SOCIALWORKS GIFTS TICKETS TO IGROW CHICAGO

Students from IGrow Chicago were gifted tickets to attend the Rising Stars Game during NBA All Stars Weekend by SocialWorks Chicago, Chance the Rapper’s non-profit organization. Photo Credit: Robbin Carroll, IGrow
Students from IGrow Chicago were gifted tickets to attend the Rising Stars Game during NBA All Stars Weekend by SocialWorks Chicago, Chance the Rapper’s non-profit organization. Photo Credit: Robbin Carroll, IGrow

SocialWorks gifts tickets to IGrow Chicago

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Students from IGrow Chicago were gifted tickets to attend the Rising Stars Game during NBA All Star Weekend by SocialWorks, the non-profit organization started by Chance the Rapper, Essence Smith and Justin Cunningham.

IGrow, based in the West Englewood community, has been around since 2014. Its mission is to grow Englewood from surviving to thriving through community connection, skill building and opportunity.

Mama Pearl is one of the elders who has been working with IGrow Chicago for two years. Part of her duties include picking up the kids after school and bringing them to the Peace House. She was one of the chaperones for the event. “I was past excited because I have never been to [the] United Center or a basketball game,” she said.

Mama Pearl said the experience was overwhelming but beautiful and she couldn’t have imagined it would be like that. “The seats we had put us right where the basketball players came out. So, they got to see quite a few of them. And, the kids got autographs,” she said.

Mama Pearl added, the people at the United Center were extremely nice to the group. She said the kids really enjoyed themselves.

“You have eight kids trying to stand in one spot trying to get autographs. They were blown away,” she said. “Just to watch the game and see their reaction was just amazing.” While Mama Pearl said she is not a big rap fan, she commends Chance on his generosity and calls him a “blessing.”

Mama Pearl is a great grandmother who worked in Corporate America for 35 years and is now retired. She said IGrow Chicago is a family that appreciates everyone’s efforts.

“What IGrow does is unbelievable. I’ve been in the Englewood area for 46 years, never once have I seen anybody do what they are doing,” she said. “People are not just writing Englewood off as drug infested and gang infested.”

Robbin Carroll is the founder and executive director of IGrow Chicago. She said the organization was very fortunate to receive the tickets from SocialWorks.

“We felt so grateful,” she said. “It’s a big deal in the community and we really wanted our kids to be able to say they also got to do something cool.”

Carroll said the community consistently lacks opportunity and exposure, both of which are important and can make a huge impact in someone’s life. “Exposure makes all the difference in how we feel about ourselves and self-worth and self-esteem,” she added.

Carroll said it was a valuable experience, not just for the kids but for the whole community. She said all the kids were super proud to tell her about their experience. “They just couldn’t wait to share about the lights and what went on, who was good and who was not,” she said. Carroll said the experience for the kids was pretty awesome.

“Even getting out of the neighborhood is such a big deal. Seeing different people, seeing them interacting, all of that is so valuable to living,” Carroll said.

She added it was great that it was Chance and SocialWorks that provided the tickets, someone the kids know about and can relate to.

“Chance serving as NBA All-Star ambassador is special. It gives SocialWorks an opportunity to invite youth to really feel the weekend - be a part of it,” Justin Cunningham, executive director of SocialWorks, said in a release. “We’re grateful to advocate for youth and their many forms of success, especially when it’s deepening their connection to Chicago and its many communities.”

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