Our long awaited dream became a reality as we celebrated the ribbon cutting of our sixth site on February 2, 2023. Anchored by three 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, the 10-acre campus situated at 1841 N. Laramie Ave. enables equitable access to sports, education and holistic wellness services for members of the historically underserved community.

We will open this site in April, as we provide no-cost after-school programs for 400 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. As with all of our sites, we partner with Chicago Public Schools to identify students who are reading below standards and provide holistic education services including literacy intervention, enrichment activities, college and career support and counseling services. Students receive vision and dental care, a hot meal each day and transportation to the club and home at night. “When we set out on the journey to create a life-giving space for our North Austin youth, we challenged ourselves to ‘imagine more,’” said Donnita Travis, founder and executive director of By The Hand Club For Kids and one of the lead organizers for the North Austin campus.

Through a partnership with Intentional Sports, the campus will host youth sports academies, camps and national tournaments and youth leagues, including soccer programs from Chicago Fire FC and baseball programs from the Jason Heyward Baseball Academy. Grace and Peace Church will grow its faith and community outreach programs within the Center, providing worship opportunities and holistic family wraparound services directly on the campus.

The North Austin Center features 150,000-square-feet of indoor space housing classrooms, an auditorium, two full-size basketball courts and the Chicago Fire FC Field, Chicago’s largest indoor turf field, making year-round competitive sports a reality for everyone. Multiple indoor and outdoor field and play spaces benefit athletes of all ages.

As we step out and imagine more, hundreds of new students enrolling in By The Hand Club will also be able to imagine more in their own lives!