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‘Save Chicago’ movement gears up for March 7

February 18, 2014

Save Chicago Day posterNIU’s student-led Save Chicago campaign, launched Aug. 24, 2013, is nearing its Friday, March 7, event in its namesake city.

Students and community members who share the goal of increasing the unity, love and peace in Chicago now can register online to help. The deadline to register is Wednesday, March 5.

More than 150 NIU student leaders are expected to travel to Chicago to clean, paint, prepare meals for the homeless, work with youth and perform various other activities.

Volunteers should arrive at the New Hall Community Center at 10 a.m. Friday, March 7, for a mandatory briefing and training before departure. Transportation, breakfast, lunch, dinner and “Save Chicago Day” T-shirts are provided.

Students can register as individuals or in teams or no more than five people. Large organizations must register multiple teams of five or less. Each team must have one leader.

NIU student Randiss Hopkins hatched the idea for “Save Chicago” when he attended a Young Advocate Leadership Training program near Knoxville, Tenn. College students from across the country were called upon to come up with action plans to make change in their own city.

When Hopkins returned home, he reached out to some of the most ambitious student leaders at NIU to be the driving force behind this campaign. The group of student leaders includes some who are products of some of Chicago’s most troubled neighborhoods and are committed to going back in their communities and seeking solutions.

For more information, email savechicagocampaign@gmail.com.