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LATEST NEWS


Expanding West40's Food Program
Providing nutritional support is one of the many ways West40 remains committed to being what our communities need. And now our food...


THE RIGHT FIT - OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH GRANTS
How new uniforms can make a lasting impact for young athletes New and sharp-looking uniforms can make sports teams feel a sense of pride....


RESTORATIVE PRACTICES: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN LIFE
In recent years, there has been a shift away from traditional school discipline, like detention and suspension, toward restorative...


PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLIES: A WEST40 SPRING TRADITION
It’s an annual West40 tradition that transforms and flies away to the delight of students across West Cook County. Each year, West40...

GETTING CREATIVE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN A REMOTE SETTING
In the Words of Vicki Dimitrakakos, Remote School Lead Advocate As the Lead Advocate in the Remote School, it is important to ensure that...


HOMEGROWN PRINCIPAL AIMS TO INSPIRE FUTURE LEADERS
The job listing for principal at Mannheim Middle School in District 83 immediately drew the attention of former student Tom Herion. “I...

HEART 2 HEART STORE OPENS
Prices for nearly all consumer goods are at record highs as the country grapples with inflation, but West40 is offering relief to its...

KEEPING KIDS INSPIRED DURING THE PANDEMIC
As told by Vince Harper and Angela Horton, West40 Safe Schools teachers “As the COVID-19 pandemic really set in in early March, things...

SEEING 'KIDS LIKE US'
As told by Karen Tiemann, Program Director of the West40 Safe Schools “In the 1990s, I was a U.S. history teacher and I was working at a...

MOVING A DISTRICT IN A NEW DIRECTION
As told by Dr. Mary Mycyk, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, and Dr. Anthony Grazzini, Director of Grants and...

THE VALUE OF NEVER GIVING UP
As told by Dion Flowers, former West40 Safe Schools student “The biggest lessons in my life are the ones I learned at the West40 Safe...

HOW MENTORS CHANGED MY LIFE
As told by Frank Giosa, Principal of the West40 Safe Schools Middle School “It’s funny that I’m in education, because where I grew up,...

FIGHTING FOR THE FUTURE OF ILLINOIS
As told by: Karen Tiemann, president of ICEARY; Dr. Mark Klaisner, former president of ICEARY; Ben Lewis, ICEARY member; John Milosovic,...


A SON TRANSFORMED BY THE SAFE SCHOOLS
As told by Bill Stewart, parent of a West40 Safe School student “Before my son Michael went to a West40 Safe School, he went to a middle...

BUILDING A NEW BELIEF SYSTEM
As told by Joshua Easter, Charles Carter and Cody K. Cotton, West40 mentors and founders of A Greater Good Foundation “Let’s say you have...


MEASURING OUR IMPACT ON STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS
As told by Renee Makris, Area Director of Leyden ALOP Programs “Growing up, I never thought I’d be in education. If you had told me that...


FIGHTING FOR EQUITY IN ILLINOIS SCHOOLS
As told by Dr. Mike Popp, Assistant Executive Director of West40 and former school superintendent “When I was a school superintendent, I...


FROM STRUGGLING STUDENT TO LOCAL LEADER
As told by Maria Rivera, former West40 ALOP student and current college student “I grew up in the U.S., but when I was in first grade, my...


TEAMING UP TO HELP TROUBLED TEENS
As told by Loreah Boyle, Karina Carbajal and Jimmy Mortillaro, West40 ALOP advocates at Proviso East High School “If a student enters our...


THE POWER OF ‘ONE PERSON AT A TIME’
As told by Dr. Mark Klaisner, Executive Director of West40 and President of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of...
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