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Changing Lives One Youth at A Time

A Testimony from Our Partner, Vanderpoel Elementary School

The partnership formulated under Pastor T.D. Hughes with Third Baptist Church of Chicago and Vanderpoel Humanities Academy (VHA) has been fruitful for the development and growth of our school community.  As pivotal components of a community, it is impactful to see the collaboration of the church and school. According to the National Institute of Health, the three main goals of community outreach are to improve learning, promote civic engagement, and address societal needs. Third Baptist has fulfilled those responsibilities and more. Our students grew from the outpouring of support from Third Baptist in the following ways:

Real Men Read

Third Baptist’s Men's Ministry volunteered to visit each classroom and share literacy experiences with our students. The men were paired up and not only read to the students but engaged them in dialogue that pertained to the book's theme and more. This allowed the men to establish a supportive mode of communication with our student body, which led to an impressive bond. This bond has not and will not be broken. Parent forums were held to share ideas on how Third Baptist can support our families. It was the beginning of greatness!

Middle School Boys/Men Basketball

The Men's Ministry held a Third Baptist vs. VHA Boys Basketball Game. The VHA boys were showered with customized T-shirts, basketball gear, and food. The young men had an opportunity to bond with the ministry, while learning responsibility, sportsmanship, and leadership through organized play — not to mention the ongoing relationship that was formed. When the young men see a Third Baptist member in the community, they often feel love, compassion, and kindness.

Coat Drive

Our students partnered with Third Baptist for an annual coat drive. The students collected new and gently used coats to donate to the homeless. The church spearheaded this, and our students were excited to support it. In all, we collected over 500 coats, with our first-grade class collecting over 200! Pastor Hughes surprised each first-grade student with a gift card. The gift of kindness just keeps gifting. This is evident in the appreciation our students and families have for Third Baptist.

Men MENtoring

The Men MENtoring program has proven beneficial for all students and especially touching for our fifth to eighth graders. Students were broken into small groups and partnered with MENtors. This provided an opportunity for intimate conversions where the boys felt comfortable sharing and posing questions. There are often times when students are uncomfortable asking adults questions or taking advice from their parents. All MENtors have parental consent to participate and fill the space of showing our boys how to be MEN.

Black and Well

Former VHA students noticed the food disparities between the southside and downtown neighborhoods. They put forth the efforts to not only build a school garden, but also host workshops on healthy eating practices, mental health, medical support, yoga, and more. They were funded through the Obama Foundation, holding workshops at UIC and presenting at the Obama Foundation Conference at McCormick Place and Third Baptist. The three founders of the program are products of Chicago and valuable community programming that has not only shaped their mission but has armed them with the tools needed to instill pride into our community.

Food Drive

Students participate in the Food Pantry every other Friday. The students assist with unloading the truck, organizing items inside, and preparing bags for distribution. This opportunity allows our students to give back to the community and help others with a basic need — food. Students for this outreach are often rotated due to the high level of interest. This is based upon the established relationship and kindred opportunities Third Baptist has provided for our VHA community.

Graduation

For decades, Third Baptist has been the home of our eighth-grade graduation. The students are honored to have their ceremony in a place that is dear to the community and their experiences as a VHA student. Pastor Hughes and the church have been instrumental in supporting them to this momentous stage of their lives. How fitting to be blessed to hold their celebratory ceremony in the sanctuary.

Hackathon

Black and Well challenged our students to create proposals for ideas that will make their school community better. The innovative ideas were presented before a panel of judges, Third Baptist MENtors, and additional community members. Once the top five proposals were announced, Third Baptist donated to fund one of the projects! The girls wanted to spread motivational messages throughout their space to encourage girls of all ages that they can achieve all that they desire.

Learn more about Vanderpoel Elementary School

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1551 West 95th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60643

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COVID-19 Information

According to the CDC

Quarantine

Quarantine if you have been in close contact (within 6 feet of someone for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone who has COVID-19, unless you have been fully vaccinated. People who are fully vaccinated do NOT need to quarantine after contact with someone who had COVID-19 unless they have symptoms. However, fully vaccinated people should get tested 5-7 days after their exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms and wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until their test result is negative.

When You Can be Around Others After You Had or Likely Had COVID-19

Most people do not require testing to decide when they can be around others; however, if your  healthcare provider recommends testing, they will let you know when you can resume being around  others based on your test results. 

For Anyone Who Has Been Around a Person with COVID-19

Anyone who has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 should quarantine for 14 days after  their last exposure to that person, except if they meet the following conditions: Someone who has been fully vaccinated and shows no symptoms of COVID-19 does not need  to quarantine. However, fully vaccinated close contacts should: 

  • Wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until a negative test result.
  • Get tested 5-7 days after close contact with someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
  • Get tested and isolate immediately if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. 

Someone who tested positive for COVID-19 with a viral test within the previous 90 days and has  subsequently recovered and remains without COVID-19 symptoms does not need to quarantine.  However, close contacts with prior COVID-19 infection in the previous 90 days should: 

  • Wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days after exposure. 
  • Monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and isolate immediately if symptoms develop.
  • Consult with a healthcare professional for testing recommendations if new symptoms develop. 

Domestic Travel During COVID-19 (Fully Vaccinated People) What You Need to Know

  •  Delay travel until you are fully vaccinated. 
  • Check your destination’s COVID-19 situation before traveling. State, local, and territorial  governments may have travel restrictions in place. 
  • Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required in indoor areas of public transportation  (including airplanes) and indoors in U.S. transportation hubs (including airports). • Do not travel if you have been exposed to COVID-19, you are sick, or if you test positive for  COVID-19. 
  • If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, get tested both before and after your trip.

During Travel, Masks Required

Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required in indoor areas of public transportation  (including on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within,  or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and  stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on  open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus).

Protect Yourself and Others

Follow all state and local health recommendations and requirements at your destination,  including wearing a mask and staying 6 feet (2 meters) apart from others. 

Travelers 2 years of age or older should wear masks in indoor public places if they are:  not fully vaccinated 

  •  fully vaccinated and in an area with substantial or high COVID-19 transmission o fully vaccinated and with weakened immune systems 
  •  In areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, consider wearing a mask in crowded  outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully  vaccinated like an outdoor festival or sporting event. 

Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol). 

After Travel

You might have been exposed to COVID-19 on your travels. You might feel well and not have any  symptoms, but you can still be infected and spread the virus to others. People who are not fully  vaccinated are more likely to get COVID-19 and spread it to others. For this reason, CDC  recommends taking the following precautions after returning from travel. 

Domestic Travel During COVID-19 (NOT fully vaccinated people) RECOMMENDED Self-quarantine and get tested after travel:

  •  Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after returning from travel. 
  • Check for COVID-19 testing locations near you  
  • Stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if you test negative at 3-5  days. 
  • If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.