Good News: October 12, 2018

Welcome to Good News! In this space we feature positive stories of community impact and development, relevant to the areas Metropolitan serves or the programs we offer.

One Chicago counselor’s grand experiment: teaching kindness to middle schoolers
Chalkbeat
Last spring, the principal and staff at Dawes Comprehensive Gifted, a predominantly Latino school on the far Southwest Side, decided to participate in a national kindness challenge. Carla Frangella, an affable former kindergarten teacher who has served as the school’s guidance counselor for 14 years, was picked to lead the charge and handed the title “kindness captain.”

Homestead In The City? How This Chicago Mom Embraced Living Off The Land On The Far South Side
Block Club Chicago
Natasha Nicholes wanted her neighbors to get out of their houses and talk to one another — and through her farm, she’s made it happen.

Chance the Rapper pledges $1 million to mental health services in Chicago
Chicago Sun-Times
Six mental wellness providers in Cook County will each receive $100,000 grants, and SocialWorks is starting a new initiative called “My State of Mind” aiming to connect people with treatment.