SocialWorks, Michele Clark, Good Lookin’ Out & Raising Cane’s
A Recap of the Raising Cane’s Donation
Chance the Rapper surprised students at Michele Clark High School on Chicago’s West Side by serving Raising Cane’s lunches and announcing a no-homework day! The event was part of a celebration of a $100,000 donation from Raising Cane’s to SocialWorks, Chance’s nonprofit. The funds will support SocialWorks’ mission to empower youth through arts, education, and mental health initiatives. The visit also highlighted SocialWorks’ ongoing partnership with Michele Clark, which includes mental health wellness programs.
The wellness program conducted at Michele Clark High School was one of many memorable moments on Thursday, September 12th, and one of the most needed. A junior took her own life last year, and the Michele Clark community continues to mourn her loss. Students and staff have come together to support one another through this challenging time by placing encouraging messages and forming partnerships that boost school morale, and even organizing memorials and mental health awareness events to honor her memory and promote healing. Knowing grief is not linear, Principal Anderson wanted to bring tools the students could use, even when they’re not in school.
In response to the school’s needs and requests, SocialWorks reached out to collaborator and Chicago-based nonprofit Good Lookin’ Out. Good Lookin’ Out promotes positive messaging that inspires people to build relationships with each other through social media and clothing and facilitates four-year high school programs. Founder Parrish Brown Jr. says, “Good Lookin Out is a culture that inspires people to uplift one another, and by uplifting others, you uplift yourself.”
25 students participated in a peace circle where restorative games were conducted and taught to them so they can now facilitate the practices amongst their peers. Students also received a custom My State of Mind playlist, which pulls together wellness resources within the My State of Mind database. Wellness resources were compiled based on their location to Michele Clark and is free for all students.