OUR HISTORY

In 1987, Cities In Schools, the country’s largest network of independent dropout prevention organizations, came to Chicago. Against a backdrop of increasing agitation about declining attendance in the city’s public high schools and a marathon teachers' strike lasting a record 19 days, an organizing process established an autonomous local CIS board with a mandate to support youth at selected school sites using existing community resources.

Incorporated in 1988, Communities In Schools of Chicago began working at Collins High School. It provided leadership and life skill instruction, job readiness training, health and counseling services, mentoring, remedial education assistance and cultural enhancements to the school’s most at-risk students. CISC then expanded its operations into elementary schools around Collins in the North Lawndale community, repeating the pattern at Kelvyn Park High School and Hermosa area elementary schools surrounding Kelvyn Park. Later, in partnership with the Orr school network, CISC expanded to the city’s north side and swelled its rolls to 700 students in 18 schools.

In 1994, the CISC Board of Directors determined that the organization could better serve Chicago youth and families by implementing a process of linking existing services and programs with schools. Serving as a bridge for enlisting, coordinating and facilitating the linkage of community resources in schools, CISC could be positioned to service a large number of schools and service providers with a small, but highly skilled and trained, staff. As a result, tens of thousands of students could have improved access to services that would help them overcome barriers to life and educational success.

In 1995, the organization was repositioned, the staff strengthened and reduced, and new financial support enlisted. A solid foundation for the new vision of CISC was realized. In 1996, the national CIS, Inc. organization changed its name to Communities In Schools, and Chicago followed suit. CIS recognizes CISC as the most cost-efficient and comprehensive big city partner in the network.