Sue Duncan Children's Center

Our mission is to enrich the lives of youth of all ages by nurturing their academic, athletic, and artistic growth.

The Center builds safe, supportive communities that strengthen families and motivate children to succeed. In June of 1961, when after-school programs were almost unheard of, Sue Duncan opened her children's center as a free educational and recreational program for inner-city children. The idea was to provide a supportive and enriching haven where children would be cherished and nurtured: a place w

07/12/2024

07/11/2024

Susan Duncan dies at 89; South Side educator and mother of former U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan For 50 years, Mrs. Duncan ran Sue Duncan Children’s Center, an after-school program serving kids on the South Side. 'She really felt that education was a way to ameliorate the injustices in society,' her daughter said.

04/19/2024

This Is Life Chicago is back at it! They will be hosting another Community Outreach Event this coming Saturday. Free Hair Cuts for the youth, Free Resources, Free Giveaways, and more. REGISTER HERE: https://www.thisislifechi.org/event-details-registration/this-is-life-community-outreach-event-parents-do-not-need-tickets-for-haircuts-only-children. Call 773-916-7059 for more information.

Saturday, April 20th
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
The Salvation Army Adele and Robert Stern Red Shield Center
945 W. 69th Street, Chicago

01/30/2024

Households that are eligible for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can receive vouchers for repairing or replacing their heating systems, such as furnaces and boilers. Scan the QR code or follow this link --- > https://www.cedaorg.net/find-services/gas-and-electric/. You can also call 800-571-2332 for more information. This program is provided by the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA).

12/31/2023

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUE! ❤️ Our trailblazing founder Sue Duncan is 89 years old today! We are forever grateful to this extraordinary human being for dedicating her life to teaching and pouring love into children indiscriminately. She did so for over 50 years until her retirement in 2011. HELP US CELEBRATE HER! 🥳🥳❤️❤️

Photos from Sue Duncan Children's Center's post

12/14/2023

We are super excited to collaborate with the The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Oakley Square Apartments on Chicago's west side. The program model is almost identical to our services on the south side, and an extension of our continued partnership with the Chicago School. Students and volunteers provide in-person enrichment activities at Oakley Square in addition to our excellent virtual program that currently focuses on reading advancement for students on the south side and across the city.

The in-person program hosted by the Chicago School of Professional Psychology currently serves the residents of Oakley Square Apartments. If you would like to register your child for our reading-focused virtual program serving students on the south side and across the city, visit our website ---> www.sueduncanchildrenscenter.org.

10/24/2023

Dejana Young checking in from Harold Washington College! Taking a break from her biology class but staying focused … “So far, this semester has been okay. Wish me luck for midterms tomorrow!” Dejana is now completing her third year of college. She is majoring in Early Childhood Education.

We are extremely proud and excited for Dejana who has been attending our program since 2012. Through our College Support Program we remain connected and supportive of her dedication to educational excellence.

We appreciate our village of supporters who have helped ambitious students like Dejana make their dreams of a college education come true!

10/24/2023

Free haircuts and coats for youth this coming Saturday, October 28th from 1:00pm - 4:00pm at the Bronzeville Fall Festival at 3521 S. King Drive, Chicago. Registration is required: https://www.thisislifechi.org/event-details-registration/free-haircuts-for-youth-at-fall-festival-get-tickets-for-how-many-kids-need-haircuts. This is a FREE event. For more information, call 773-916-7069 or email [email protected]. Hosted and made possible by This Is Life Chicago.

09/26/2023

“Beutiful Dae Vaughns checking in from Harold Washington College! I’m here in the student lounge doing some reflecting on a book I’ve been reading to elevate my mental health as a student. I’m currently getting my associates degree in arts while looking forward to transferring to a 4-year university to complete my studies in economics. I hope whoever is reading this has a Beautiful Day!”

We are extremely proud and excited for Beutiful who started attending our academic program as a 4th grader. She is now finishing up her sophomore year in college. Through our College Support Program we remain connected and supportive of her dedication to educational excellence. We appreciate our village of supporters who help ambitious students like Beutiful make their dreams of a college education come true!

09/15/2023

This Saturday, September 16th on 73rd & Cottage Grove --- > Household essentials and personal care items giveaway starting at 12:00pm (first come, first served). This event is being hosted by The Dovetail Project.

08/11/2023

Back to School events this weekend throughout the Chicagoland area --- > Everything from school supply giveaways, health exams (including eye and dental), resource tables, petting zoos, jump houses, music, food, entertainment, and more.

07/31/2023

This is a valuable Group Art Therapy opportunity to prioritize mental health. This Friday, August 4th from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm at the University of Chicago CCHE - The Village @ 1525 East 55th Street (Suite 310) - Chicago. This session uses dance and movement to promote physical activity that contributes to your physical health which contributes to positive inner mental health. All materials will be provided. RSVP Free: https://www.blackalphabet.org/event-details/aligning-your-inner-health. This program is provided by Black Alphabet.

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Our Story

Sue Duncan is one of the most extraordinary, admirable figures in the history of Chicago education. Many identify her as the mother of Arne Duncan, former United States Secretary of Education and former CEO of Chicago Public Schools. However, after discovering the deep educational roots she established through groundbreaking work she spearheaded on the city’s south side, one quickly realizes the more appropriate fact is Arne is the son of Sue Duncan. Her modest, yet unwavering commitment to doing whatever it takes to help children reach their full potential through academic achievement is legendary, and long precedes her eldest son’s tenure in education and politics. Sue Duncan quietly transformed the lives of thousands of children over 50 years by donating her time and personal resources to establish the Sue Duncan Children’s Center. She is a revered mainstay and mother figure to multiple generations of families in one of Chicago’s most poverty-stricken neighborhoods.

