TEENS FOR
MIGRANTS

TEENS FOR
MIGRANTS

TEENS FOR
MIGRANTS

YOUTH-LED COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

YOUTH-LED COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

Supporting migrant children and families across Chicago through school partnerships, donation drives and youth-led community action

Supporting migrant children and families across Chicago through school partnerships, donation drives and youth-led community action

Founded by

Francesca Sofia

Peter Polsky

Founded by

Francesca Perlman

Peter Polsky

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE

A simple belief: young people can build the welcome they want to see



Since 2022, Chicago has welcomed more than 36,000 men, women, and children arriving from the southern border. In response, the city has established more than 23 temporary shelters providing essential needs such as food, water, clothing, and a safe place to sleep. Despite these efforts, many newly arrived families continue to face significant challenges. For migrant children and teenagers, starting over in a new city can be especially difficult. They are adjusting to a new school, a new community, and an unfamiliar environment while their families face uncertainty and financial hardship.

Since 2022, Chicago has welcomed more than 36,000 men, women, and children arriving from the southern border. In response, the city has established more than 23 temporary shelters providing essential needs such as food, water, clothing, and a safe place to sleep. Despite these efforts, many newly arrived families continue to face significant challenges. For migrant children and teenagers, starting over in a new city can be especially difficult. They are adjusting to a new school, a new community, and an unfamiliar environment while their families face uncertainty and financial hardship.

Our mission is to empower teenagers to turn compassion into action and make a meaningful difference in the lives of migrant families. Working together with the Latin School of Chicago and Chicago Public Schools, and with the help of Victoria Infante, FACE Manager, at the Family and Community for the Chicago Public schools . We bring young people together to volunteer, collect essential supplies, mentor children and teens, organize fundraising and community service initiatives, and support organizations serving migrant families. Through these efforts, we hope to help newly arrived children and families feel welcomed, supported, and connected to their new community while inspiring a generation of young leaders to develop empathy, responsibility, and a lifelong commitment to giving back.

Our mission is to empower teenagers to turn compassion into action and make a meaningful difference in the lives of migrant families. Working together with the Latin School of Chicago and Chicago Public Schools, and with the help of Victoria Infante, Face Manager, at the Family and Community for the Chicago Public schools .

We bring young people together to volunteer, collect essential supplies, mentor children and teens, organize fundraising and community service initiatives, and support organizations serving migrant families. Through these efforts, we hope to help newly arrived children and families feel welcomed, supported, and connected to their new community while inspiring a generation of young leaders to develop empathy, responsibility, and a lifelong commitment to giving back.

Peter Polsky

Co-founder

Francesca Perlman

Co-founder

IMPACT · PROJECTS IN MOTION

Every project starts with a neighborhood need and a group of young people ready to help

2023

DECEMBER 13, 2023

First Christmas Party

Pilsen-Little Village Parent University · Chicago, Illinois

Over 150 kids came to receive a special present, food, treats, and a visit from Santa. Thank you to all the donations of cookies baked by students from the Latin School of Chicago. We also were able to share our experience on television with Telemundo, allowing us to spread our story

2024

October 23, 2024

Halloween event

Pilsen-Little Village Parent University · Chicago, Illinois

Teens for Migrants’ event was an amazing experience. Thank you so much to all the volunteers from the Latin School of Chicago for helping make this event happen. We had over 150 kids visit, and each kid received a special Halloween gift and treats to celebrate

December 12, 2024

Christmas event

Pilsen-Little Village Parent University · Chicago, Illinois

At the Christmas event, we were able to give provide over 200 kids with their own holiday gift, food, and treats. We also had an appearance from Telemundo to help share the amazing celebration with others

2025

March 17, 2025

St. Patrick’s Day celebration

Hammond Elementary

We gave the students tasty holiday treats and beautiful snack bags decorated and donated by the Latin School of Chicago

SEPTEMBER 23, 2025

Walsh Elementary visit

Walsh Elementary

Teens for Migrants visited Walsh Elementary to provide a school bag complete with a notebook, pencils, pens, and erasers. We also brought happy meals and sweet treats for every student. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make this event possible

october 30, 2025

Halloween event

Perez School

We handout Halloween themed school bags to all the students, which included notebooks, pencils, colored pencil, erasers, and pens. Each student also received Halloween treats and bags donated and decorated by the Latin School of Chicago. In addition to the fun decorations, we enjoyed seeing all the amazing costumes

december 8, 2025

Boots and winter coats donation

Little Village Academy

Teens for Migrants visited Little Village Academy to donate boot and winter coats to all the students. In addition, we brought wonderfully decorated snack bags with treats that all the kids seemed to enjoy. In order to prepare each student for Chicago’s winter, we provided over 150 boots and costs to the students

2026

FEBRUARY 13, 2026

Winter coats donation

Cooper Dual Language School

We were able to give away over 200 coats and give out nicely decorated snack bags to the students. Helping bring a beautiful spirit to the event, the Cooper musical band performed a beautiful song for everyone

april 13, 2026

Decorated bags that included snacks, treats, and goodies

Cooper Dual Language School

We provide students with beautifully decorated bags that included snacks, treats, and goodies. We also donated wonderful books that we received from the Latin School of Chicago. We are so happy to work with Cooper School to create an enjoyable learning environment.

august 21, 2026

Backpacks for the new school year

Cooper Elementary School

We hand out 350 backpacks for the new school year. Along with our event, we celebrated the grand opening of the playground with snack bags donated by the Latin School of Chicago. We are grateful to have the opportunity to help the student and share our story with Telemundo.

CHICAGO PROJECT MAP

Where community care takes shape

MEDIA · COMMUNITY MOMENTS

Recognized by NBC Chicago

Starlight Partner Award - Parent University community

Teens for Migrants has been selected to receive the Starlight Partner Award in recognition of your invaluable contributions to our Parent University community.

This recognition belongs not only to your organization, but to you whose dedication, care, and commitment have helped make this partnership meaningful and impactful. Because of your efforts, our families have gained access to enriching workshops, vital resources, and opportunities that foster growth, learning, and connection. Your role in this work has truly made a difference, helping empower parents to move forward with confidence and knowledge.

Recognized by Tele Mundo

Honored to received the Sarlight Partner Award at The Cooper School

GET INVOLVED

Want to support a future event? We’d love to hear from you

Want to support a future event? We’d love to hear from you

Want to support a future event? We’d love to hear from you

Whether you’re a school, student, community organization, volunteer, or someone who simply wants to help, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to collaborate, support a future project, organize a donation drive, or get involved with Teens for Migrants.

Whether you’re a school, student, community organization, volunteer, or someone who simply wants to help, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to collaborate, support a future project, organize a donation drive, or get involved with Teens for Migrants.

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Have an idea for a project? Let’s make it happen together.

LOOKING AHEAD

Our vision is a sustainable, youth-led model that builds long-term alliances and supports more migrant children and families across Chicago

Our vision is a sustainable, youth-led model that builds long-term alliances and supports more migrant children and families across Chicago

Teens for Migrants

Youth-led support, built with Chicago communities

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