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High Jump in the News
High Jump Chief Programs Officer Yolanda Luna-Mroz, recognized as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ Notable Women in STEM.
WBEZ Chicago - Chicago education advocates on leading schools through the age of mass shootings (March 2023)
WBEZ Chicago - Change is coming to Chicago’s high-stakes, high-stress high school admissions process (October 2021)
Chicago Tribune - Op-ed: Teachers, principals and school staff should lead the charge to get students vaccinated (October 2021)
WBEZ Chicago - Vaccination Event at the Gary Comer Youth Center (July 2021)
NBC Chicago - As COVID Cases Rise, Community Leaders Look to Boost Vaccination Numbers (July 2021)
Chalkbeat Chicago - Will the Pandemic Reshape Chicago’s High-stress High School Applications? (April 2021)
ABC 7 Chicago - High Jump Alumna I'deyah Ricketts on ABC 7 Chicago Graduation 2020 Special "The After Party (June 2020)
Latin Magazine - Thirty Years and Still Rising: High Jump's Lasting Impact (Winter 2020)
U-High Midway - Education program gives students a boost (December 2019)
ABC 7 Chicago - High Jump program provides Chicago middle schoolers with tuition-free academic resources (July 2019)
Classic Chicago - High Jump Celebrates Young Leaders (May 2019)
Education Post - High Jump Alumnus DJ Loma Letter to First-Gen Students (May 2019)
BestColleges: How to Support First-Generation Students (May 2019)
Chalkbeat - Decision day: What happens when students don’t get their first-choice Chicago high school (April 2019)
Press Releases
As an organization with a mission to bring equity to education, High Jump is deeply concerned about the ramifications that the Supreme Court decision to strike down Affirmative Action will have on our current and future Scholars. In the face of overwhelming historical injustices, Affirmative Action was one of the strongest tools that we had to provide more opportunity for students of color to access educational and cultural spaces that have historically been closed to them.
At High Jump, recognizing these barriers, we start early, preparing our Scholars in middle school to thrive in high school, college, and beyond. We work not just to increase access, but also to prepare them to thrive once they get there and, crucially, to affirm for them that these are spaces in which they belong.
As news of this ruling comes out this summer, we think about our alumni in high school preparing to go to college, our current 7th and 8th grader Scholars who are excited about the opportunities opening up to them, and the High Jump Scholars of the future who will have to navigate their education through spaces even less accessible than the present.
The need for the High Jump program is more important now than ever, and we remain committed to serving our current and future Scholars as they navigate their educational journeys through even greater challenges. To our Scholars and to our alumni, we firmly support you, we are here for you, and we will continue to be your partners and advocates along every step of your journeys.
—Nate Pietrini, Executive Director
“We are beyond grateful for the Chi Biz Strong Grant Program to have included the opportunity for nonprofits to receive critical funding for operations,” said Jill Reid, Chief Advancement Officer, High Jump. “The grant funding couldn’t have arrived a better time, as we continue to expand our programs offered to 7th and 8th grade students with limited economic means. We will be able to provide academic enrichment and essential support needed to empower the youth because of the grant funding.”
For Media Inquiries
Contact Tammi Longsjo at tlongsjo@highjumpchicago.org or (312) 582-7713.