Leap Empowers

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Leap Empowers LEAP delivers researched based language and literacy development programs to educators, students and their families across Chicago and beyond.

And that's a wrap to summer full of programs! ☀️📚️🎒During this season, LEAP organized 7 initiatives tailored for student...
09/02/2026

And that's a wrap to summer full of programs! ☀️📚️🎒
During this season, LEAP organized 7 initiatives tailored for students ranging from 3rd to 12th grade, as well as for young adults between the ages of 16 and 24.
Overall, we had the pleasure of involving 260 participants.
Students put to use the communication skills they developed through various capstone experiences, which included activities like film reviews, pitches in a Shark Tank format, practice interviews, career exploration, literary discussions, and debates.

We thoroughly enjoyed a fantastic summer with our partners and are looking forward to working together throughout the school year!

The LEAP team sends warm wishes for a remarkable back-to-school journey and a successful academic year to all students and faculty! 🌟

LEAP delivered 10 hours of our Language for Scholars program at Whitney Young High School, working with 75 students as t...
05/23/2026

LEAP delivered 10 hours of our Language for Scholars program at Whitney Young High School, working with 75 students as they prepared final presentations for several high school business competitions.
Through the program, we helped students strengthen their ability to communicate their ideas clearly and confidently while applying LEAP speech goals in high-pressure presentation settings.
The program contributed to several notable student accomplishments, including:
Winners of the State Economic and Finance Bowl as seen in the photo!
A team won the State Stock Market Championship and is advancing to the National Finals in Boston.
Nine students won at the state level in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competition and are advancing to Nationals in San Antonio.
A team from the business class won Pop-Up Company of the Year, and several students earned Team Business Lead of the Year honors.

We are so proud of the students at Whitney Young High School! 🌟

05/18/2026

Before participating in LEAP's Language for Scholars program, 40% of students did not feel confident or like their true selves when communicating in different situations. After the program? That dropped to 13%.

New research from Tiffany Burkhardt, Citlalli Garcia Mendoza, and Lee Ann Huang at Chapin Hall shows that after completing the program, 87% of students agreed that they felt confident and like their authentic selves when communicating across settings — up from 60% before the program. These significant gains show what happens when Black and Brown youth are given practical tools and training to express themselves.

Read the full evaluation: https://www.chapinhall.org/research/language-program-shows-improved-student-communication-and-confidence

This work was funded by a generous capacity-building grant from the Cook County Justice Advisory Council.

Speech-Language-Hearing Month

05/18/2026

What does it take to help young people find their voice and communicate with confidence? In this video, Chapin Hall senior researcher Dr. Tiffany Burkhardt s...

05/18/2026

May is Speech-Language-Hearing Month! New research shows that LEAP’s Language for Scholars program is helping young Black and Brown students improve their communication skills and find their voice: https://www.chapinhall.org/research/language-program-shows-improved-student-communication-and-confidence

Tiffany Burkhardt, Citlalli Garcia Mendoza, and Lee Ann Huang found that after the program, 87% of students said they felt confident and like their true selves when communicating in different situations, up from 60% before the program. And 97% said they'd recommend Language for Scholars to a peer.

This work was funded by the Cook County Justice Advisory Council to provide support to youth in under-resourced communities.

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from LEAP! 🎄🎁🎅🏽
We had a blast during our Christmas party. We decided to do the “say the word on beat challenge” and here is how it went. Let us know who you think said the word on beat the best! 😂

We hope you all have a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year! ✨

12/02/2025

Today’s the day! It’s Giving Tuesday — a celebration of generosity and impact. Join LEAP in empowering youth and families to build brighter futures. Every donation counts, and your support creates real change in our community! Your generous gift today will help us raise $40,000 by year’s end, providing LEAP with flexible support that helps us navigate challenges, seize new opportunities, and grow our capacity to deliver high-quality, culturally responsive programming to many more students from low-resource families in the Chicago metropolitan area.

CLICK THE LINK IN THE BIO TO GIVE TODAY! ❤️

Tomorrow is the day! Giving Tuesday is our chance to come together and create lasting change. Whether it’s $10 or $100, ...
12/01/2025

Tomorrow is the day! Giving Tuesday is our chance to come together and create lasting change. Whether it’s $10 or $100, every gift helps youth and families LEAP forward.

Let’s make tomorrow unforgettable! Click the link in our bio to donate! 💫

As we get closer to Giving Tuesday, we’re reflecting on the lives changed through your support. One of our scholars Alex...
12/01/2025

As we get closer to Giving Tuesday, we’re reflecting on the lives changed through your support. One of our scholars Alexander shared with us that our program not only helped him face his fears of public speaking, but gave him the confidence to speak in public well. He is one of many who’ve found confidence through LEAP’s programs. Your gift helps continue this ripple of transformation. 🏆️⁠
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Click the link in the bio to support more students like Alexander! ⁠
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11/29/2025

Only two days until Giving Tuesday! We’re counting down to a day that unites people everywhere around generosity and purpose. Your support fuels programs that empower youth, families, and communities. 🫶🏽

Click the link in our bio to give back!

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Chicago, IL
60601

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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