catalyst-chicago.org

Imagine yourself as a teenager living in one of the city's tough neighborhoods. In a fairer, more ideal world, when you got to school, you'd be in a sanctuary where, at least for the day, you could escape the troubles of the community, broaden your horizons and prepare for a better future.

Yet for too many teens, and even younger schoolchildren, schools aren't the sanctuaries they should be.

You don't have to go far to find someone, some group, some leader who is skeptical or openly critical of Mayor Daley's plan to close a slew of the city's low-performing public schools and open 100 new ones. Ever since Renaissance 2010 was announced three years ago, it's been dissected, analyzed and, always, challenged.

This year, Chicago stands to gain from a new national initiative meant to jumpstart grassroots organizing on behalf of schools. But instead of political advocacy, the grassroots groups will be expected to focus directly on improving education for poor children and children of color.

The Fund for Education Organizing has raised nearly $5 million for such grassroots projects in Chicago and three other urban areas. The goal is to get parents, students and community leaders more involved in school reform and keep the pressure on districts to follow through once they launch reforms.