Back 2 School 2021

Have questions about partnering with CPS THIS year?

Ingenuity, Communities In Schools of Chicago, and Chicago Literacy Alliance will answer as many as we can at our Back 2 School event on August 2-6!

The District underwent several major changes throughout the pandemic, and many partners — along with the rest of Chicago’s arts ed sector — are seeking guidance in preparation for the coming school year. We designed this event to serve as a virtual roadmap for both new and seasoned community partner organizations working in CPS amid these ongoing changes.

Back 2 School will feature live virtual and pre-recorded sessions covering the fundamentals of working with CPS within the current context, tools for supporting partnerships, and insights from CPS leaders. Check out the schedule below!

B2S Schedule

Click through to find the right sessions for you and/or your organization!

  • August 2 |10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
    So You Want to Be a Partner?

    Join Ingenuity, Communities In Schools of Chicago, and Chicago Literacy Alliance  for our live virtual zoom event “So You Want to Be A Partner”! During this informational session, community partners will be provided with an overview of the Back 2 School week schedule and tools for success. Participants will also be introduced to our teams, our collective goals for supporting partners, and information on best practices for partnering with each of our organizations in the coming school year.  

    Monday, August 2, 10:30am – 12:00pm

    Register here

  • August 3 | 10:00 - 11:30 AM
    Communities In Schools of Chicago Partner Kick-off Event

    Welcome, Communities In Schools of Chicago (CIS Chicago) community partners, to the 2021-22 school year! This Kick-off Event will set the stage for a successful school year. We will review the benefits and expectations of being a CIS Chicago partner, share what our schools need, help you prepare to serve students, and highlight resources available to you to get the most of your CIS Chicago partnership. We are all in this together!

    Tuesday, August 3, 10:00am-11:30am

    Register here

  • August 3 - 5 | Times Vary
    Office Hours

    Join us for live virtual office hours! Our teams will be available to provide you with back to school support and technical assistance; as well as provide the space to ask any pending procedural questions on topics such as: Vendor status, (“Supplier”) Attestation Process, Background Checks, Tier Status, Field Trips, and more. 

    Tuesday, August 3, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

    Register here 

    Wednesday, August 4, 10:30am – 12:00pm

    Register here

    Thursday, August 5, 2:00pm – 3:30pm

    Register here 

  • August 6 | 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
    Q&A + Coffee with Your Community

    Join us for a live culminating Q&A and virtual networking event “Coffee With Your Community”! Personnel from Ingenuity, Communities In Schools of Chicago, Chicago Literacy Alliance, and Chicago Public Schools will elevate and discuss the most frequently asked questions from throughout the Back 2 School event week. Followed by an optional networking segment, participants will have the opportunity to interact and engage with community partners across sectors.

    Friday, August 6, 10:30am – 12:00pm

    Register here

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