After school, Chicago kids become creators and problem-solvers

Tetyana Klymko started Well Chicago for a simple reason: her own children needed a program like it, and there weren't many affordable options in their community. When program cuts across Chicago began affecting even more families, she decided to help fill the gap. Well Chicago, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, grew out of that decision in 2025. It serves young people ages 5 to 13 with free and affordable programs in community spaces around the city, on evenings and weekends, blending hands-on arts, STEM and civic learning. Each session pairs mindfulness practices with imagination-based activities, so children build creativity, agency and a sense of belonging, while their caregivers get time back to rest, work or take care of other responsibilities. In less than a year, Well Chicago has reached nearly 200 children across Chicago, many through free or affordable programs in their own neighborhoods. It has given parents more than 120 hours of personal time, hired nine creative professionals, built eight community partnerships and completed two community art installations. Klymko, whose background spans economics, nonprofit leadership and community development, is proud of things people rarely ask about. Well Chicago is immigrant- and refugee-powered. It pays its creative facilitators for their expertise. And it treats sponsorships as true community partnerships, investing in local businesses while inviting them to invest in the neighborhoods it serves. Next is the Well Chicago Civic Innovation Lab, which will help young people use technology to bring their ideas to life and advocate for them at the local level.