In 2003, Jumpstart expanded to Chicago, first partnering with Roosevelt University and DePaul University to work in a handful of Chicago preschools. Since then, Jumpstart has recruited and trained hundreds of Corps members to change thousands of children’s lives in Chicago and in Illinois. Just last year, the University of Chicago and Loyola University, Chicago joined four other universities as Jumpstart higher education partners in the region, and Jumpstart trained over 180 Corps members to implement the Jumpstart program in 21 preschool classrooms across the state. This year, Jumpstart Midwest is proud to be bringing on yet another university partner in Dominican University!

2012-2013

Number of Children Served: 800
Number of University Partners: 7
Number of Corps Members: 240
Number of Preschools: 20

At Jumpstart, we believe that surrounding ourselves with talented and dedicated people is the best way to grow and improve our service to children, college students, families, and communities. Every advisory board concentrates on a strategic area of focus - from providing regional leadership to advising on developments in early education - with the goal of expanding and improving Jumpstart's program.

• Dr. Laura Berk Chairperson, Professor Emerita, Illinois State University
• Rachel Gross Consultant, Self-Employed
• Robbin Sejud
• Dr. Holly Stadler Dean, College of Education at Roosevelt University                                                                                                          
• Janielle Taylor Adjunct Faculty, Columbia College, Jumpstart AmeriCorps Alum
• Julie Brown Counselor, Chicago Public Schools
• Dawne Pollard  JPMorgan Chase
• Ahmed Talaat El-Nazer  Senior Consultant, PricewaterhouseCoopers

2012 also brings with it the initiation of Jumpstart Midwest's Young Professionals Board. This group of committed young associates raises awareness and generates support for Jumpstart’s work. Board members have the opportunity to not only directly and positively change lives of preschool children in need, but to gain valuable leadership experience, network, create friendships and positively impact the Chicago community.

• John Adorno
• Sara Friedman PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Brittney Novak Avion Phamaceuticals
• Jessica Parks US Bank
• Tobi Pinsky Seyfarth Shaw LLP
• Devan Popat Katten Law Group
• Ashley Reed Accenture
• Brooke Scheyer Chicago Ideas Week
• Anna Sebestyen Accenture
• Brad Wiss Morgan Stanley
• Nat Zenner  EventFi
• Kristin Keaschall CenTrust
• Rhyan Curtis  JPMorgan Chase

If you are interested in learning more about membership in our Local Advisory Board or Young Professional Board, please contact Courtney Robinson at 312.867.7288 or courtney.robinson@jstart.org
 

Community Partners:

• Chicago Public Libraries
• Chicago Public Schools
• Lincoln Park Zoo
• Chicago Children’s Museum
• AmeriCorps
• Austin Coming Together

Corporate and Foundation Partners:

• A Better Chicago
• United Way Metro Chicago
• Bright Horizons
• Polk Bros. Foundation
• JPMorgan Chase
• Carl Hendrickson Family Foundation
• Groupon
• Northern Trust
• US Bancorp Foundation
• Finnegan Family Foundation
• People's Gas
• S&C Electric
• BMO Harris Bank

Jumpstart's Dominican University program is highlighted in the school's campus news:

http://dushare.dom.edu/CampusNews/SitePages/DisplayArticle.aspx?ID=11902

Jumpstart Site Manager Lucy Hall is featured in a University of Chicago website highlight: https://ucsc.sites.uchicago.edu/news/lucy-hall-summer-links-jumpstart

Jumpstart is featured in United Way's 125 Year Anniversary Highlight in the Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/special/adsections/unitedway/chi-unitedway_2012-looking-back-and-moving-forward-20121017,0,5787742.story

Jumpstart Chicago Executive Director Karina Kelly's Interview with Comcast Newsmakers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6okfEJBzsc

Northwestern University students help preschoolers get a jump start on literacy: http://www.wbez.org/series/front-center/getting-jumpstart-literacy-99736

• DePaul University
• Dominican University
• Loyola University, Chicago
• Northwestern University
• Roosevelt University
• University of Chicago
• Illinois State University

