Alive, Author at Alive Center - Naperville & Aurora

Alive Center offering free Teen Drop-in hours to Hanover Park

Alive — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 20:21:48 +0000

NAPERVILLE, IL – Beginning Tuesday, March 15th the Alive Center in Naperville is bringing its free teen drop-in hours for 6th – 12th graders to Hanover Park Illinois at the Greenbrook Tanglewood Homeowners Association, Inc. Located at 1211 Catalina Drive, Hanover Park, Illinois 60133. The free teen drop-in hours will be available every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30 – 5:30pm. The drop-in hours will include art experiences, games, life skills, movies, other interactive activities and more. This will be Alive’s third location, others including Naperville and Aurora Illinois.

The Greenbrook Tanglewood Community consists of 505 townhomes arranged in 76 separate buildings. Today, Hanover Park boasts the youngest residents of any Chicago northwest suburb, with a median resident age of 29.7. The spirit and energy of youth is visible throughout the community. Hanover Park is a family community with plenty of neighborhood sports teams and activities available for young families. Hanover Park neighborhoods are filled with children.

Both organizations recognize the power teenagers hold to represent and shape their community. Alive’s teen-created mission is to be teen-led, teen-driven centers focused on empowering the youth of today to become the impassioned, resilient leaders of tomorrow. Alive is a Teen-Led Teen-Driven (TLTD) program that was designed to empower the local youth by creating a supportive space for teenagers to innovate, while instilling leadership skills and confidence into younger teens and tweens.

James L. Slater, President, Board of Directors, Greenbrook Tanglewood Homeowners Association, Inc. says, “At the same time that our Association is investing ten million dollars in infrastructure to improve the lives of 505 families who reside in Greenbrook Tanglewood, we continue to be engaged in investing in our youth by partnering with DuPage County Habitat for Humanity and the Alive Center to launch Alive-Hanover Park, an after school Teen Drop-in Program for youth grades 6-12 at our Clubhouse for our community and the community at large. An investment in our youth is one of the best investments any organization can make.”

Michala Stokes, Neighborhood Revitalization Manager, DuPage Habitat for Humanity says, “The most common piece of feedback I hear is a lack of engagement activities for youth. The partnership with Alive could not have come at a more critical time after the pandemic. Having a program to release the imagination and creativity that exists among this neighborhood’s youth will increase the quality of life for the whole community, which is exactly what neighborhood revitalization is all about.”

The Alive Center’s free drop-in hours provide unique programming for local students to come together to learn, create, and socialize in a safe, welcoming, supervised environment. During the critical hours after school and over summer vacation, Alive’s program provides teens with free tutoring, mentoring, classes and workshops on a variety of topics such as leadership, career development, healthy cooking, art and music, drug prevention and awareness, anti-bullying and cyber safety information, community service projects, STEM, media, and more. The majority of these programs are teen-led and teen-driven to make them most relevant for the younger teens while giving the older teens a place to lead and innovate.

Alive Center CEO Kandice Henning says “We are so excited to be bringing a free teen center to the Hanover Park area. The Greenbrook Tanglewood neighborhood, which is under revitalization, is a perfect fit for one of our centers. We are very impressed by the results we have seen to date in Naperville and Aurora and we want to share our centers with other communities.”

The Alive Hanover Park Drop-in program is free of charge and available to all 6th – 12th graders. For more information the community can reach out to Kandice Henning at kandice@alivecenter.org.

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They are sooooo nice!

Alive — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 23:41:56 +0000

The Alive Center has been open 5 ½ years now and we hear all kinds of wonderful things from the parents and guardians of the teens we support. From the teens that come to drop-in day in and day out, we hear one consistent theme. They all say that the Alive Center staff are “sooooo nice”. It got me thinking, why are we so nice? Why do all of the kids say this and what does it say about the world outside of the Alive Center? Maybe it is not always such a nice place.

One of our pillars at Alive is “Belonging”. We are a place for ALL teens to belong and they feel this. They are welcomed and treated the same regardless of gender, race, sexual preference, religion, abilities, etc. The teens feel this. They know that we talk the talk and mean it and thus they gravitate back to us. I was a big fan of the TV show cheers. Norm would walk into the bar and the entire bar would look at him and loudly greet him with a big “Norm”. Many teens often feel invisible in the world. They live in these state of none of them feeling like they truly belong. They struggle to find a place to fit in- where they truly feel as if they belong. The Alive Center makes sure that they are seen and we aim to be forever inclusive in all that we do.

