WHAT'S NEW
THE LATEST INFO ON OUR PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
2018-2019 Annual Report
In the summer of 2019, we made a lasting mark outside four elementary schools, installing vibrant mosaic murals of a blooming tree. Those trees also remind us of our reinvention as an organization—branching out towards a new future while firmly rooted by our 30-year...
Holmes Class of 1975 Unveils Teacher Innovation Fund
Dave Smith, left, and Tom Korinek, right Back in the 1970s, Tom Korinek and Dave Smith were young, innovative and on the cutting edge of teaching in a way that touched the lives of many students. Now, it’s our turn to thank them. On Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, both...
Creative Collaboration With Spoken Word
Brooks Middle School 7th graders are being encouraged to write poems about what’s important to them in their daily lives. Spoken Word teaching artist Mo Santiago, one of our latest Oak Park Education Foundation additions to the team, led last week's class...
New Mosaics Grace D97 Walls
NEW MOSAICS GRACE THE WALLS OUTSIDE FOUR D97 SCHOOLS It's always inspiring to see creative ideas burst into fruition for all to enjoy. This school year you will find original mosaics by renown artist Tracy Van Duinen gracing prominent exterior walls of...
Teacher Spotlight: Guillermo Delgado
Folk Art fun with BASE Camp's Guillermo Delgado Guillermo Delgado is the kind of OPEF instructor that makes campers feel instantly at ease. When visiting his BASE Camp Folk Art classroom, Delgado had familiar classical soundtracks from top movies like...
Recreating History with Harmonicas
Children from Mr. Podlasek’s second-grade performed at Oak Park’s Belmont Village last week, sparking smiles and warming hearts for the residents. The students have been working with OPEF’s Art Start artist John Milan, who taught them songs to sing and...
Voices Shake the House at School of Rock
OPEF Spoken Word students shook the house at the School of Rock with their raw honesty and powerful words last week. The poetry slam, titled Respect the Mic, fostered creativity and self-expression while giving kids the opportunity to speak about their lives in a...
Robot Rumble!
Six teams of VEX Robotics students at Julian Middle School designed robots, then built and battled each other in a Robot Rumble, exploring the various aspects of technology in competitive fun. The hands-on projects were organized in small groups, and kids...
Bingo Bash honoree says OPEF program transformative for kids, teachers
'Allowing teachers to see students for who they really are’ Buying a ticket to OPEF’s re-invented fundraiser not only allows you to support amazing enrichment programs in Oak Park schools, it also gives you a chance to celebrate an influential teacher who does so...
Introducing the Bingo Bash Planning Committee
What does it take to pull off a bingo-themed party for 200 people and make sure your guests can win great prizes, enjoy yummy food and drinks, and support a great cause while having fun with friends and neighbors? The first, most important step is to deploy an...