Students to learn how a good education will prepare them for careers later in life

On Saturday, May 14th, 2011, Amandla Charter School will be hosting its first ever Career Day from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. The event is being sponsored by the Stanford University Alumni Association’s Beyond the Farm project.

Beyond the Farm is a program that is base on Stanford’s founding principles is "a desire to render the greatest possible service to mankind." Though these are Jane Stanford's words, generations of Stanford alumni, students and faculty have made these words their own—this commitment is what Beyond the Farm is all about. Beyond the Farm seeks to extend Stanford's spirit of service to communities around the world through the volunteer efforts of Stanford alumni, family and friends. With the dedication of every individual within the University's 200,000-strong alumni community, thousands of local causes can be supported and hundreds of global initiatives can be launched. Every day.

The event will allow 15 to 20 professionals the opportunity to share with Amandla students the importance of education in their chosen field and meet one-on-one or in small groups with students to discuss career opportunities. “Career” classrooms will be set-up in the areas of sciences, business, law, politics, public service, performing arts, teaching, etc. with each volunteer making 20 minutes presentations on their career. Students and their parents will rotate through each classroom, learning about different career opportunities. The event is open to all Amandla students and their families.

“It’s not about getting a student to choose a career right now but enlightening them as to what college and success beyond can look like in these fields,” explained David Nelson, project coordinator and a Stanford Alum.

For more information on this event, please contact Barbara Tieder at 773-535-7150, extension 102.

Annual Lobby Day event brings hundreds of charter supporters face-to-face with their legislators

On March 30th, 2011, Amandla Charter School joined the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) and a group of more than 600 students, teachers, school leaders, and education reformers to lobby at the Capital Building in Springfield, Illinois to advocate on behalf of the state’s public charter schools. The annual Lobby Day activities will focus on support for Senate Bill 79, which will improve charter school quality in Illinois and establish an alternative charter school authorizer.

“Lobby Day is a chance for supporters of public charter schools across the state to meet with their legislators to explain the impact public charter schools have made in their families and communities,” said Andrew Broy, President of INCS. “Our charter community takes school quality very seriously and we are working to ensure that as we expand the Illinois charter school sector we also ensure that school authorization focuses directly on quality schools.  This movement is about creating great public schools of choice and that is the message we carry to Springfield."

Parents, students, community members, teachers, and administrators from many of the state’s 116 current charter school campuses boarded buses from Chicago for the trip to Springfield to meet with their elected representatives.  Amandla Parent Denise Poore was among those who participated in the day. “As a parent, I wanted our legislators to know how important my child’s education is to his future”, Ms. Poore stated. She added “Public charter schools like Amandla provide the curriculum, structure and focus children need to be successful in school, college and beyond.”

During her time in Springfield, Ms. Poore and Barb Tieder, Director of Development and Communications for Amandla visited with our legislators to encourage their support of Senate Bill 79 and to support equal funding for public charter schools. As a result of those meetings, plans are being made for State Representative Andre Thapedi to visit Amandla and address the students.


Amandla Charter School is a free, open enrollment, college preparatory public charter school proudly serving Chicago students in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago's Southside. Amandla is currently in its third year of operation, serving students in the 5th, 6th and 7th grades. Amandla will continue to expand until we are serving students from 5th grade through the end of high school. Amandla Charter School supports all students within a structured, disciplined, and engaging school environment, and provides a quality college preparatory public education to our students. For more information regarding Amandla Charter School, contact Barbara Tieder at 773-535-7150, extension 102.