Another of our pillars is “Discovery”. The name Alive comes from my favorite quote by Howard Thurman. “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive then go and do it. Because what the world needs is people that have come alive.” At Alive teens can try their hand at art, cooking, music, writing, robotics, computer science, poetry and so much more. There are no grades and no fear of failure as we make trying new things fun, just as it should be. We laugh at failure and try it again! We want our teens to find what makes them come alive. They find this environment not only fun but supportive. What a great way to learn!

“Leadership” is our third pillar. At Alive we are Teen-Led and Teen-Driven. We literally let our teens create and lead programs all by themselves. They know that we are there if they need help which boosts their confidence. We do not treat them like kids but instead like people. They love this and comment on it all of the time. We are being nice but letting them take the lead. We provide guidance and support, but let them take the lead.

And last but not least, our fourth pillar is “Resiliency”. In a generation of helicopter parenting, teens need more independence and they need to understand and respond to what is expected of them. At Alive they clean up after themselves, they lead, and they are held accountable. We also teach them important life skills such as cooking, mindfulness, time management and more. Empowering teens to be more resilient is being nice to them and deep down they know it.

So why do our teens say that “the Alive Center staff is soooo nice”? I say that it is because we accept them JUST AS THEY ARE with no expectations of who we think they should be. We meet them where they are at. We create a nonjudgmental space for them to explore who they are. We are open. We are kind. We have meaningful conversations, we hold them accountable and we laugh and play… keeping life light. They are still children after all.

And this is why we plan to build more Alive Centers, to give such a place to more teens!

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Alive @ Community Announces Virtual Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Soft Opening

Alive — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 18:37:22 +0000

NAPERVILLE, IL – The Alive Center in Naperville is bringing its free teen Drop-in hours for 6th – 12th graders back to Aurora in a new location; Community Christian Church in Aurora. Effective January 6, 2021, Alive @ Community celebrated this new satellite location with a soft opening where families can get a tour and pre-register their teen(s).

A virtual ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 3:00 pm with Alive Staff, Mayor Irvin, City of Aurora, and representatives from the Aurora Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce. The ribbon cutting ceremony can be viewed on Facebook Live at: https://www.facebook.com/AuroraRegionalChamber.

Once COVID restrictions are lifted, the Alive @ Community free Drop-in hours will support teens in the community with teen initiated art, games, STEM programs, life skills, health and wellness and more. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, teens are welcome to #JustShowUp during the 2:45-6:00pm Drop-in hours.

Aurora native, Ady Rubio is a bi-lingual licensed social worker who will be leading the Alive @ Community satellite location. “I was first introduced to the Alive Center in 2016 when I was in my first year of the MSW program at Aurora University. As soon as I stepped into the Alive Center for my internship interview, it was an immediate connection. I loved everything about it and especially their dedication to the mission of empowering young people to step into leadership roles and find a sense of belonging. Alive became imprinted in my heart and mind, and I started to envision what an Alive Center would look like in Aurora. I am Aurora born and raised, and imagining the impact the Alive center could have on my community excited me! I remember driving through my hometown and scoping out empty spaces, and I would daydream. The impact the Alive Center had on me never left, and in 2019 I was honored to join the team, and now my dream I had so long ago for my Aurora community is coming true!”

Alive has impacted thousands of teens in the surrounding communities and will continue to do so more deeply in Aurora. Edward Bugg, Aurora Ward 9 Alderman said, “on behalf of the Aurora City Council, we are thrilled with the new collaboration between ALIVE and Community Christian Church. Given the Alive Center’s excellent record of impacting teens in a positive manner, we look forward to working with them as they help the teens of Aurora come ALIVE!”

In the east side of downtown Aurora, Community Christian Church is located at 78 S. Lasalle St. and is within walking distance to KD Waldo Middle School and a short drive from East Aurora High School and Cowherd Middle School. The 5700sq. ft. facility offers multiple classrooms as well as a large gathering space and state of the art performance venue. Community Pastor Rodrigo Cano says, “For quite some time I had been dreaming about a way to serve the students in our community; I know the need is here. Last year during our Breakthrough campaign, I asked God for an afterschool program. Never did I think God was already working to bring the Alive Center to Aurora. I know this is an awesome opportunity to serve and engage our community. Together we are investing in the next generation of leaders in Aurora!”

If you would like to learn more about Alive@Community, please contact Ady Rubio at Ady@alivecenter.org. To sign up for a free tour, visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090d44ada72ea5ff2-alive10

Donations to support the Alive non-profit organization can be made by going to https://www.alivecenter.org/donate-now/.

