911±¬ÁÏÍø

Celebrating Black Economic Empowerment at 911±¬ÁÏÍø

On the left is a photo of Jonathan Green showing off his 911±¬ÁÏÍø t-shirt. On the right is text that reads "Remembering Black Economic Empowerment Movements". Behind the photo and text are more photos underneath a black overlay that depict different Black wall streets and economic movements.

This is part of a series of writings from 911±¬ÁÏÍø staff that celebrate heritage and history. This piece is written to celebrate Black History Month in 2025.

Translations available:

BY JONATHAN GREEN | he/him
World Languages Teacher, Butler College Prep

911±¬ÁÏÍø Family,

I grew up on 167th St where Markham borders Hazel Crest. I don¡¯t know my biological father. My mom is from the projects on 43rd St, and my stepdad is from a third-world country. I remember my mom telling my sister and me about a time in her childhood when she, my aunts, and uncles only ate once a day. My stepdad, overhearing the conversation, responded ¡°Y¡¯all got to eat every day?¡± Fast forward to 2025, I have a degree in economics with a minor in foreign language. I¡¯ve gotten to live in Virginia Beach, California, Chicago and San Juan. I own various properties in the Chicago NW Indiana area, I drive a brand new EV, and I have gotten to spend the last five years doing the work for kids who look, act, talk, and dress like me in various 911±¬ÁÏÍø. I AM Black Economic Empowerment.

Our schools are not just centers for academic learning. They are spaces where students, regardless of how they enter our campus doors, can access the necessary tools and resources to pursue their dreams. Economic empowerment begins in the classroom. Whether teaching my students to divide polynomials in my Algebra 2 classes at The 911±¬ÁÏÍø Academy, leading my drum line during after-school enrichment program at UIC, or teaching scholars to conjugate irregular verbs at Butler,? the consistent thread has always been equipping scholars with as many tools as possible to promote option filled futures. Black men are 2% of total educators nationally. Seeing intelligent, hard-working black professionals both encouraging and modeling what we want to see is imperative for students to believe. I love reminding students that my fantasy is to pull up next to them at the light in their Beamer, Benz, or Bently and get to hear about how they bought their mom a house and then watch them smile as they accept that as a real possibility. The success stories of our alumni who are making their mark out in the world, as well as returning to our 17 campuses to ¡°pay it forward,¡± are a testament to the power of education and the limitless potential of our students.

At Butler College Prep, the proud HBCU of the 911±¬ÁÏÍø Network, education serves as a powerful economic equalizer for over 600 students on Chicago¡¯s South Side. With a curriculum rooted in academic rigor, cultural pride, and a commitment to excellence, we at Butler empower students to break generational cycles of poverty and create new opportunities for both themselves and their communities. By providing a strong foundation in both education and leadership, Butler College Prep offers a pathway to success, helping scholars overcome systemic barriers and achieve their full potential¡ªno apologies necessary. We believe every scholar in our community has the potential to achieve financial independence, create meaningful change, and contribute to a more just and equitable world. Our strength is in our diversity. Our genius is in our collective.

A Challenge to Us All:?As we look ahead, I challenge each of us to reflect on how we can contribute to the economic empowerment of our community. How can we work together to break down barriers and provide more opportunities? How can we empower our students not just to dream, but to realize those dreams? How can we invest in the future of those who need it most? Happy Black History Month Family.

POR JONATHAN GREEN | he/him/el
Profesor de idiomas del mundo, Butler College Prep

