CHICAGO (February 27, 2008)—When parents get involved, children succeed in school and in life. Engaging parents, families, and communities in Chicago-area schools is at the heart of a collaboration among the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the Illinois PTA and the international cultural educational program Up with People. The organizations are partnering to launch PTA Community Connections Chicago, a three-year project to create greater awareness of PTA programming in Chicago and other urban communities.

The project will feature the popular Up with People musical show, with all proceeds benefiting the Illinois PTA.

Working with the Chicago Public Schools and other area school districts, PTA Community Connections Chicago will seek to raise the level of parent engagement in Chicago-area schools through collaborations with local parent involvement and parent leadership organizations.

“PTA Community Connections Chicago serves as a model in urban areas around the country combining classroom discussions, community service projects for students, and a parent leadership summit for parents to learn and strengthen their leadership skills and identify urban issues they can help address,” said Jan Harp Domene, PTA National President.

In addition, the Up with People musical show, featuring local PTA Reflections students, will highlight the work of PTA and its new community partners: Black Star Project, Real Men Cook, Communities In Schools of Chicago, Parents for Public Schools, Illinois Parent Involvement and Resource Center (PIRC), Illinois Action for Children, Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, Illinois Family Partnership Network, Logan Square Neighborhood Association, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Act Now, Youth Guidance,  Chicago Association for the Education of Young Children, and others.

“The show will celebrate PTA’s mission to help all parents and concerned adults support the health, safety, and achievement of children everywhere,” said Jean Razunas, Illinois PTA President.

Up with People, with students between 18 to 29 years old from 26 countries, including China, Mexico, Ethiopia, Ireland, Italy, and the United States, also will participate in a week of community service working directly with the Illinois PTA in several Chicago and suburban public schools, including: Carl Schurz High School, Wendell Phillips Academy, Paul L. Dunbar Vocational Academy, Dwight D. Eisenhower High School, Charles P. Steinmetz Academic Centre, Edwin G. Foreman High School, Edward Tilden Career Community Academy, and Thomas Kelly.

The community service events take place March 4, 5, and 6, with these organizations: El Valor, Gaia Movement, Interfaith House, and Share your Soles.

The Up with People Show, designed to deliver messages of hope and goodwill, will take place Friday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Copernicus Theater, 5216 West Lawrence Avenue, Chicago 60630.

Tickets are $14 per adult and $10 per student 18 years and under, and can be purchased through March 6 by calling (800) 307-4PTA (4782) Ext. 330 or online at www.ticketweb.com (phone (866) 468-3401). Tickets also will be available for purchase at the show on March 7.

The PTA Parent Leadership Summit will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 8, at the Field Museum, Chicago. The event is free to parents and their children. Advance registration is required by calling (800) 307-4PTA (4782) Ext. 336 or e-mail lwilliams@pta.org.  

About PTA
PTA comprises more than 5 million parents and other concerned adults devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA flourishes in more than 25,000 school communities nationwide by harnessing the energy and talents of millions of volunteers to be: voices for all children; relevant resources for families and communities; and champions for the education and well-being of every child. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who is concerned about the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. Visit www.pta.org for more information.

About Up with People
Up with People provides young adults an international and intercultural experience that teaches leadership while doing various community service projects and uses the performing arts to deliver positive and inspiring messages while raising money and awareness for local organizations throughout the world. In the past 40 years, 20,000 Up with People students from more than 90 countries have visited 3,600 communities in 38 countries, provided 3,400,000 hours of service impacting 20 million people. More information about Up with People is available at www.upwithpeople.org.