Alderwoman and Mayoral Candidate Sophia King is putting education at the forefront of the ballot. She made this clear at a Community Conversation at St. Agatha’s Church in North Lawndale.
King, who is currently alderwoman of the 4th Ward of Chicago, is running for mayor this election season. Her main topics of discussion at last week’s forum event were safety and education. Here she spoke with residents about how she planned to help bring education to the forefront in Chicago’s neighborhoods.
King was a chemistry teacher at the Latin School of Chicago and has had many moments in her career as an alderwoman that shine a light on her commitment to education in the 4th Ward and around the city. During her time as an alderwoman, she helped found the Ariel Community Academy in the North Kenwood-Oakland neighborhood.
King believes that it is vastly important to bring good and well-funded schooling into all communities in the city because that is the only way people will choose to come to Chicago and stay as residents.
King Sees What Schools Need
Sophia King understands the issues surrounding many schools in Chicago. A good example of this is in her own ward, with Kenwood High School and Jones College Prep. Kenwood is a neighborhood school, while Jones is a selective enrollment school, and she keeps them academically diverse by requiring Kenwood to have selective enrollment in seventh and eighth grade.
King says that keeping enrollment high is important, because even if a school has a “bad reputation”, that doesn’t mean they aren’t important to their community. If everybody wants to get into a selective
enrollment school, there will not be enough spots for all who want it. All schools must have enough funding so that they can best serve their community.
She not only wants better school systems, but interventions for disengaged youth. She wants to give a $600 incentive to youth for job training, trauma-informed care, and wrap-around benefits for families.
“We have this money right now,” said King when describing her plan for education and youth.
Who Will Pay for This?
How will the city afford all of this? For King, the answer lies in investments and schools.
King wants to utilize empty lots throughout the city, areas that she calls “opportunity zones” for investors. People will invest in uses for these lots with the opportunity to get their money back with gains. This means people can give to their community and get back a return on their investment.
Giving investors the opportunity to make money off of helping the community will help fund businesses and education. Furthermore, investing in schools is crucial for King’s plan for Chicago. Schools will bring families, families will stimulate the economy, and a good economy will help all Chicagoans.
Sophia King’s mayoral plan for Chicago puts education on the frontlines, using youth engagement to bring light to social and economic problems within the city of Chicago.
By Caroline Buehler
Chicago Sun-Times: Mayoral candidate Sophia King unveils education plan by Fran Spielman
Interview: Sophia King
Featured Image Courtesy TNS
Inset Image Courtesy of Tomash Devenishek‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
