Blog

  • UCAN Celebrates Women

    UCAN practices and celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion year round, and in honor of International Women’s History Month held two women-centric events for all genders.

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  • Chicago Today, Chicago Tomorrow

    A doctor. An actor. A businessman. A reporter. 

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  • Retracing MLK’s Footsteps: A Day of Service

    “Today we are celebrating Dr. King while also coming out to support our community,” said Nadine Toussaint, a student at UIC. 

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  • Mentees to Mentors

    At the very core of UCAN is youth development. It’s the underlying constant within each program, and of the tools used to support their development, mentoring remains one of the strongest and most effective. “Mentor” can mean someone who you look up to or someone you aspire to be. It can be someone who pushes… Read more »

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  • You Can Survive

    UCAN offers services that focus on mental health, from traditional therapy to expressive acting and art programs, but healing is at common theme in our programming.  UCAN Survive is a new program funded via a ICJIA (Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority)/VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) grant that is dedicated to healing and supporting victims or… Read more »

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  • Voices Raised Stronger, Last Longer

    In 2002, lightning struck within the halls of UCAN. Three young men took their friendship and talent to new heights by founding the Uhlich Voices program.

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  • Chicago’s Tomorrow Interviews Chicago Today – Episode 3

    In this series, UCAN youth poised to be Chicago’s future leaders interview current leaders in their fields of interest.

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  • Mini Grants, Max Impact

    Summer means sun, fun and no school. But unfortunately, summer in Chicago also has come to mean a spike in gun violence in too many neighborhoods. In response, to provide youth with engaging activities in safe spaces that raise awareness of the risks and positively support youth, the MacArthur Foundation awarded UCAN 12 mini grants… Read more »

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  • The Year of the Volunteer

    We all know time can pass by us in a blur. That is why we give special praise to those who slow down, take some time to reflect, and give a little bit of their most cherished resource… their time.

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  • Chicago’s Tomorrow Interviews Chicago Today – Episode 2

    In this series, youth poised to be Chicago’s future leaders (UCAN program participants and recent alumni) interview current Chicago leaders in their fields of interest. For our second episode, Briana Owens, an aspiring broadcaster and currently a student at Ithaca College, interviews Brandis Griffith-Friedman, a correspondent and segment host for Chicago Tonight, on WTTW, Chicago’s… Read more »

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