Sojourner Scholars

c/o The Odyssey Project, 17 N. State Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60602

Mission

Sojourner Scholars Humanities Institute provides Chicago public high school students with the opportunity to earn college credits through deep exploration of the humanities. Summer seminars, taught by faculty from local colleges and universities, engage students in several disciplines, including art history, American history, literature, and philosophy.

School year events build on these summer explorations, drawing scholars together for film and book club meetings, field trips, art-making, and college prep workshops. These experiences support Sojourner Scholars’ emergence and growth as critical and creative citizens; they also nurture scholars’ pursuit of their intellectual ambitions during young adulthood and beyond. The Sojourner Scholars Program is affiliated with The Odyssey Project, the Illinois Humanities‘ adult education initiative. 

Recent Successes

The benefits of the Sojourner Scholars program extend well beyond the classroom, as students connect interdisciplinary texts, themes and projects to their lived experiences. In a safe and welcoming environment, intellectual risks can be taken, urgent questions can be examined, and understandings can be forged.

Our partnerships with vital South Side Chicago cultural organizations — including Diasporal Rhythms, the Hyde Park Art Center, Rebuild Foundation, Smart Museum, South Side Community Art Center, and the Smart Museum  — are essential to these endeavors.

Our workshops, field trips, and formal classes draw scholars and their families into incredible events taking place across the greater South Side and Chicago-at-large.  

Additional Information

You can find more information about the Sojourner Scholars at www.odysseyprojecths.com.