Middle school students are making their voices heard as part of the 2024-2025 Do the Write Thing (DtWT) Challenge. This powerful program, a hallmark initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence, empowers young people to reflect on the impact of youth violence in their lives and commit to reducing it through thoughtful writing and dialogue.
By participating, KIPP Chicago students join hundreds of others nationwide in addressing an issue that deeply affects their communities. Through essays, students are encouraged to share their personal experiences, insights, and solutions, creating a space for openness and emotional growth.
The program also offers unique opportunities for recognition. In May, selected students may attend a local Chicago recognition dinner. Two National Ambassadors will be chosen to represent Chicago at the National Recognition Summit in Washington, D.C., in July 2025. During the summit, students will meet with Members of Congress, attend a prestigious embassy reception, and have their work published in the Library of Congress.
We’re proud of our KIPPsters for stepping up to address youth violence and can’t wait to see the impact of their efforts on their school, community, and beyond.
This past holiday season, students across KIPP Chicago embodied the spirit of giving through Operation Young Santa, an initiative dedicated to supporting Chicago’s homeless community.
At KIPP Ascend Middle School (KAMS), 8th-grade students, led by the inspiring Yodit Weldu and Mya Clark, joined forces with the Model UN club, led by Molly Harris, to write over 100 heartfelt letters of encouragement, hope, and gratitude. Their messages, with a collective effort shared across KIPP Chicago, spread the spirit of kindness and connection throughout our community.
These notes, inspired by Tomorrow’s Children, a book by Dr. Hines, were included in toiletry bags distributed to individuals in need, adding a deeply personal touch to this act of generosity. Through this initiative, students not only demonstrated empathy and compassion but also engaged with the book’s powerful lessons on the transformative power of gratitude.
Beyond the classroom, KIPP Chicago families and high school alumni joined the effort, coming together on a Saturday afternoon to create care packages. More than 40 volunteers from across Chicago participated in assembling these packages, fostering meaningful connections while helping students earn service learning hours toward graduation.
Operation Young Santa provided a profound opportunity to give back, build relationships, and practice gratitude in action. We are incredibly proud of our students, families, and alumni for their leadership, kindness, and commitment to spreading hope and warmth to those in need.
Their actions remind us that gratitude is not just a feeling—it’s a practice that can change lives, one small act of kindness at a time.