Back to School Announcement in Auburn Gresham

Ernest Sanders
Published: August 2, 2011

(L-R) Fr. Michael Pfleger is joined by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Alderman Latasha Thomas, and Chicago Public Schools' CEO Jean-Claude Brizard (not pictured here) as they go door to door to visit Auburn Gresham residents and remind them about the first day of school.

Bill Healy

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools' CEO Jean-Claude Brizard announced key investments in the Chicago Public Schools' Back to School Initiatives. This announcement took place at St. Sabina's Elementary School play-lot.

Mayor Emanuel and CPS' Brizard were joined by Alderman Latasha Thomas (D-17), chair of Education Committee for city of Chicago and Father Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina who offered complementary and supportive remarks as well.

As part of today's announcement, the Mayor and esteemed supporters braved the hot and humid temperature and went door to door to homes in Auburn Gresham to announce the Chicago Public Schools' Back to School campaign. They also left door hangers where residents were not available.

Chicago Public Schools' CEO Jean-Claude Brizard (L) and Fr. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church have a conversation about the importance of the first day back to school for all Chicago schools.

Bill Healy

Also, Back to School Kits (donated by Chartwells) including notebooks, pencils, erasers and other important school supplies were distributed to youth at the press conference.

The Mayor paid tribute to a host of sponsors to include:

Wal-mart Stores, Inc., Clear Channel Communications, Inc., Target Corporation, Harris Bank, Chartwells, Groupon, Fleishman-Hillard, Peoples Gas, Comcast, Discover, HMH Foundation, Loop Capital, PNC Bank, Bank of America, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Foundation, the Chicago Tribune Foundation, and The Museum of Science and Industry.

Click here to see more photos from today's announcement.

How important do you think the Mayor's announcement is to the success children attending school daily?

Keywords: Alderman Latasha Thomas, Back to School, Bank of America, Chartwells, Chicago Public Schools, Clear Channel, Comcast, Discover, Door to Door Visit, Fleishman-Hillard, Fr. Michael Pfleger, Groupon, Harris Bank, HMH Foundation, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Foundation, Jean-Claude Brizard, Loop Capital, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Peoples Gas, PNC Bank, Target Corporation, the Chicago Tribune Foundation, The Museum of Science and Industry, Walmart