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Alive Center Launches End of Year 2020 HOPE Fundraising Campaign

Alive — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 18:34:27 +0000

NAPERVILLE, IL – The Alive Center non-profit in Naperville will launch it’s 2020 year-end fundraising campaign entitled: HOPE keeps us Alive; Believe in a Brighter Tomorrow on November 23. This campaign hopes to raise a total of $70,000 for the teen center with a big push on Giving Tuesday, December 1. All donations will help support Alive’s ongoing free teen programs and future locations.

Kandice Henning, CEO of the Alive Centers remains positive and says, “we are proud of the way in which Alive has remained committed to our mission this past year. In each of the ways we have responded to the challenges presented by COVID-19, we have put the teens first. We have adapted, pivoted and continued to serve teens and their families in every way we can. With the help of our community, we have connected teens with compassionate adults and their peers in a safe and socially distanced way. We have embraced our differences with a new Diversity & Inclusion committee. We have inspired new interests and passions, developed leaders and inspired community service; all of this despite being in the midst of a global pandemic. Our HOPE for the future keeps us believing in a brighter tomorrow!”

As COVID-19 continues to challenge all of us to lean into uncertainty, for young people in particular, staying hopeful and finding ways to cope with our ever-changing reality can be very challenging. Being a teenager is difficult no matter what, and teens are missing out on events with friends, hobbies, activities and the daily moments in school that foster resilience and growth.

Teens like Nikita Jacob, 14, said, “I like that even though there are staff members, many of the activities are done by teens. We do activities and projects that teens are interested in. It also helps in interacting with others even during this pandemic.”

Grey Bauer, 13, who began coming to Alive this summer shared, “I love Alive because it’s a place you can be yourself and not worry about being judged. It’s also very LGBTQ+ accepting which is really nice. They have a lot of cool stuff that you can do like do art, play video games, and more! I’ve made some really good friends here. I’m happy this place is here for teens and a place to go and hang out! I’m very thankful for it.”

Alive’s Teen-led, Teen-DrivenTM peer mentoring model (TLTD) lifts up all teens, from every socio-economic level, religion, race and identity. Many of these teens are being raised by single parents or grandparents and approximately 60% are below the DuPage Median Family Income. Throughout this past year, Alive has provided the solution for isolation and anxiety for many by quickly adapting last Spring to offer free daily Drop-in hours via Zoom instead of in-person, providing programs like Makerspace Mondays, encouraging teens to use items around the house to learn about science and technology, or Fitness Fridays, providing healthy activities such as exercise charades and fitness bingo. As summer allowed Alive to re-open its doors, the community stepped up to sponsor socially distanced summer camps like Alive with P.R.I.D.E., Cathartic writing, and even a ‘Kick-it’ kickball camp. Teen-led programs like these not only offer healthy distractions and the chance to make new friends, but also the opportunity to foster leadership for our high school teens leaders.

Laurel Anderson, Naperville D203 Social Worker, stated, ”I am continually blown away by the quality and diversity of programs the Alive Center offers. It has been incredible to see how adaptive their staff has been during the pandemic. They have their pulse on what is fun and what teens want as well as which needs exist in our community.”

Due to the increased challenges brought on by COVID-19, community support and generosity are needed today more than ever. Alive is asking for the community’s support to ensure they may continue to serve the youth while keeping the Alive Center financially stable. Alive will continue to adapt and respond, working toward a brighter tomorrow by investing in our youth today.

If you would like to learn more about Alive, please call 630.778.6093 or info@alivecenter.org.

You may support Alive’s work by donating through their website at https://www.alivecenter.org/donate.

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Alive Center Partners with Community Christian Church in Aurora on New Satellite Location

Alive — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 18:56:18 +0000

Alive Center Partners with Community Christian Church in Aurora on New Satellite Location

NAPERVILLE, IL – The Alive Center in Naperville is bringing its free teen Drop-in hours for 6th – 12th graders back to Aurora in a new location; Community Christian Church in Aurora. Beginning January 6, 2021, the Alive Center is moving its former Alive @ Eola location here to better serve the Aurora community, with more space and a better proximity to downtown Aurora.

The Alive @ Community free Drop-in hours are expanding from two days a week to three to support teens in the community with teen initiated art, games, STEM programs, life skills, health and wellness and more. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, teens are welcome to #JustShowUp during the 2:45-6:00pm Drop-in hours.

Alive will celebrate this new satellite with a grand opening celebration next year. Donations to support the Alive non-profit organization can be made by going to https://www.alivecenter.org/donate-now/. As well, donations made to the Alive Center on Giving Tuesday (12/1/2020) will support Alive @ Community.

If you would like to learn more about Alive@Community, please contact Ady Rubio at Ady@alivecenter.org.

