High School Artists Can Now Submit Art For MSI’s Black Creativity Exhibit

By Arionne Nettles for WBEZ

“Works of art showing the creative expression of Chicago’s young black artists have lined the walls of the Museum of Science and Industry’s signature black art exhibit for the past seven years. And this year, the youth category for the “Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition” was the largest it’s ever been. “We dedicated this space to our student gallery so that we could accommodate more youth work,” MSI arts and creative manager Tiffany Malone said in January. “I’m always proud of our student artists.” That contest for high school students is now open again — but earlier. Instead of waiting until the fall, African American artists age 18 and under, or in ninth through 11th grade this school year, can now submit their work by July 31 to be considered for next year’s exhibition.”

Obama Foundation, CPS announce civic engagement award recipients

By Cindy Hernandez for the Sun-Times

“Winners of the Obama Foundation and Chicago Public Schools Civic Engagement Awards were announced Wednesday. Each winner will receive a $2,000 grant to support projects in their communities. Two recipients were selected for each of the three school-based categories. The fourth category will recognize a community partner providing opportunities for students citywide.”

Here are 12 things Chicago parents want to know about universal pre-K

By Cassie Walker Burke for Chalkbeat

“Chicago will spend the next three years building out a “universal” preschool system. But what does that mean for families who are trying to make decisions now? With the first round of preschool decisions coming down this week through the city’s online application and a new mayor charting the program’s future, Chalkbeat rounded up answers to common questions — including several that parents submitted to us in a survey. We based our responses on our own reporting, queries to Chicago Public Schools and the City of Chicago, and publicly available websites and FAQs.”