IFF Lead Project Manager James Ratner and managing director of Real Estate Solutions for Chicago, Kate Ansorge, at the ribbon cutting ceremony for ITAV’s Bronzeville Campus.
Founded in 2004 to strengthen Chicago communities by providing access to high-quality, culturally responsive education and social services, It Takes a Village Family of Schools (ITAV) has devoted the last 20 years to nurturing future leaders with a social justice-focused educational model. Launched as an early childhood education (ECE) provider, ITAV has over time expanded its focus to include K-12 education and grown to serve more students and families across multiple locations.
The nonprofit recently celebrated the latest milestone in its evolution with a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new campus in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood that has enabled ITAV to consolidate several of its programs and its administrative offices to one location, saving the organization approximately $37,000 per month that can be reinvested in its mission-driven work. The event, which was attended by Congressman Jonathan Jackson, Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, State Rep. Kim du Buclet, and Chicago Alds. Lamont Robinson and Desmond Yancy, brought to a close a seven-year search by ITAV for a new, permanent location.
“Choosing Bronzeville for our newest location was a deliberate decision rooted in our commitment to social justice and community empowerment,” said ITAV CEO & Founder Nakisha Hobbs in a recent interview. “Bronzeville is a neighborhood rich in history and culture, known for its significant contributions to the arts, civil rights, and African American heritage. By establishing a presence in Bronzeville, we aim to honor this legacy while providing high-quality, culturally responsive education to its residents. Our goal is to be a part of the ongoing revitalization efforts in the area, contributing to the community’s growth and supporting its families.”
Currently home to ITAV’s Leadership Academy—an independent K-8 school that serves 300 students—the Bronzeville campus will include in the coming years an ECE center equipped to serve 150 children and a new high school facility that will enroll up to 220 students to complete ITAV’s strategic goal to offer a birth-to-career pathway for young people on Chicago’s South Side. The 8.1-acre campus, once home to a Catholic high school, will undergo several phases of renovations to create the high-quality facilities needed to support ITAV’s vision. Once complete, the campus will serve nearly 700 young people, while also offering outdoor space for physical education, organized sports, urban agriculture, and more.
To support ITAV’s expansion at the Bronzeville campus, IFF’s Real Estate Solutions team conducted a site search, provided the organization with predevelopment support, and served as the owner’s representative during recent renovations to the 100,000-square-foot facility that houses ITAV’s Leadership Academy. To fund its acquisition of the campus and the first phase of renovations, ITAV leveraged a $6.5 million loan from IFF, with additional financing provided by fellow CDFI Chicago Community Loan Fund. More recently, IFF participated in a New Markets Tax Credit deal that provided ITAV with an additional $2.1 million to upgrade plumbing in its Leadership Academy building, renovate bathrooms and a kitchen, and complete additional facility improvements.
Scroll down to learn more about ITAV’s Bronzeville campus and to see several photos from the ribbon cutting ceremony!
Exciting things happening in my home community– Bronzeville! @ITAVschools has been nurturing socially conscious minds for years. Now, with 6 early learning centers, 2 social justice elementary schools + numerous youth services programs, ITAV is inspiring systemic change for all! pic.twitter.com/4AVqwc7nUp
— Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton (@LtGovStratton) October 23, 2024
It Takes A Village Leadership Academy welcomed family, friends and elected officials to its new Bronzeville campus yesterday, offering more space for the growing private school with a social justice focus. https://t.co/JFRfU744OL pic.twitter.com/6nJVJ0oErH
— Block Club Chicago (@BlockClubCHI) October 23, 2024