“They’ve stood beside the desperately poor of public housing. They’ve battled financial institutions which have walked away from foreclosed homes, leaving them neglected and battered. They’ve pushed for early learning opportunities in Altgeld Gardens...They’ve worked to hold the police and local government officials accountable...they have sweated and toiled to make our democracy work as it should.

BPI brings out the best in us. They’re unshakable and tenacious – and have a deep abiding faith in the simple yet crucial notion that life ought to be fair.”

Thank you, Alex. Visit our website to read Alex's comments in full and view our new Annual Report.

BPI is pleased to share a new report on our Pre-Kindergarten to Kindergarten Transitions Project, a program that brings together teachers and families from all six schools and early childhood centers serving pre-k and kindergarten students in Altgeld-Riverdale.

Researchers at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago and the University of Chicago Consor tium on School Research (UCCSR) offer analysis of the first full year of the program's implementation in Altgeld-Riverdale.

"We know there's a link between effective transition programs and larger gains in academic achievement and social/emotional development by the end of kindergarten, and the Chapin Hall/UCCSR report confirms that teachers, students, and families alike are benefiting from this innovative community-wide program," says Susannah Levine, BPI's Director of Education and Early Learning. "We're happy to be adding to the growing knowledge base around the critical transition from pre-k to kindergarten." 

 

We invite you to learn more about the project and research study on our blog.

On August 20, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law  SB3388 , the  Adult Redeploy Illinois  (ARI) Eligibility Expansion bill for which BPI acted as lead advocate. This new law provides access to programs that substitute probation and rehabilitation services for prison sentences for persons who have committed certain violent offenses.

Nearly 2,000 additional offenders will now be eligible to be considered for rehabilitative services such as cognitive, behavioral, and trauma therapy and substance abuse treatment instead of a sentence to the Illinois Department of Corrections. BPI expects that this new law will not only reduce the state’s prison population, but will also decrease crime, reduce recidivism, and lower governmental costs.

Read more about this important legislation on our blog.

We’re deeply grateful for the support of our generous donors and participation of hundreds of enthusiastic friends who were with us both in person and in spirit to celebrate the public interest and BPI’s good work at this year’s Annual Dinner on May 7.

Special thanks to Keynote Speaker and Honoree Khalil Gibran Muhammad and Champion of the Public Interest Honorees Jadine Chou and Evelyn Diaz. Check out their remarks on our YouTube Channel.

We were fortunate to have seven talented graduate and undergraduate students join us for the summer to work with BPI’s program staff on research and policy in justice reform, housing, community building, and early childhood education. While the group worked hard, they also had time for some fun, including tasty lunches with staff in diverse Chicago neighborhoods, a very warm Sox game, plus an engaging public housing tour led by BPI's Julie Brown.

We appreciate the contributions to BPI made by our summer interns and fellows, and wish them the best as they return to classes and new legal positions this fall.

Be sure to check out our intern bios on BPI's website.