Howland- Our Partners
Community Partners
The Catalyst Schools collaborate with a wide variety of community partners to provide resources and opportunities to our scholars. From the arts-based organizations who participate in the Renaissance Enrichment Program to our neighbors who share their facilities, our partners are vital and appreciated members of the Catalyst family.
Black Star Project
This is a resource dedicated to parental involvement with the Parent University Initiative curriculum for educational and social enrichment.
Chicago Children’s Choir
Countdown to College
This college preparatory initiative is developed by Saint Mary's University, Minnesota. Qualified students participate in a four summer program at the university that includes academic, sports, and recreation activities. The program familiarizes students with college life and nurtures the desire for higher education and the belief that it is attainable.
Ignatian Volunteer Corps
Dominican University
Students from Dominican University come to The Catalyst Schools to engage in service opportunities including tutoring and programmatic support.
May I Have This Dance? Ballroom Dancing
This is an ongoing workshop in ballroom dancing, in which scholars learn several dance styles including tango, salsa, and waltz ! Catalyst Howland is the defending city-wide champion from the competition held annually at the Chicago Cultural Center!
Boys and Girls Club
This is a vital partner to the Catalyst Howland community, as the organization aims too enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.
Erwin Steans Center for Community Based Service Learning
The Erwin Steans Center partners with Catalyst to bringing service learning student-volunteers to Howland Charter. These student-volunteers are assigned to classrooms, where they provide support for students and faculty.
Future Founders
The Future Founders Foundation inspires low-income youth in Chicago to explore new career opportunities. The organization offers programs to connect scholars with mentors from various professions and provide engaging project-based learning experiences for 3rd through 12th graders.
Gear-UP
Project GEAR UP is dedicated to increasing academically prepared students, empowering parents, and strengthening communities by focusing on college preparation that emphasizes academic and community excellence.
Lawndale Christian Development Corp
Lawndale Christian Development Corp provides Catalyst scholars with a range of opportunities to get involved in community projects. Examples include the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. mural project, an environmental enhancement initiative, and collaborations with other Chicago agencies focused on art.
Prevention Force Family Program
Prevention Force Family Program’s free entrepreneurial training for eighth graders allow Catalyst students to create a business plan, develop and market a product, and establish and run a business.
Ravinia
Ravinia provides music-based opportunities to K–3 students. Ravinia helps to produce a concert by our younger Howland scholars, who perform both in the school and at the Ravinia Festival along with other program participants from around Chicago.
Sinai Children’s Hospital Community Health Education
Sinai Children’s Hospital teams with Catalyst to provide asthma awareness training to children 14 and under. In addition, they offer resources for families to help them create healthy living environments, resolve rental issues involving property upkeep, and connect them to resources for other health concerns.
Tumbling 4 Success
Tumbling 4 Success gives Catalyst scholars the chance to fall down — on purpose and to a positive end! The group offers an introduction to team and individual tumbling for all ages while incorporating collaboration, team work, and discipline.
Get Involved
To learn more about opportunities for parent, volunteer and community partnerships at Catalyst Howland, please contact the school's Director of Community Outreach Charlotte Myers at 773-527-7330 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..