Building Community Working in the Schools (WITS) is the largest volunteer corps providing yearlong mentorship to Chicago Public School elementary students. The cornerstone of WITS student mentorship programs is their … Read More
“WITS builds foundational literacy skills” – WITS CEO Tena Latona
For the last three and a half years I have been the CEO of WITS and I have been proud to support the WITS staff in creating opportunities for every … Read More
Back in the Classroom: How to Honor Student Experience
It’s that time of year again; the smell of fresh marble composition notebooks, unaware of their temporary pristine condition. Fingers delicately configuring locker combinations and brains taking on the daunting … Read More
All About the Lending Library
The Tale of Despereaux, Matilda, Eleanor & Park, The Jumbies, Golden Boy, and Change. What do these titles have in common? These popular books are all titles in the Boundless … Read More
SEL Focused Teacher Professional Development
Teacher Professional Development Program at Working in the Schools meets teachers’ and schools’ need for SEL focused teacher professional development following years of unfinished learning. WITS Summer Institute provides teacher … Read More
Increasing Teachers’ Access to Books
The Gift of Reading Fostering a love of reading is at the heart of what WITS does. At the end of each school year, WITSummer Books sends WITS students home … Read More
Back to the Office and Back to the Classroom: How WITS Creates Community across Chicago’s Neighborhoods
For 791 days (give or take what you will) we have been working in some form of professional athleisure; repurposing surfaces in our home normally reserved for eating or sleeping … Read More
WITS Beginnings: A Story from Founding Volunteer Ginny Carlson
Editor’s note: Ginny and Roger Carlson are long-time WITS supporters and volunteers. As WITS CEO Tena Latona espoused in 2020, “As the CEO of an organization you hope for Board … Read More
A Letter from WITS CEO, Tena Latona
Community and Consistency, Now More than Ever Hello WITS Community, As you may know, students have been experiencing a lot of change since winter break. The surge in COVID-19 cases … Read More
A Note from the Daughter of WITS Co-founder, Joanne Alter
As a current board member and the daughter of WITS co-founder, Joanne Alter, I am admittedly biased, but I am continually impressed with the organization’s welcoming approach to change. I … Read More
