In this episode, Dr. Jaime Madison Vasquez sits down with a team from Midtown Metro who provide after school and summer enrichment programs serving low income youth in Chicago. With more than 60 years of experience both centers have robust parent formation programming. The conversation goes beyond logistics into what it takes to build a shared language around character education and the fruits born from years of nurturing relationships. If you care about parent partnership, character formation, mentorship, and strengthening culture with families of all backgrounds, this episode is going to give you both inspiration and practical direction.
Guests:
Vince Meno – Executive Director, Midtown-Metro Achievement Centers
Micheil Pruni – Center Director, Midtown Achievement Center for Boys
Anne Russell – Parent Program Director, Metro Achievement Center for Girls
In this episode, we discuss:
The founding mission of Midtown Metro and its two single-sex centers, serving students from 3rd through 12th grade across three programs: One-on-One, Pathways to Success, and College Orientation Programs
What the parent program looks like at each level and what the commitment asks of families
How Midtown Metro teaches virtue and character to students, parents, volunteers, and staff using a shared language and a recently completed John Templeton Foundation project
How one-on-one mentorship and tutoring creates the relational trust that sustains parent partnerships over time
How Midtown Metro communicates its Catholic identity and values to families, donors, and the broader public with a “Catholic and” (not “Catholic but”) approach
Q&A Question:
“Where should a school begin if they’re serving a similar demographic?”
Chapters:
0:00: Introduction
1:48: What is Midtown Metro? Mission, history, and who they serve
4:27: The parent program across age groups
9:06: Parent commitments and program structure
11:08: Attendance, weekly meetings, and building community
15:15: Stories of family transformation
21:13: The Midtown Metro approach to virtue and character education
44:11: Mentorship, tutoring, and the power of individual attention
48:58: Communicating Catholic identity to families and donors
52:15: Christian formation: how it’s offered and who participates
55:22: Measuring outcomes and sharing impact
58:34: Q&A: Where should a school begin?
Resources:
Board of Advisors Parent Activity:
Get in touch: Email hello@familiaris-consulting.com or reply to the newsletter to submit a question for a future Q & A Segment.
Visit familiaris-consulting.com to learn more about our consulting services and schedule a free consultation with Jaime.
Thanks for listening! This podcast is made possible through the support of paid subscribers.
Please help us reach more schools and families by sharing with your friends and colleagues. God bless!
Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios
Recent Episodes:
