Be the Change Collaborative
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Be the Change Collaborative is dedicated to providing restorative, nurturing programs for teachers.
Our Story:
Be the Change Collaborative is a non-profit organization committed to working with educators to transform classroom experiences for our students. In 2009, a group of six educators who were graduates of the University of Chicago Urban Teacher Education Program and teaching in classrooms across the south side of Chicago came together to develop a plan for a charter school. The focus of Be the Change Charter School’s mission centered around a project-based and interdisciplinary curriculum that would prepare students to be active citizens of their community and world. Over the course of five years, the organization has become more focused in its vision, gathered the support of many educators and community members, and raised funds for its efforts in submitting a charter proposal to Chicago Public Schools. While the platform for our work may no longer be a school, BCC has re-imagined itself as an organization dedicated to fostering a community of teachers who create and implement interdisciplinary curricular units in classrooms across Chicago. Learn more about the Interdisciplinary Learning Fellowship Program on our website! BCC will also maintain a database of interdisciplinary units created by our fellows and organize a citywide celebration of interdisciplinary learning every spring for students, families, and teachers. We envision a true collaborative in which teachers across Chicago and from diverse backgrounds work together and become agents of change within their classrooms and schools. Be the Change Collaborative is led by co-founders and coaches, Jeannie Kim and Sonia Wang, and has a governing board comprised of six members from various civic, educational, and community sectors. We are passionate about the impact that interdisciplinary teaching and learning can have on not only what students learn but how and why they learn, use their voice, and take action in today’s world.
06/05/2026
So excited to hold these spaces for educators this summer for restoration and connection and collaboration. Join us and check out our website to learn more.
05/12/2026
Our last circle of this school year clarified the purpose of all our circle themes this year (courage, love, joy, imagination, perseverance, hope) as a way to resist internally - to heal in community. ❤️
05/07/2026
Throwing it back to our April circle on imagination with ! It's hard to capture the laughter, movement, and creativity we shared in the space, but deep appreciation for giving us the opportunity to imagine another world and practice the future together.
04/20/2026
Our last restorative circle for educators for this school year is coming up on May 6th! Our monthly circles have been opportunities for us to cultivate hope in community through remembering, telling stories, and art-making about courage, love, joy, imagination, and more. Please join us for intentional reflection time and to explore the intersection of hope and resistance in May. Sign up at link in bio or on our website.
03/19/2026
Wishing educators a restful and restorative spring break! We are looking forward to our April circle and exploring imagination together. We'll be joined by art therapist Alex Galvan and engage in collaboration and creation. (Please note that we will be meeting Wednesday evening for April and May.)
03/06/2026
Thank you to all who joined us in circle and art-making around joy!
02/24/2026
Next Thursday is our March restorative circle for educators. We will be exploring the theme of joy through our stories and art-making. We hope you join us!
02/19/2026
Our last three educator circles of the year will include art-making guided by art therapist friends and help us collectively explore joy, imagination, and resistance. We hope you can join us!
02/06/2026
Thank you to all who joined us in circle yesterday and shared stories of perseverance. We are called in this time to redefine what it means and looks like to persevere and be creative and be part of building something new, which we may not see in our lifetime. But that future is the responsibility and the hope of all caregivers and educators.
01/20/2026
Our February circle for educators is coming up in a few weeks and we hope you can join us to reflect and share in community!
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Chicago, IL