• Christopher House-Logan Square
• Christopher House-Rogers Park
• Christopher House-Uptown
• Erie Neighborhood House
• Gads Hill Center
• North Lawndale YMCA
• Gale Math and Science Academy
• Jordan Community School
• Mary Crane Center - Rogers Park
• High Ridge YMCA
• Howard Area Community Center
• Robert Crown Center's Creative Play Preschool
• Garfield Park YMCA
• Mary Crane Center - Austin
• Spencer Elementary School
• National Teachers Academy (NTA)
• Dumas Technology Academy
• Emmett Till Math and Science Academy
• Sexton Elementary School
• Wadsworth Elementary School
• Heartland Head Start
• Scott Early Learning Center
• Bloomington YWCA

For general inquiries and volunteer opportunities in your area
Rachel McHugh
Regional Operations Manager
312.867.7091
Rachel.McHugh@jstart.org
 
For media and development opportunities
Courtney Robinson
Development Director
312.867.7288
Courtney.Robinson@jstart.org
 
For program development and expansion opportunities
Karina Kelly
Executive Director
312.867.5414
Karina.Kelly@jstart.org
On Twitter: @JumpstartKarina

Jen Swezey
Program Director
 
Jumpstart Chicago on Social Media:
Jumpstart Chicago on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JumpstartChicago
Jumpstart Chicago on Twitter:  www.twitter.com/Jumpstart_Chi
 

Heather Little and Missy Frazin
DePaul University Site Managers

Benjamin Mueller
Dominican University Site Manager

Kim Burke
Illinois State University Site Manager

Jessica Young
Loyola University, Chicago Site Manager

Micaela Moran
Northwestern University Site Manager

Renita Johnson
Roosevelt University Site Manager

Lucy Hall
University of Chicago Site Manager

Karina Kelly, Executive Director

Karina has been with Jumpstart for nine years and has been dedicated to supporting the implementation of Jumpstart Chicago’s programs for the last seven. Karina has also supported growth activities in Chicago, helping to expand current programs and bringing new partnerships to the Jumpstart network. As Executive Director, Karina is responsible for managing all programmatic activities in Chicago and surrounding areas, developing strategic partnerships for future growth in and around Chicago, and supporting local fundraising and development activities to support Jumpstart Chicago’s existing program and future programs. Prior to working at Jumpstart Chicago, Karina served as a Jumpstart Site Manager for two years at the Jumpstart Claremont program at Pitzer College in Southern California. Karina earned her B.A. from Occidental College in Los Angeles.  

Jumpstart Midwest Parent Education Forums

Jumpstart Midwest will be hosting a four-part series on literacy and development for the parents of toddler and preschool children. Forum events are held at locations across the city, and will feature expert speakers and panelists, insightful film previews, and interactive demonstrations.

Jumpstart's first Parent Education Forum of the 2012-2013 year was held at Sulzer Library on October 3rd and featured Dr. Margaret Policastro, Professor and Director of Language and Literacy at Roosevelt University. She discussed access to books, building routines to support reading and literacy, and techniques for reading aloud to children. Each parent in attendance at the event received a free copy of Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad, Jumpstart's RFTR book, to begin the process of building their own home library! The second was held at the Lincoln Park branch of the Chicago Public Library and parents learned about encouraging a love of reading with their children with a member of the staff from the Chicago Children's Museum. Stay tuned for information on our next Parent Education Forum event.

Jumpstart Midwest Family Home Learning Connection

Jumpstart Midwest's Family Involvement Kits are a resource provided at no cost to families of preschool children participating in our program. The kits inform parents and caregivers about the importance of early literacy for their preschool child and provide additional activities to do at home that supplement concepts the preschool child is learning in class through Jumpstart's curriculum

If you are interested in sponsorship and volunteer opportunities linked to the Family Home Learning Connection Program, contact Rachel McHugh at 312.867.7091 or Rachel.McHugh@jstart.org.