ITAV Elevates Mission with Historic Acquisition of Hales in Bronzeville

A new chapter in education is unfolding in Bronzeville on Chicago’s South Side with the acquisition of a well-known landmark. It Takes a Village Family of Schools recently acquired the old Hales Franciscan High School building at 49th and Cottage Grove. It is a significant step for the two-decade-old organization that promotes social justice education and advocacy.& The Hales campus carries profound meaning in Chicago, particularly for its enduring legacy as an institution dedicated to educating Black males and producing influential alums.& In an interview with The Chicago Defender, ITAV CEO Nakisha Hobbs highlighted that reputation and explained that the Bronzeville site is perfect for ITAV to continue the spirit of excellence in Black education.& The move is advantageous because it coincides with a burgeoning social, cultural and economic development renaissance in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood, famously touted as the Black metropolis.& Hobbs mentioned the prospective opening of a new theater in the community, along with the development of a new Northwestern Memorial Hospital near the old Hales building on Cottage Grove and the acclaimed Bronzeville Winery restaurant, which is also down the street.& “The Black community is on a mission to return Bronzeville to its traditional greatness, and It...