Gimena’s commitment to social issues manifests in both student work and entrepreneurial endeavors. A product of GCE’s curriculum, Gimena’s original game—which includes characters representing an array of ethnicities, identities, and physical abilities—has earned them a nomination for Young Inventor of the Year by Chicago Toy and Game Fair.

I think this is the only school I know of to give so much love to their students’ future and what they want to do, not what they have to do or what they should do.
—Gimena

Nakiya’h never misses an opportunity to distinguish himself, to develop his voice, and to become an agent of change. He draws on experiences as a Chicagoan, a former CPS student, and as a resident of Englewood and Uptown in his art, which includes work selected for the cover of Marwen’s program catalog—a notable Chicago nonprofit for young people from under-resourced communities and schools providing free visual arts programs.

GCE helps me to interact with people of many different backgrounds, and helps me identify and pursue my dreams.
—Nakiya’h

As a youth advocate, Cora’s voice is heard not only in Chicago but also in Washington D.C., where she spoke with Representatives to support the Epilepsy Foundation’s legislative goals. Closer to home, Cora’s ambition as an organizer helped bring to life the 15,000-strong #NeverAgain movement with March for Our Lives Chicago to protest youth gun violence. GCE’s challenges students to be bold and act boldly—Cora is showing us how.

GCE helps me by using tools and knowledge I learn inside and outside the classroom to help me reach out to my peers and community and educate people about my activism with epilepsy and ending gun violence.
—Cora