Chicago Lights

Chicago Lights provides hope and opportunity to our city’s children, youth, and adults who face the challenges of poverty. Through supportive relationships and diverse programs, we empower people to thrive academically, secure economic stability, lead healthy lives, and build community. In 2004, Chicago Lights was founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community outreach organization that reflects and expands Fourth Presbyterian Church’s historic commitment to serve the city and its urban neighbors. It is the successor to the first nonprofit organization of Fourth Church, which was Partners in Education, founded in 1991. Since the inception of Tutoring in 1964, we have served more than 50,000 people. Today, we annually serve more than 4,000 individuals of all races, ethnic backgrounds, and religious traditions. Our core service areas include one-to-one tutoring and mentoring, arts education, social services, and urban farming. Chicago Lights offers five signature programs: Dance Academy -- promotes learning and creative self-expression through dance classes for more than 1,000 students at under-resourced and underperforming schools Social Service Center -- meets basic human needs of 1,800 persons while supporting their journey toward greater stability and self-sufficiency Summer Day -- provides a safe place for 100 first through ninth graders to learn and engage in academic classes and arts instruction each summer Tutoring -- seeks to break the cycle of poverty by providing academic and emotional support to 400 students from under-resourced communities Urban Farm -- cultivates a thoughtful and engaged community of youth and adults through educational and economic opportunities, hands-on learning experiences, and access to fresh, local, and sustainably grown produce