North Lawndale College Prep - Chicago IL

Condolences to the Deer family

North Lawndale College prep mourns the untimely death of Mrs. Barbara Deer, the loving wife of late Commissioner Dennis Deer and an integral part of the north Lawndale community.

Barbara Deer was an ongoing presence throughout the community. Most recently, she demonstrated her love for young people by volunteering at the Divine 9 takeover posted by North Lawndale College prep. An active member of the AKA sorority, Barbara was the first to sign up to participate in this annual event.

While we grieve such a great loss to the community, NLCP was honored to have her energy at events like this. Our hearts go out to her children, granddaughter and extended family members. Your work in the community will never be forgotten Barbara.

North Lawndale College Prep Students Need Your Support:

Our students come from a community that has faced decades of disinvestment. The majority qualify for free or reduced lunch, and with SNAP benefits currently paused, many of our students and their families are struggling to meet basic needs.

Food is essential for growth, focus, and education. No student should have to learn on an empty stomach!

You can help:
🛒 Donate food to our temporary food pantry in Room 107, run by Mr. Hickman and Ms. Kolbeck.
💻 Give online with a monetary donation at: https://www.nlcphs.org/donate/

Together, we can ensure every Phoenix has what they need to thrive.

“If you do more than people expect, it's the best investment you can make in your future.” 

Yesterday, we welcomed community activist of  to NLCP as part of his Live77 project, which involves living in all 77 Chicago neighborhoods. 

During his time in North Lawndale, Jahmal spoke to NLCP scholars about how his work connects communities across Chicago.  

Full story: https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/jahmal-cole-chicago-77-communities-project/

We're excited to welcome founder Jahmal Cole as part of his visit to North Lawndale!

Tomorrow, Jahmal comes to NLCP to meet students and see what makes North Lawndale special.

Our scholars look forward to welcoming him and sharing their vision for their community.

Time is running out to vote! 

NLCP CEO Jemia Cunningham-Elder is part of a 2026 EDU proposal focused on how schools can prepare students for success in a rapidly changing workforce. 

Help bring this vital conversation to the SXSW EDU stage - public voting closes this Sunday, 8/24!  

Vote here: https://participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sxsw26/community-voting-edu/page/community-voting/session/1752787046090001EueM

Please check out the exciting details for this year's Back To School Bash on the first day of school - Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Community Partner Highlight: Ms. Jasmine Ontiveros ✨

Meet Ms. Ontiveros, a Licensed Social Worker and proud partner of NLCP through Communities in Schools of Chicago! With nearly 6 years of experience in CPS and entering her second school year at NLCP, Ms. O brings passion, care, and consistency to our students every day.

A graduate of Colorado State University (BSW, '19) and DePaul University (MSW, '24), she's committed to supporting students academically, emotionally, and socially through one-on-one and whole-school programming.

This year, she’s especially excited to reunite with returning students and welcome new faces to the Phoenix Family as we transition to one campus.

We're so grateful to have Ms. Ontiveros as a trusted, familiar face on campus who helps surround our students with strategic and intentional community support to help them to and through college!

** SPECIAL SHOUTOUT!! **

With an incredible 21 years of teaching and 5 years at NLCP, Mr. Hokenmaier continues to set the bar high. This summer, he came to campus on his own time to touch up paint in the hallways - simply because "service is [his] love language," and he loves his school community.

As we unite as , he’s most excited to meet all the new students and continue leading with heart.

Thank you for loving our school the way you do. We’re so lucky to have you!

Meet Sarah F. Shannon (NLCP Class of 2006): Passionate educator, global traveler, and proud NLCP Alumna. 🌍📚

Sarah earned her B.A. in Communications and Technology from Eastern Michigan University, followed by an M.A. in Communications and Theatre Arts. Most recently, she earned a second master’s degree in Special Education from National Louis University in June 2025. 🎓

For the past 11 years, she’s been pouring into the next generation as a full-time educator at her alma mater, North Lawndale College Prep. She’s taught everything from Rhetorical Writing and Poetry to Creative Writing and African American History, always with the goal of raising transformational leaders.

Outside the classroom, Sarah is a fearless explorer who has traveled to over 60 countries. 🌅 From walking with lions in South Africa and bathing elephants in Thailand to catching sunrises off the coast of Ghana, she’s truly living her dream while bringing those global experiences back to her students.

Her mantra? “Teaching is the paintbrush to the portrait of my soul.” 🎨

We see you painting a masterpiece in North Lawndale - Thank you Ms. Shannon!

Thank you to everyone who joined us last week for our first Bridge Builders Breakfast at North Lawndale College Prep!

We felt so lucky to connect with some incredibly insightful CPS educators. It was illuminating to receive feedback about our reimagined campus and the programs and values that make NLCP unique. From Peace Warriors and The Phoenix PACT to our growing athletics and academic offerings, our attendees had honest and actionable input that was always centered on the student and family experience.

We’re excited to continue building relationships and exploring future opportunities together. Thank you sincerely for attending, and please be on the lookout for more events this fall - We'd love to see you back!

🌟 Alumni Spotlight: Meet To'Mika Reed (Class of 2025) 🌟

We’re thrilled to highlight To'Mika Reed as an amazing alum and essential summer intern! A full-ride PACT Scholar at Jackson State University, To'Mika is majoring in Business Management with a minor in Communications. She’s got big plans ahead of her, aiming to one day own and operate her own real estate company.

Her passion for business and dedication to her goals are already shining through. We can’t wait to see where this bright future takes her - Thank you for all of your help this summer!🚀