Urban Initiatives Overview

Founded in 2003, Urban Initiatives is a nonprofit organization that runs youth development programs in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Urban Initiatives’ mission is to use the power of sport and play to empower Chicago’s youth to achieve academic success, develop social-emotional skills, and build social capital. Currently, Urban Initiatives serves an estimated 85 schools throughout the City of Chicago.

Urban Initiatives is seeking an experienced facilitator with a background in science, healthcare, community health, or health education to lead pre-written workshops and support student learning throughout the internship. This role is ideal for educators, healthcare professionals, graduate students, or facilitators seeking a short-term, high-impact summer opportunity.

About Pathways to Purpose
Pathways to Purpose is a summer internship collaboration between Advocate Health and Urban Initiatives, a nonprofit that focuses on social-emotional learning through sport and play. The program provides South Side Chicago high school students with hands-on exposure to healthcare careers while developing leadership and life skills.

Our Culture: 

Our healing-centered approach to youth development helps young people reach their full potential and puts YOU right in the middle of making an impact that will shape generations of Chicago youth. We are coaches by trade, and we bring this expertise into our work environment. You can expect us to deliver ample learning opportunities, growth mindsets, a culture of feedback and transparency, and fun as a core value. 

Program Details:

Reports to: Lead Director of Learning

Estimated Start Date: June 8, 2026

Dates: Training: June 8, 2026; Program Facilitation: June 23 – July 30, 2026

Location: Advocate Trinity Hospital 2320 E 93rd St, Chicago, IL 60617

Typical working hours: Tuesday – Thursday, 8:30 am – 1:30 pm

Compensation: $60.29 per hour

Core Responsibilities:

• Facilitate workshops for a cohort of approximately 25 junior and senior high school students
• Teach program curriculum focused on healthcare career pathways including:
• • Surgical Technology
  • Radiologic Technology
  • Community Health
  • Respiratory Therapy
  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Lead hands-on activities, simulations, and games connected to healthcare learning
• Guide students in developing and presenting a capstone project based on a healthcare career pathway
• Incorporate social-emotional learning (SEL) practices into daily programming
• Collaborate with the Urban Initiatives Program Coordinator to address program needs
• Support supervision of students during field trips to healthcare facilities and partner locations

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience You Possess:

• Content experience and familiarity: the ideal candidate has a knowledge background in science, healthcare, or health education, as well as experience with experiential or project-based learning. Experience working with Chicago Public Schools students or comparable youth-serving organizations.
• Instructional skills: The ideal candidate has demonstrated excellence in teaching, coaching, group facilitation, and connecting with diverse audiences.
• Relationship-building skills: The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience building transformative relationships with high school students.
• Teamwork skills: The ideal candidate will be a team player who is able to work effectively with others. They will be able to motivate and inspire their team and create a positive work environment.
• Flexibility and Growth Mindset: The ideal candidate takes setbacks as opportunities to grow and improve, and is focused on how to create solutions that haven’t existed before to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. 
• Commitment to supporting young people: The ideal candidate is committed to supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for young people and is competent in social emotional learning, youth development, and healing-centered work.
• Fun as a Core Value: The ideal candidate brings enthusiasm, creativity, and a sense of joy to learning, creating engaging and positive experiences for students
• Nice to have: Background in physical education, theater arts, movement, or play-based learning. Experience integrating social-emotional learning into instruction
  
  
  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of all onboarding requirements, including a cleared background check.