Here are the programs Mikva Challenge Chicago operates during the summer:
Citywide Youth Councils serve as a mechanism for current 9th – 11th graders to have input on city policy. Each CYC consists of young people from across the city who meet to participate in team building, leadership development, research, and the creation of policy proposals to key decision makers in city government. Citywide Youth Councils allow youth to have a voice in the formation, implementation, and evaluation of public policy; our councils include Safety and Justice Council (SJC) and CPS Student Advisory Council (SAC).
In this program, Chicago youth explore organizing in community, for elections, with labor unions, and on college campuses. The program includes skill based workshops, youth-led projects, and guest speakers from across Chicago. Summer commitment is 10am-3pm Monday through Thursday (20 hours per week). During the school year councils typically meets weekly for 2-3 hours, either after school or on a Saturday.
Mikva Challenge Summer Fellows is a six-week program that places approximately 50 young people after their senior year to serve as Fellows in the offices of city, county, state, and federal officials across the city of Chicago for 30 hours per week, for 6 weeks between June and August. Mikva Challenge partners with the Illinois Department of Human Services Youth Investment Program (IYIP) to support this paid internship opportunity for Cook County youth. The IYIP partnership allows Mikva Challenge to pay our Fellows $17 per hour for their hard work and valuable contributions in their offices. Fellow also participate in weekly educational workshops that center on community building, goal setting, leadership development, and workplace readiness.
At Mikva Challenge, we celebrate difference and are committed to providing equitable opportunities, addressing the effects of power and privilege. Mikva Challenge is proud to be an equal employment opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other factor covered by federal, state, or local statutes. We want to create an empowering space to change lives!