During the Civil Rights Movement in 1961 when after school programs were almost unheard of, Sue Duncan was a 26 year-old white teacher who opened a children’s center for inner-city black youth on the racially divided south side of Chicago. Her selflessness and genuine desire to be a positive influence began when she was asked to teach Sunday school at a local church and learned her students could not read. She made a commitment to meeting with them regularly and taught them to not only read, but to comprehend and interpret literature. She was undeterred by any barriers that would prevent her from teaching children she knew had limited resources yet deserved an opportunity to succeed. With her own three children in tow, she would literally drive through the neighborhood in her blue station wagon, picking up kids block-by-block to take them to the Center she had created by utilizing space at local churches and area schools. She bypassed gang members and fearlessly established her program in a high-crime neighborhood where her presence was often questioned. But once the people of the community witnessed her indiscriminate love for children and the magical transformation of the students she taught, parents made her program a requirement for their kids, and students at nearby University of Chicago began to serve as volunteer tutors alongside some of the parents in the neighborhood. The program quickly blossomed into a quiet, yet monumental movement of achievement against all odds. Even known gang members were inspired by her unconditional love and uncompromising commitment to excellence and began attending her program.

Over the next five decades, Sue taught thousands of children at what officially became the Sue Duncan Children’s Center and established lasting personal relationships with her students and their families. The phrase “Going to Sue” became a common reference in the neighborhood for children attending her program. Although the Center moved to several locations throughout the community over the years, she maintained a consistent presence, and everyone knew they could rely on her to be there.

Sue’s educational model is based on the belief that, with nurturing, fulfillment of their basic needs and consistency, all children can and will succeed. Her motto is to support each child based on their individual circumstances and to “meet them where they are” academically, emotionally, socially and geographically. This approach has been crucial to the Center’s ability to gain trust and respect in communities that may not be receptive to other programs. Her curriculum is designed to consider the personal needs of every child by going beyond basic academic tutoring. The program engenders intellectual curiosity, a love of learning and encourages healthy lifestyles by fulfilling children’s artistic, recreational and nutritional needs. Based on this commitment to supporting the “whole child,” Sue established a culture that emulates the village it takes to raise a child and where everyone has a role to play in helping others succeed, including the children themselves. Older students mentor the younger by reading with them and providing tutoring for difficult subjects. This benefits both children; the younger receives individualized attention from a positive role model they can look up to, and the elder builds self-esteem and sense of responsibility as well as teaching and leadership skills.

Sue taught enthusiastically and intensely until her 2011 retirement, with the only expectation for accolades being the success of her students. Her many protégés over the years fervently credit her for being the turning point in their lives and are now making positive contributions to society as engineers, doctors, lawyers, educators, philanthropists, police officers, fire fighters, servicemen and women, well-known athletes, actors, and musicians, community leaders and business owners. Many of them return to the Center to donate their time and resources, including through service on its Board of Directors.

Today, the Sue Duncan Children’s Center continues to thrive and remains grounded in the grassroots, hands-on approach established by its founder. The program remains consistent with the Center’s historically high standard for excellence and to this day, there are few, if any, non-religious programs in the country that operate on such a personal level with each child, and share the level of results using minimal resources. 100% of attendees show measurable progress with their grades, test scores, behavior, self-esteem, and planning for the future.

Sue Duncan’s educational background includes a B.A. in English from Smith College in 1955 and an M.A. in English from University of Wisconsin in 1957. Originally from Wi******er, Massachusetts, she became a resident of Chicago in 1959. Sue taught high school English for two years in Cleveland, and one year at City Colleges of Chicago before putting her heart and soul into running the children’s center. Her three children all share her passion for keeping education at the forefront of social advancement. Sue was married to the late Dr. Starkey Duncan, Jr., professor of psychology at the University of Chicago. She was recently the recipient of the UNICEF Humanitarian Award.

When asked about the challenges and rewards of a life-time of educating children, Sue responded: “I never met a child I couldn’t teach.” Even in her retirement, and despite memory loss, she could be found at the Center passing out gifts to children during the holidays and attending its annual Fall Fête fundraiser. Now in her eighties, Sue is currently in the care of her daughter Sarah.

In the spring of 2014, a documentary was released as a homage and exploration into the life of Sue Duncan. REMEMBER ME SUE is directed by Melina Kolb who produced the film independently after being inspired by Sue’s work while serving as a volunteer tutor at her children’s center. The film premiered on PBS Chicago (WTTW-11). The REMEMBER ME SUE documentary viewed for free on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlvfoC2lXLU&feature=youtu.be

Make a Donation to support the legacy of learning trailblazed by Sue Duncan.

Location

Chicago

Contact the business

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Telephone

+17739422277

Website

http://www.sueduncanchildrenscenter.org/

Address

4225 S Lake Park Avenue
Chicago, IL
60653

Opening Hours

Monday	2:30pm - 6:30pm
Tuesday	2:30pm - 6:30pm
Wednesday	2:30pm - 6:30pm
Thursday	2:30pm - 6:30pm
Friday	2:30pm - 6:30pm