Familia 911±¬ÁÏÍø,

crec¨ª en la calle 167, donde Markham limita con Hazel Crest. No conozco a mi padre biol¨®gico. Mi madre es de los proyectos de la calle 43 y mi padrastro es de un pa¨ªs del tercer mundo. Recuerdo que mi madre nos contaba a mi hermana y a m¨ª que en su infancia ella, mis t¨ªas y mis t¨ªos solo com¨ªan una vez al d¨ªa. Mi padrastro, que escuch¨® la conversaci¨®n, respondi¨®: ??Ten¨¦is que comer todos los d¨ªas??. Avancemos hasta 2025. Tengo un t¨ªtulo en Econom¨ªa con una especializaci¨®n en Lenguas Extranjeras. He vivido en Virginia Beach, California, Chicago y San Juan. Soy propietaria de varias propiedades en el ¨¢rea de Chicago y el noroeste de Indiana, conduzco un veh¨ªculo el¨¦ctrico nuevo y he pasado los ¨²ltimos cinco a?os trabajando para ni?os que se ven, act¨²an, hablan y visten como yo en varias escuelas de la 911±¬ÁÏÍø. SOY el empoderamiento econ¨®mico de los negros.

Nuestras escuelas no son solo centros de aprendizaje acad¨¦mico. Son espacios donde los estudiantes, independientemente de c¨®mo entren por las puertas de nuestro campus, pueden acceder a las herramientas y recursos necesarios para perseguir sus sue?os. El empoderamiento econ¨®mico comienza en el aula. Ya sea ense?ando a mis alumnos a dividir polinomios en mis clases de ?lgebra 2 en The 911±¬ÁÏÍø Academy, dirigiendo mi l¨ªnea de tambores durante el programa de enriquecimiento extraescolar en UIC, o ense?ando a los estudiantes a conjugar verbos irregulares en Butler, el hilo conductor siempre ha sido equipar a los estudiantes con tantas herramientas como sea posible para promover futuros llenos de opciones. Los hombres negros representan el 2 % del total de educadores a nivel nacional. Ver a profesionales negros inteligentes y trabajadores que animan y dan ejemplo de lo que queremos ver es imprescindible para que los estudiantes crean. Me encanta recordarles a los estudiantes que mi fantas¨ªa es parar junto a ellos en el sem¨¢foro en su BMW, Mercedes o Bentley y escuchar c¨®mo le compraron una casa a su madre y luego verlos sonre¨ªr al aceptar que eso es una posibilidad real. Las historias de ¨¦xito de nuestros antiguos alumnos que est¨¢n dejando su huella en el mundo, as¨ª como el regreso a nuestros 17 campus para ?pagar por adelantado?, son un testimonio del poder de la educaci¨®n y del potencial ilimitado de nuestros estudiantes.

En Butler College Prep, la orgullosa HBCU de la 911±¬ÁÏÍø Network, la educaci¨®n sirve como un poderoso ecualizador econ¨®mico para m¨¢s de 600 estudiantes del South Side de Chicago. Con un plan de estudios basado en el rigor acad¨¦mico, el orgullo cultural y el compromiso con la excelencia, en Butler capacitamos a los estudiantes para romper los ciclos generacionales de pobreza y crear nuevas oportunidades tanto para ellos como para sus comunidades. Al proporcionar una base s¨®lida tanto en educaci¨®n como en liderazgo, Butler College Prep ofrece un camino hacia el ¨¦xito, ayudando a los estudiantes a superar las barreras sist¨¦micas y alcanzar su m¨¢ximo potencial, sin necesidad de disculparse. Creemos que cada estudiante de nuestra comunidad tiene el potencial de lograr la independencia financiera, crear un cambio significativo y contribuir a un mundo m¨¢s justo y equitativo. Nuestra fuerza est¨¢ en nuestra diversidad. Nuestro genio est¨¢ en nuestro colectivo.

Un desaf¨ªo para todos nosotros: De cara al futuro, desaf¨ªo a cada uno de nosotros a reflexionar sobre c¨®mo podemos contribuir al empoderamiento econ¨®mico de nuestra comunidad. ?C¨®mo podemos trabajar juntos para derribar barreras y ofrecer m¨¢s oportunidades? ?C¨®mo podemos empoderar a nuestros estudiantes no solo para que sue?en, sino para que hagan realidad esos sue?os? ?C¨®mo podemos invertir en el futuro de aquellos que m¨¢s lo necesitan? Feliz Mes de la Historia Afroamericana, familia.

BY JONATHAN GREEN | he/him
ÊÀ½çÓïÑÔ½Ìʦ, Butler College Prep

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