The Black Star Project

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Parent University

The Toyota/Black Star Parent University was created to address a long-standing challenge parents who need additional support to build stronger families and ensure the proper education of their children. The Parent University, designed for Chicago public school parents, is available to all parents throughout Chicago. Classes, which are also available in Spanish, are held in schools, community centers, libraries, churches, park districts and other parent-friendly locations.

A recent study by the National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools shows that parent and community involvement improves student achievement. Regardless of race, income or language barriers, the benefits of parental and community involvement for students include:

Higher grade point averages and higher scores on standardized tests
Higher enrollment in more challenging academic programs
More classes passed and credits earned
Better school attendance
Less retention
Improved behavior at home and school
Better social skills and adaptation to school

Local parenting experts, who serve as "professors", teach courses that range from educating parents about conflicts resolution to developing their family's financial literacy. Parent University courses include:

Boys to Men: How Single Mothers Can Raise Them
The Money Game: Managing Household Budgets and Teaching ChildrenÂ to Earn, Save and Invest
Reducing Stress in Parents/Guardians and their Children
Black Cultural Awareness for Family Development
How to Make Your Child a Better Reader
An Introduction to Technology for Parents
About Sex: Talking to Your Teenager Successfully
Keeping Your Child Away from Gangs, Drugs and Other Destructive Activities

Better parents produce better communities, better schools and better students. Please call the Parent University Program Director at 773.285.9600 for more information on this program and how you can become involved. For a schedule of upcoming courses, which are free and open to all interested community members, please see our calendar.

National News and Campaigns

Join the November 12th Movement of Black men in action!

A Day of Planning and Organizing:
If "Occupy Wall Street" can be organized and executed in 3 days and if the Arab Spring can be launched in 4 days, how many days will it take for Black men to take control of the destiny of Black people in America and around the world?

Million Father March 2012

From Atlanta, Georgia:

...and surprisingly, more fathers than I've ever seen, meeting and greeting teachers... bending over and reminding children to "pay attention, do your work," and of course the customary "don't act a fool on the first day of school!" The Million Father March is a major first step in the right direction for many fathers.