Engage Chicago

Chicago — a metropolis of lakefront parks, heavy industry, a distinctive blues scene, machine politics, and the end of the line for heartland railroads. Big, gritty, dynamic, and diverse, Chicago is a mosaic of 77 neighborhoods that represent communities speaking over 40 languages. And while Chicago faces all the challenges of a big American city — issues like poverty, racial tensions, immigration, and public health — it has a long and notable history of combating social and civic challenges head on. Chicago is the intersection of urban American challenges and powerful grassroots change, which makes it one of the most dynamic places in the world to learn and serve.

Engage Chicago is an eight-week summer field study program that gives bright undergraduates from across the nation a chance to live, work, serve and learn together in this remarkable city, amidst a rich history and culture of civic engagement. The innovative program model deliberately combines academic coursework, placements at top community organizations/civic institutions, and powerful community experiences — all under the guidance of expert Northwestern faculty, staff and community mentors.

Through hands-on experience, thoughtful reflection, and a summer living with a vibrant community of peers, Engage Chicago is designed to be a powerful opportunity for students to learn about a great city, about social change, and about themselves.