Project Location/Destination: In town
Faculty Leaders: Jonathan Legendre & Josh Phipps
Dates: Monday, March 13 - Saturday, March 18 (Please note project ends on Saturday, March 18 at 4 p.m.)
Cost: $272
Special Considerations:
Age restriction: Students must be 16 or older by the start of the project
See below for additional Special Considerations
Objective
This project allows students the opportunity to partner with their local community by working with Habitat for Humanity and similar not-for-profit housing organizations in the Chicago area. Students will learn about the lack of affordable housing in our city and work to build and improve places for families to call home. Students will expand their construction skills, and learn to work as a team.
Description
Students will begin the week learning about homelessness and housing insecurity in Chicago. On Tuesday through Saturday, students will help build new houses and/or rehabilitate older ones. Our plan is to work with Habitat at their Windy City and Fox Valley chapters. This work may include drywalling, painting, carpentry, carpeting, landscaping, and other needed tasks. Also, participants will likely spend time organizing donated materials at Habitat for Humanity’s Chicagoland Re-Store in Chicago Heights.
Student Requirements and Expectations
Students must be at least 16 years of age.
Please note that this project runs through SATURDAY, March 18. Students are expected to be able to participate fully in all these daily activities.
No previous experience is necessary, as on-site training is provided by Habitat. Sturdy work shoes/boots are required.
Tentative hours are 7:15 a.m. - 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Monday will be a shortened day, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
We are looking for participants who are willing to work hard, have positive attitudes, and are passionate about helping others!
About the Faculty
Mr. Phipps has been teaching physics at Latin for 14 years, and also co-coaches the Robotics team. Mr. Legendre has been teaching chemistry at Latin for 19 years. He coaches scholastic bowl and is an assistant ultimate frisbee coach. Mr. Legendre has participated in volunteer work through Latin and gets a lot of satisfaction from “sweat equity,” and Mr. Phipps is very excited for his first opportunity. Also, there will be on-site supervisors from Habitat overseeing the work and we will be introduced to on-site supervisors as we near project week.
Tentative Itinerary
Monday: Stay at Latin, learn about homelessness and housing insecurity in Chicago
Tuesday: Service at ReStore
Wednesday through Saturday: Service with Habitat for Humanities, Chicago.
Special considerations
Expectation for physical activity - This project will require a significant amount of physical exertion and possibly some physical discomfort. Students on this project should be willing to deal with discomfort, at times, in inclement weather. Students are expected to be able to participate fully in all these daily activities.
Scheduling (in town) - This project will have time commitment outside of the Monday-Friday (8 a.m. - 4 p.m.) typical school week. Please note that there is an expectation that students are able to attend the whole time the project is running.
Transportation considerations: Latin faculty - Students will be transported by Latin School faculty chaperones drivers.
Age requirement: Students must be 16 or older by March 13, 2023 to be eligible to participate in this project.