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It Takes A Village Family of Schools

@itavschools

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Nurturing, joyful, equity-driven early learning.
Rooted in community, culture and care.
0–5📍Austin • Humboldt Park • South Loop
#TheITAVWay

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Looking for FREE family fun in Chicago? 🎃

Roots & Boots is BACK October 24!
Don’t miss out on our pumpkin patch, pony rides, petting zoo, train rides, inflatables, food, and more!

FREE & OPEN TO ALL! Save your family’s spot
🔗 RSVP: bit.ly/RootsBoots2026

#chicagofall #bronzevillechicago

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Today, our Village honors Indigenous Peoples’ Day! 💚

Through learning, reflection, and student-led presentations, our scholars are deepening their understanding of Indigenous histories, cultures, resilience, and contributions.

We celebrate the voices, traditions, and living legacies of Indigenous peoples today and every day.

#IndigenousPeoplesDay #CulturallyResponsiveEducation #TheITAVWay

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💧 Who gets access to clean drinking water, and what happens when that access is compromised?

In Ms. Porter’s fifth grade Grassroots Campaigns class, our scholars are examining real-world issues that have shaped communities and sparked calls for change.

Last week, they studied the Flint, Michigan water crisis, exploring how lead-contaminated drinking water affected residents, the public health consequences, and questions of race, equity, and government accountability.

As scholars shared what they learned, one raised the question of racism and another explained why studying Flint matters: so their generation can help prevent similar crises and understand how to respond if they occur.

This research may also help shape the grassroots campaign our fifth graders develop this school year.

At ITAV Leadership Academy, we believe young people should have the knowledge, critical-thinking skills, and confidence to understand the world around them and participate in making it better.

💚 Because learning about a problem is often the first step toward becoming part of the solution.

#EnvironmentalJustice #CivicEducation #CriticalThinking #ProjectBasedLearning #TheITAVWay

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When the boys on our football team BEG their moms to let them ride the train with Coach Dominic on a Saturday! 😂💚🏈

That’s how you know the relationships are real!

We love these boys, and we love the Village that surrounds them.

Thank you, Coach Dominic, for being the kind of coach our scholars want to spend their Saturdays with!

#Chicago #YouthSports #FlagFootball #Mentorship #TheITAVWay

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“Are you ready?”

“WE ARE ALWAYS READY!” 💚

There’s something special about hearing our scholars begin the day together, affirming how we will think, work, treat one another, and move through the world.

This is how we set the tone at ITAV Leadership Academy.

“Then let us begin.” 💚

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🎃Roots & Boots is back! Join ITAV for our FREE Family Pumpkin Patch Day on Saturday, October 24 at ITAVLA in Bronzeville!

Celebrate the season with pony rides, a petting zoo, train rides, inflatables, food, treats & more!

🔗 Register your family today: bit.ly/RootsBoots2026

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A huge thank you to Benjamin Randle for donating books to ITAVLA! 📚✊🏾

His generosity is helping us build a Social Justice Library filled with stories that inspire, empower, and create change.

Be inspired. Give today. Help us build a more liberated future—one book at a time.

→ bit.ly/LiberatedVoices26

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¡Pájaro! ¡Gallo! ¡Pollo! 🐦🐓🐥💚

Our Kinders are building their Spanish vocabulary with Señor Aceves, and of course, the gestures make it even more fun. 😂

Learning a new language starts early at ITAV, one word, one sound and one very enthusiastic motion at a time. 💚

#Kindergarten #SpanishClass #LearningInAction #Vocabulary #TheITAVWay

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📚 What does it look like to teach students to think deeply about what they read?

In Ms. London’s third grade classroom, getting the answer is only the beginning.

When students identified what unsuspecting meant, Ms. London pushed their thinking one step further:

How do you know she was unsuspecting?

Students had to go back to what they read, think about the character and explain the evidence behind their answer. Through turn and talks, they also had opportunities to test their thinking, listen to a classmate and strengthen their response.

That’s the work. Building readers who don’t just understand what they’re reading, but can think, talk and explain their thinking. 💚📚

#ThirdGrade #Literacy #Comprehension #Vocabulary #TheITAVWay

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This is what building community looks like. 💚💜

There was something special about bringing community centered people into one room with a shared purpose: figuring out how we can work together to better support children, families and communities.

This week, the Village Wellness Center and It Takes A Village brought together community partners to connect, listen, share resources and begin building stronger pathways of support.

And the energy in the room was incredible.

People weren’t just exchanging business cards. They were sharing ideas, identifying gaps, offering resources, making connections and asking a simple question: How can we help each other do more for the people we serve?

That is the kind of community we want to keep building.

Deep gratitude to every partner who showed up ready to listen, contribute and collaborate. We are excited about what can grow from this table. 💚💜

It really does take a Village.

#ItTakesAVillage #Wellness #CommunityPartnerships #MentalHealth #Chicago

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5,000 strong. 💚

Five thousand people are now a part of the journey of It Takes A Village Leadership Academy.

Behind every follow is someone who believes children deserve a school experience where they are known, challenged, supported, and inspired.

Thank you for following our scholars, celebrating our educators, and being a part of our Village.

From Bronzeville to the world, we are just getting started.

#TheITAVWay #RoyalHawks #Chicago #Education #Community

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We’re excited to announce the continuation of our partnership with Barnes & Noble (@barnesandnoble), alongside our newest partner, Share Our Spare (@shareourspare)!

Together, we’re committed to empowering the next generation through diverse books, educational equity, and access to stories that inspire, challenge, and create change.

And we’re just getting started. Stay tuned for upcoming events—because the fight for justice through books is far from over! ✊🏾📚

📚 Help us build a Social Justice Library at our ITAVLA campus.

→ Amplify the call for justice today: bit.ly/LiberatedVoices26

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Dr. Kenya Joyce Hatch, Director of Development, at jhatch@itavschools.org.

Partner with us today and help build a more liberated future—one book at a time.

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