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Adopt-A-School

In 2003 Northwestern Law adopted Talcott Elementary School in West Town as part of an educational partnership with Chicago Public Schools' Futures Exchange Program. Talcott is a century-old school that serves a mostly low-income, Latino student population, 30 percent of whom have limited English skills.

The partnership is an initiative of the Student Effort to Rejuvenate Volunteering (SERV) student organization and was planned as part of the Law School's public service strategy. While the strategy is designed to encourage students to understand the importance of giving back to their communities, the adopt -a -school program also was intended to attract faculty and staff and provide opportunities for the whole community to come together in service.

Each year the Northwestern Law community participates in a variety of programs to make a difference in the lives of the students at Talcott. Some examples include Dean David Van Zandt and Dean of Students, Cliff Zimmerman, acted as Principal for a Day; 25 members of the senior staff devoted half a day to help Talcott's librarian organize her library; Northwestern Law volunteers sponsored a Career Day, tutored third graders, and acted as pen pals; the Habeas Chorus-sponsored talent show "CABARET!" raised money for Talcott's music department; and the Law School IT department donated 10 computers to the school.

This community effort has had a positive impact, as Talcott was named a "Rising Star" school in 2004 because of its exceptional improvement in academic performance.

Current volunteer opportunities include:

• Being a pen pal to a fourth grader
• Reading aloud with a third grader on Thursdays during lunch
• Teaching constitutional rights foundation lessons, through the Lawyer in the Classroom Program
• Beautifying Talcott through a service project sponsored by Chicago Cares Celebration of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King on Saturday, January 15, 2005. Sign up

To volunteer or obtain more information, please contact Maureen Stratton by e-mail or call (312) 503-4558.