OUR HISTORY

Project: VISION was founded in 2003 by a group of five young professionals, students, and community volunteers: Kirsten Chan, Karen Chiu, Vincent Kwan, Sheri So, and Karen Tam. Each had a passion for education and youth development and saw the need for teens in the neighborhood to have a safe place to call their own, where they can find support and guidance as they navigate through high school and pave a path for a bright future.

With the help of an all-volunteer team, the idea came to life. In the fall of 2004, PV piloted a drop-in homework tutoring program in borrowed space in the Chinatown Library and the Boys and Girls Club in Bridgeport, serving 20-30 students each week. Since then, PV has reached over 1,100 youths with free after school programs including tutoring, college and career readiness workshops, service learning, and leadership training.

Major Milestones:

October 2003

Project: VISION is founded and incorporated as an Illinois not-for-profit organization.

March 2004

Project: VISION obtains 501(c)3 status.

November 2005

Project: VISION moves into its own space at 2734 South Wentworth.

April 2009

Project: VISION moves into a larger space at 2301 South Archer, and an official Board of Directors is established.

August 2011

Project: VISION is awarded its first grant from the Springboard Foundation, which supports small grassroots after school programs in Chicago. The grant supported a Program Coordinator and additional tutors.

July 2013

Project: VISION receives its first grant from the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and also becomes one of six youth agencies in Chicago to be included in Exelon Corporation’s Stay in School Initiative. For the first time, PV creates a comprehensive high school program, the High School Scholars Program.

September 2014

Project: VISION kicks off its 10th school year and serves 140 youth over the course of the school year.

August 2016

Project: VISION moves to a larger, safer, and more accessible location in the heart of Chinatown at 236 W. 22nd Place.

September 2017

Project: VISION pilots an after school ELL tutoring program for 6th-8th graders at our neighborhood elementary school, John C. Haines.

June 2018

Project: VISION kicks off its first summer camp program for 5th-9th graders. The program offers engaging activities and lessons in art, culture, coding, and more to help kids build their individual strengths, develop skills, gain confidence and positive attitudes that help them succeed in school and beyond.

September 2019

In the 2019-20 school year, Project: VISION will serve over 250 youth. Our after school programs are in its third year at John C. Haines and will also now be in James Ward elementary school. This year Project: VISION is also the community organizer as a Parent Mentor Program partner at these two schools.

July 2022

Project: VISION opened a second site that primarily houses the High School Scholars Program. The programs provided include tutoring, mentoring, college and career readiness, service learning, and leadership training. Our goals are to guide and support youth as they work toward their educational goals while also building confidence, character, positive attitudes, and essential skills that prepare them for the workplace and as engaged citizens in their communities.