.
We can't wait for our community to experience her wisdom, energy, and inspiration as we celebrate the impact of Project OneTen and invest in the future of Chicago's young leaders.
Tickets are selling fast, and we'd love to have you in the room. Purchase your tickets here - https://luma.com/summertimechi
Strong partnerships create stronger outcomes for young people. 💪🏾
Three years ago we launched a partnership with the MBK Milestone Innovation team at the Obama Foundation that supports freshmen at Hyde Park Academy, Dyett High School, and CVCA through our Summer Leadership Academy.
We’ve worked together to build spaces where hundreds of young people can build leadership skills, find community, and maximize the opportunities ahead of them.
We’re proud of every student who has been part of the journey and excited for the upcoming class!✊🏾
06/02/2026
Congratulations to our Emerging Leaders accepted into the Chicago Scholars Class of 2031! 🎉
This is an incredible accomplishment and an important step on their journey toward college, career, and leadership success.
At Project OneTen, we believe freshman year is where the future starts, and we're proud to see our students continue building toward their goals through opportunities like Chicago Scholars.
The journey continues. 🚀
One month to go! ☀️🥂
Our Summer Soirée Host Committee has been hard at work helping us spread the word, and Diamond has one simple message: don’t wait to get your ticket.
Summer Soirée is more than a fundraiser, it’s an opportunity to come together as a community, celebrate the incredible young people at the heart of our work, and invest in their future.
With just one month until we gather at Goose Island Barrel House, now is the time to secure your spot.
🎟️ Grab your ticket using the link in our bio.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you on June 25!
“This experience helped me be more social.”
Our capstone experience gave students the opportunity to reflect on their freshman year journey, who they are, how they’ve grown, and the future they’re building for themselves.
In this video, Josh shares what the experience meant to him, and how Project OneTen helped him build confidence, find community, and begin using his voice in new ways.
Sometimes growth looks like standing in front of a room and realizing: “I can do this.”
05/20/2026
We’re excited to recognize our partners at A Better Chicago as our 2026 Catalyst Award Honoree!
Join us on June 25 at our annual Summer Soirée Fundraiser as we celebrate this catalytic partnership. Their belief in and investment in our work has helped us deepen our impact and reach more students across Chicago.
Shoutout to Marshana Pace for accepting the award on behalf of the organization.
05/18/2026
Over the weekend, our students presented their capstone projects at the Field Museum, a powerful culmination of a year filled with growth, reflection, leadership, and community.
Through their presentations, they reflected on who they are, what they’ve learned throughout freshman year, how they’ve grown, and the future they’re building for themselves beyond high school.
More importantly, they had the opportunity to develop and own their stories, finding their voice, building confidence, and learning the power of standing in front of a room and sharing who they are becoming.
Watching our young leaders step into that moment with courage and pride was incredibly powerful.
A special thank you to the Field Museum for hosting us and helping create such a meaningful experience for our students and families.
05/15/2026
“Students need to see their post-secondary options early, and from people they trust.”
This reflection from Will Barefield at our Fuel the Future Champion Breakfast highlighted a key part of the conversation.
Exposure matters, but trusted relationships matter too.
If we want young people to fully see what’s possible for their future, we have to start earlier, create clearer pathways, and connect them to opportunities through people and communities they trust.
That’s why partnerships matter, and why this work has to be deeply relational.
05/08/2026
“Access without relevance is just a promise.”
This reflection from Michele Howard at our Fuel the Future Champion Breakfast captured the heart of the conversation.
It’s not enough for opportunities to exist, young people need to see themselves in them, understand how they connect to their lives, and feel like they can actually access them.
That’s the work ahead: making opportunity real, visible, and applicable.
05/04/2026
Join our volunteer community as a Success Coach.
We’d love to share more, sign up for our virtual info session on May 14 - https://luma.com/zxf29c2y
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
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Chicago, IL