At a time when many communities across America experience growing distance,division, and fragmentation, Scholas Occurrentes USA is opening a different path in Chicago: one where young people from different schools, neighborhoods, and socialrealities encounter one another not through labels or differences, but throughdialogue, listening, and shared humanity.

The first Teens in Motion encounter in Chicago marks the visible milestone of a fullyear of educational work carried out by Scholas with students across different schoolcommunities, a year dedicated to building trust, cultivating youth voice, andpreparing the conditions for authentic encounter among young people whose pathsrarely cross despite living in the same city.

Students from different educational environments, including private schoolcommunities such as Carmel Catholic High School and youth connected tocommunities from South Chicago, came together in an experience that reflects theheart of the Scholas mission: creating a true culture of encounter, where diversitybecomes strength, where listening becomes a form of leadership, and where youngpeople begin to see one another as partners in shaping a common future.

For Scholas, this is not simply a gathering. It is the beginning of a long-termcommitment in Chicago: building bridges where there have been invisibleboundaries, strengthening relationships where distance has existed, andempowering youth to lead the kind of generational transformation our societyurgently needs.

Throughout this first year, students have not only participated, they have graduallylearned to trust one another, to speak from their own realities, and to recognize thattransformation begins when young people feel seen, heard, and capable ofcontributing to something greater than themselves.

What began as a process inside classrooms and guided dialogue spaces is nowbecoming a movement of connection across communities.

This first encounter sends a clear message: Chicago’s young people are ready to leada new social imagination — one grounded not in separation, but in encounter.

This important beginning has been made possible thanks to the extraordinarygenerosity and vision of Jessica Sarowitz, whose support has allowed Scholas toestablish this initiative in Chicago and invest deeply in youth as builders of socialcohesion and future leadership.

We also extend our profound gratitude to the Archdiocese of Chicago, Big ShouldersFund, and all local partners whose trust and collaboration have helped make this firstchapter possible.

This is only the beginning.The work ahead is to continue opening spaces where young people from differentcommunities can meet, recognize one another, and together build bridges strongenough to transform the city they share.

With gratitude and conviction,

Jimena Florez

Executive Director
Scholas Occurrentes USA