Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Park District Superintendent Michael P. Kelly were joined by 75 Park District summer campers at Columbus Park to launch a program to fill opportunity gaps in underserved neighborhoods. As part of Chicago City of Learning (CCOL), Destination: Chicago Mobile Van will bring computers and computer learning to neighborhoods throughout the city this summer. The Destination: Chicago Mobile Van is a mobile classroom designed to engage students in online programs, also helping them to identify the on-site programs that excite their curiosity and are available at locations in their neighborhood or throughout the city.

Over the weekends to come, Destination: Chicago Mobile Van will be at neighborhood festivals and special events, offering activities that can quickly engage youth and parents through short challenges on CCOL’s online suite of playlists, including learning activities connected to fashion, music, design, art and media. On weekdays, the van will visit summer schools and Chicago Park District camps that do not have the equipment and expertise to provide meaningful online learning experiences. The van has a fixed schedule of being at Bryn Mawr Church on Tuesdays, Garfield Park on Wednesdays and Ping Tom Park on Thursdays. However, CCOL recently announced a program called “mobile Mondays,” in which the van will travel to parks, schools and neighborhoods upon the request of aldermen or community groups.