Chicago Sky Foundation: Youth Education and Leadership

The Chicago Sky creates pathways for young people to succeed through innovative learning experiences—both inside and outside the classroom—that build confidence, skills, and leadership. 

On-Court Programming

Our Basketball Programs inspire girls and young women to participate in sports while building social-emotional learning skills. Through Jr. Sky Clinics, the Chicago Sky Basketball Academy, and Nike Basketball Camps, we are expanding into underserved communities across Chicago, providing access to quality coaching, mentorship, and opportunities to develop on and off the court. 

Chicago Sky Basketball Academy 

The Chicago Sky Basketball Academy offers year-round programming—including training classes, travel teams, camps and clinics—for girls ages 7-18 in the Chicagoland area that focus on building individual skills, basketball IQ, mental preparation, and team connectedness. 

For inquiries, please contact Academy Director Simona Sidaugaite at simona@skybasketballacademy.net.  

Girls Mentorship Program 

The Chicago Sky partners with Chicago Public Schools, Blackademically Speaking, and Girls Opportunity Alliance to deliver the CPS High School Connection program for 100 incoming ninth-grade girls through summer programming and year-round touchpoints that combine academic enrichment with leadership development and empowerment activities to build self-confidence and support youth in planning for their future. 

Youth Literacy Efforts 

The Chicago Sky and Hyde Park Day School are sponsoring Wilson Reading System Level 1 Certification for 10 Chicago Public Schools educators, providing full funding for training, materials, and a supervised practicum to increase access to high-quality reading intervention for students. This certification equips teachers with research-based strategies to effectively support students reading below grade level and those with language-based learning disabilities such as dyslexia.

Our Work