Join the Bustling World of Social Innovation

“Human creativity is unlimited. It is the capacity of humans to make things happen which didn’t happen before. Creativity provides the key to solving our social and economic problems.” – Muhammad Yunus, Founder of Grameen Bank and pioneer of microcredit and microfinance

The bustling world of social innovation exposes volunteers to multiple experiences that develop the entrepreneurial spirit. Youth who serve learn to solve complex societal problems while immersing themselves in the intricacies of technology, sociology, economics, marketing and networking. Adult volunteers find themselves as role models for youth who carry on the legacy of their work. A testimony of this immersive experience is how a group of people from the northwest suburbs of Chicago became involved with a group of people from the west side of Chicago including ex prisoners and their families. 15 years ago volunteers from Salem United Methodist Church in Barrington began hosting a Christmas Lunch for ex prisoners and their families in collaboration with Rev Tommy Johnson CEO from Outside the Walls. He works in unison with the Illinois Department of Corrections that directs efforts toward individuals, adult and juvenile, coming out of incarceration, as well as those using drugs or recovering from drug use. Juvenile's gang affiliated or otherwise misguided youth are also a focus. Barrington is also known for its pioneering work with chess and philanthropy. For the last 10 years Chess Without Borders has sponsored this lunch including having youth chess players travelling to Chicago to volunteer at the Christmas lunch.

Rev Johnson is recognised nationally for reducing recidivism and he observed that several ex prisoners were thriving in groups by becoming deeply engaged in chess. He asked the Peter Wulff Center to sponsor a chess club to create a lively social, intellectual and cultural environment at St Leonard's Place in Chicago. The seed funds were generously donated by the Armstrong family in memory of Craig Armstrong, a lifelong giver and a lawyer who did probing work for needy clients. The chess club was so successful in creating a social, intellectually competitive atmosphere that the youth chess volunteers were asked to establish another chess club at the Greater Baptist Church in Chicago. Yolanda Harris, the person in charge spoke to Christopher Majkowski, the VP at the Peter Wulff Center to help raise funds and awareness for sponsoring a chess club. Christopher has been mentoring Barrington middle schoolers, Krish Nara and Jack Weed over the last year. They had the privilege to play chess with Chris and people from the St Leonards Place chess club at the Christmas Lunch. Chris, Krish and Jack's are agents of change and that requires a unique combination of idealism, grit, and determination. Joining this leadership team are teenagers from Palatine, Prabhgun Kaur and Prabhtej Singh who will raise funds to help create a vibrant chess club. They are inspired to join in the efforts to help people in need and to have access to opportunities such as chess. One of their ways of raising funds is through selling Humanitarian Hummus where most of the proceeds from sales are converted to helping others in need. Already the youth have raised $100 towards donating chess sets and textbooks. Previously Humanitarian Hummus raised $1534 which allowed donations of food for 10 families and 20 gift certificates for Walmart for groceries. Most of the marketing, technology public relations and sales were developed by youth social entrepreneurs in order to bring positive change in other children's lives.

The goodwill generated through this networking has expanded to include more people impacting several ex prisoners and their families. Children thrive through leadership programs affecting other people's lives. Social enterprise and entrepreneurship programs nurture young people's skills to develop career pipelines and start businesses, solve local problems and develop talents while helping others. As 13 year old Krish Nara said, "Those smiles on the faces of people we served brought so much joy to me that I want to keep doing this". Christopher Majkowski was a 10 year old when he started volunteering in chess club and today as a 31 year old he continues to dazzle mentoring youth, raising funds and awareness while working full time as a software developer. These students have won prestigious awards but that has not stopped them from becoming more involved and more creative.

Join the Peter Wulff Center to exchange ideas, create programs, buy or sell Humanitarian Hummus and see the magic created together while changing the world a step at a time.

email kiran.frey59@gmail.com for more information.