Centrally located in north Naperville, the Alive Center provides teens with a unique place to connect, discover and come alive! Our mission is to be a Teen-Led, Teen-Driven© (TLTD) center focused on empowering the youth of today to become the impassioned, resilient leaders of tomorrow. As a nonprofit organization Alive offers free drop-in hours after school and over the summer as well as a myriad of programs, classes and events, designed to build confident and resilient teens.

On any given day at Alive one will find teen-led tutoring, mentoring and clubs as well as life skill classes such as unstructured art and dance, nutrition and healthy cooking, stress management, open music venues, creative writing and just plain fun! Alive is a place to belong and learn important life skills. Alive’s paid programming and facility rentals help fully utilize the space while allowing the community to support our local teens.

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No long lines of cars or goodbyes at the bus stop: A behind-the-screens look at the remote start of the District 203 school year

Alive — Sun, 06 Sep 2020 18:08:09 +0000

Read the Chicago Tribune article

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Alive Center Responds to eLearning in the Fall

Alive — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:19:53 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 28, 2020

Naperville, IL – Alive Center Responds to eLearning in the Fall
Naperville, IL – The Alive Center, Naperville’s teen center, responds to the community’s needs as the Naperville District 203 Return to Learn 2.0 eLearning plan is implemented September 1. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect everyone’s “normal” way of life, specifically child care with remote learning, Alive responds by creating a comprehensive eLearning Space @ Alive for middle schoolers, partnering with Naperville School District 203.

The Alive Center and District 203 saw the need for supervised care at the middle school level. As D203 parents and guardians look for alternatives to leaving their pre-teen children at home alone due to working outside of the home, need assistance when trying to fulfill the dual role of teacher and employee, or desire for their children to have connections outside of the home, eLearning Space @ Alive, can fill that void.

“We saw a need for our junior high students to have a place where they could participate in eLearning with access to resources while their parents worked,” said Stephanie Posey, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary. “We are thankful for our partnership with the Alive Center and will provide technical support, as well as a Naperville 203 liaison to support our junior high learners.”

Effective September 1, 2020, the Alive Center has multiple eLearning spaces for District 203 middle school students available Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 3:00 pm. eLearning Space @ Alive makes it easy for families to coordinate schedules. By purchasing a Membership/Virtual Punch Card, families are able to purchase on an as-needed basis, customizing which days their student will attend eLearning @ Alive! Alive provided early registration for D203 S.U.C.C.E.S.S. students before opening up registration to the public.

1 day = $40
5 days = $190 (5% off)
10 days = $360 (10% off)
20 days = $680 (15% off)
40 days = $1280 (20% off)

eLearning Space @ Alive provides:
– A supervised space to eLearn during school hours
– A space where safety guidelines are followed, limited capacity to ensure social distancing, and – masks required for everyone at the Center
– Lunch available to order from Aramark and delivered to Alive (fee may apply)
– Transportation available by Tuk Tuk of Naperville to/from Alive (fee may apply)
– Wifi for students to connect
– Printers are available
– Making connections and building relationships with other students
– Limited partial and full scholarships available

Additionally, Alive is committed to continuing regular programming and encourages students to stay after eLearning is complete for Drop-in! Drop-in is Alive’s staple FREE program for any 6th – 12th grader to #JustShowUp and visit with friends, play games, discover, learn and come Alive! Drop-in hours are available Monday – Friday 3pm – 7pm effective September 1. No pre-registration is required.

– Snacks available to fuel kids during work and play
– Virtual Tutoring options for kids in grades K-12
– Mentoring Program pairing Jr. High kids with High School mentors to help support them during eLearning, emotionally, socially and academically
– NEW full-time Spanish-speaking Social Worker on staff

Alive is seeking volunteers and donors to support eLearning Space @ Alive. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up. If you are interested in donating, we are seeking full or partial scholarship sponsors to support e-learners who are unable to afford the daily fee. For more information contact Kandice Henning at Kandice@alivecenter.org and review the Q&A document.

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Alive Center Voted “Best of the Best” Charitable Organization by Glancer Magazine’s 2020 Readers Choice Awards

Alive — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 17:46:26 +0000

August 1, 2020

For the 10th year, Glancer Magazine invited west suburban residents to nominate the Best of the Best in their community for the 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards. Alive was voted “Best of the Best” Charitable Organization in DuPage County. Thank you for your continued support!

https://www.glancermagazine.com/post/community-living-2020-best-of-the-best-winners

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Alive Center Hires Latina To Help With Its Spanish Speaking Community

Alive — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 05:00:26 +0000

Alive Center Hires Latina To Help With Its Spanish Speaking Community

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