After School Matters site gets $14 million, year-long renovation

After School Matters, a non-profit organization providing programming for Chicago Public Schools teens, has begun a $14 million renovation of a 36,000-square-foot facility near the former Cabrini-Green public housing development on the Near North Side.

The facility, located at 1065 N. Orleans St., was purchased by the organization in April for $12.2 million and is slated for completion in late 2025. Once operational, the facility will offer programs for 1,500 teens, furthering the mission of the organization founded by Maggie Daley, the late wife of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.

“We know After School Matters teen-centric spaces work,” said CEO Mary Ellen Caron in a press release. “Today, there is a greater need than ever for more safe, supportive, and responsive spaces where teens can learn, grow, and thrive.”

The new facility will feature a variety of spaces designed to foster creativity and development, including a commercial kitchen, a gymnasium, a black box theater, art studios, STEM labs, a skilled trades lab, outdoor urban gardening areas, and communal spaces. The gymnasium, a first for an After School Matters facility, is expected to attract more young boys to the organization’s sports programming while encouraging them to explore other offerings.

After School Matters has a history of utilizing city library and park district buildings, but began establishing its own facilities in 2017. The new building signals significant growth, according to Brendan DuBois, After School Matters’ chief financial officer.

Across its seasonal programming sessions, the organization serves up to 19,000 students, offering courses in sports, cooking, art, and more.

The facility’s design will incorporate feedback from staff, board members, and teens, ensuring that the programming reflects the interests and needs of its participants. Recent additions include artificial intelligence programming, based on student input.

To cover the renovation costs, After School Matters is raising funds to meet the $14 million goal, bringing the total investment in the project to $27 million. The facility will employ 12 to 15 staff members, though it is unclear whether they will be new hires or reassigned from within the organization.