Education

Lakina Mabins, a mother of five from Bronzeville and a CHA resident, recently celebrated a major milestone—graduating as the Valedictorian of Kennedy King College. Her journey back to school wasn’t easy. After putting her education on hold, she received a life-changing opportunity: the CHA Partners in Education Scholarship.

Among the Take Flight participants was Lanya Scott, who got a full scholarship to Loyola University to study nursing. She was inspired by her grandmother, who she’d take to doctor’s appointments when she was a young girl of six years old. 

CHA and Springboard to Success, CHA’s non-profit partner, hosted 200 incoming freshman who will be attending 60 schools locally and around the country at the annual Take Flight College Send-Off. This was the largest turnout in the event’s 14-year history.

Every year, CHA offers paid summer opportunities for residents ages 13-24 to provide early exposure to career and education pathways and opportunities that stem potential summer learning loss. 

Nearly 100 CHA college students joined representatives from 18 Chicago-area corporations, including BMO Harris, the Obama Foundation, and Cabrera Capital Markets, for the agency’s annual Take Flight Networking and Recruiting event.

More than 180 incoming college freshmen celebrated their successes with a giant trunk party at CHA’s 13th annual Take Flight College Send-Off at the United Center in August 2023.

For as long as she could remember, Daijah Pierce was interested in the health care field. But she never expected to get a first-hand view of the profession – until, she was diagnosed with Lupus shortly after starting high school. Lupus, an inflammatory disease caused by the immune system attacking its own tissues, took an excruciating toll. Today, she battles the condition daily.