This summer, several LUA students will participate in a program called "Art for the Heart," thanks to a $1,400 grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. The students will develop leadership skills and serve local underprivileged children by planning and conducting 10 summer art classes. The art classes will be held for approximately 40 elementary age children and include clay sculpture, mask making, painting, paper mache', jewelry making and collage. To learn more, visit www.cfnil.org.

LYDIA Urban Academy was recently awarded a $5,000 technology grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (Howard D. Colman Memorial Fund, Schneider Electric Charitable Fund, and Margaret Aldeen Christian Ministry Fund). The grant will be used to purchase laptops, digital and video cameras and computer software for the students to create media projects.