R.A.G.E.

R.A.G.E., are you ready to party?! All R.A.G.E. members are invited to join us for our Members Summer Social & Taco Party on Tuesday, June 20th. We’ll be gathering at the R.A.G.E Plaza, located at 6622 S. Union Ave in Chicago, IL, at 5:30pm to connect, build and have some fun– taco tuesday style! This is one of our favorite events of the year, and we hope all our current members can make it!

Not a member yet? If you are passionate about the upliftment of Greater Englewood and want to get involved join R.A.G.E. today!

Only a few days left to apply for our biggest scholarship “Re-Up” ever!

It is an honor to be able to support the youth from our community as they pursue their education goals. We believe that education gives youth the power to transform their communities and themselves, which is why this year, we’re awarding more scholarships than ever before—a total of 15 scholarships! And not only that, we’ve also increased the award amounts for each scholarship. The first place winner will receive $2,000, (2) second place scholars will earn $1,000, and (2) third place winners will get $500. All incoming college students from the Englewood community are encouraged to apply. 

The Englewood Stem Scholarship:  Introducing a new opportunity for the first graduating class of Englewood STEM: the Englewood STEM scholarship. First opening its doors in 2019, after a wave of CPS closures took away four local high schools, the Englewood STEM is the first new public school in the Greater Englewood community in decades. At R.A.G.E., we know it is our utmost responsibility to pour into these students and we are committed to helping them succeed by providing financial support through our scholarship program.

This scholarship is open to all graduating Englewood STEM students that hold a 2.5 minimum GPA and will be attending a college or university in the fall. Being an Englewood resident is not a requirement to receive this award.

The Samaiya Butler HBCU Scholarship: The “Samaiya Butler HBCU scholarship” is a scholarship that was created to honor Samaiya Butler, an Englewood resident, and long-time R.A.G.E. member/youth intern since the tender age of 10. Due to her commitment to Englewood and community service, she earned the Bonner Scholarship, a full ride at Spelman College. Samaiya Butler, a Lindblom High School Alum, graduated from Spelman in 2020. 

This scholarship will be awarded to qualifying students who reside in Englewood or West Englewood, hold a minimum 2.5 GPA, and will be attending a Historically Black College or University.

R.A.G.E. Neighbor Re-Up Scholarship: Created to honor and support all our Englewood scholars, the Neighbor “Re-Up” Scholarship program will support students who reside in Englewood or West Englewood, hold a minimum 2.5 GPA, and will be enrolled in an accredited college or university this fall.

There are only 6 days left before this application deadline expires—so if you know an Englewood resident who could benefit from this scholarship opportunity, please share this information with them before it’s too late! Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM CST on June 12th, 2023. Awardees will be notified in the last week of June and honored at our annual scholarship luncheon during the last week in July. 

We’re thrilled to introduce the newest addition to the R.A.G.E. team: Nikki Patin!

Nikki joins us as the new R.A.G.E. Program Director and brings a wealth of experience to the organization, having been in the non-profit sector for almost 25 years. An award-winning writer, performer, and educator, she’s been featured in the Chicago Tribune and has appeared on Fox Soul Radio (WTTW), WBEZ and WBEZ Worldview (NPR) among others. She is also the founder of Surviving the Mic, a survivor-led collective that curates performances and workshops for writers and performers who are also survivors of sexual harm.

You may have already seen her out connecting and building on behalf of R.A.G.E., and we are so excited to have her with us, bringing her incredible energy and talent to our community! Welcome to the team, Nikki!

Happy Memorial Day from RAGE!

We hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend and are able to spend time with friends and family. We’ll be closed in observance of the national holiday on Monday, May 29, 2023.

This is an opportunity to reflect on those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom and to celebrate the many ways their legacy continues to shape our world. Thank you for your service. May your fallen heroes never be forgotten, and may their legacy live on through you, forever.

All hands on deck! The MMRP Taskforce will be meeting tomorrow on Thursday, May 25th at 4:30pm. Join us to hear updates, discuss next steps + housing priorities in Greater Englewood. Join the #MMRP Housing Task Force at https://bit.ly/housing60621 and helps us turn our blocks from vacant to vibrant!

Tomorrow you are invited to join our CEO Asiaha Butler and R.A.G.E. Member Dion Dawson of Dion’s Chicago Dream will join United Way of Metro Chicago for the next virtual Neighborhood Exchange, Food Disruptors — How Innovation and Sustainability Are Feeding Our Neighbors.

We’re excited to be part of the conversation with other influential voices to share our perspective on the importance of food sustainability and creating healthy communities! RSVP to join us for this virtual conversation tomorrow online at http://bit.ly/NE_May23

R.A.G.E. Members needed! There are three events happening in Englewood tomorrow concerning our community, and we need all hands on deck! All R.A.G.E. members and Englewood stakeholders are invited to join R.A.G.E. at any of the three events happening tomorrow, Tuesday May 23rd in Greater Englewood. Read on for the list of event and we hope to CONNECT + BUILD + TAKE ACTION with you, R.A.G.E.!

We can’t thank you enough for your incredible participation in National Rebuilding Day! Over 1,500 volunteers came together on Saturday, April 29th in Englewood and Blue Island to remodel 77 total homes. In Englewood, we had an amazing turnout of volunteers—from our members, to our staff, to neighbors and trades professionals– who came together to transform the home of Ms. Rosie Brown and clean up the entire block of 57th & May.

Every year Rebuilding Together of Metro Chicago organizes this opportunity for the reinvestment in our homeowners and we are incredibly grateful to have been a part of it. The weather tried to keep us down, but the entire team pushed through to get the job done! This is just one example of what happens when we come together as a community and work towards a common goal. We are so proud of all of you who came out and made this day possible! We hope you enjoy this footage from the day and we can’t wait to see you all at the next R.A.G.E. event!

Are you looking for a way to give back to your community? Do you want to help beautify Englewood?

Then join Imagine Englewood If… for the largest community clean-up in Chicago today, Saturday, May 6th! Help us beautify our blocks and celebrate the collaboration of our great community on Greater Englewood Unity Day. Volunteers are needed to help clean up trash and debris from streets, alleys, parks, and other public areas in Englewood on Saturday morning before coming together for the Unity Celebration at the Peace Campus at noon.

This event is an opportunity to come together to make our community even better. We hope you will join us! Register to volunteer now.

Get ready to CONNECT + BUILD + TAKE ACTION at the next Englewood Village Meeting! After holding our bi-monthly Village Meeting virtually since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we are finally returning to our in-person format on Tuesday, May 16th! All Englewood residents and stakeholders are invited to join us at Benjamin E. Mays Academy, located at 6656 S. Normal Ave, from 5:30 to 7:30pm for an evening of community, conversation, and connection. RSVP in advance to attend here: https://bit.ly/ragemeeting

Interested in speaking at our next Englewood Village Meeting? We have a limited number of slots available and they go fast! Contact us today at joinrage@gmail.com to be potentially added to the agenda for our upcoming Village Meeting on May 16th, or future meetings.