LOTUS Chicago – Lifting Ourselves Through US

Together we Can

Guide a love for life-long learning, critical thinking, Emotional-Intelligence, and creative problem solving among Chicago and Chicagoland youth and families.

Our Mission

The mission of L.O.T.U.S. (Lifting Ourselves Through US)

L.O.T.U.S. collaborates with community partners to design and co-create experience-rich third spaces that support academic growth and holistic health. Our mission is rooted in awareness, quality of life, and shared liberation. It is for the people—all of the people.

A Third Space is an intentional environment beyond home and school that nurtures growth, connection, and discovery through transformative experiences. These spaces are designed to be lively, engaging, and inclusive of all forms of learning, ensuring that every individual—whether young or seasoned—can immerse themselves in the context of the lesson or experience. Participants express their lesson in the form of a written reflection usually followed by a discussion.

We Want The Best

We want the best because our children deserve it! We are taking action to disrupt the status quo and enlighten our children in a way never seen before by identifying passion, cultivating curiosity, and a love for learning so they can define, describe, and create connections to solve any problem placed before them.

We Represent

We place students at the center of relationships that inspire and empower them. By pairing them with guides and instructors who represent and relate to their lived experiences, we ensure that every student sees themselves reflected in their learning journey. Representation matters, and we design our programming with this truth in mind. Our intentional approach to cultivating a diverse group of facilitators creates a foundation for meaningful guidance, helping students navigate their paths with confidence and purpose as they build toward their futures.

We Strengthen

As a community-based organization, our goal is to organically bring opportunities, exposure, and partnerships to those nearby. Iron sharpens iron! the impact of our programming partnerships is our strength.

We Guide

Participants are encouraged to place themselves at the center of their learning, applying what they gain to their lives in meaningful ways for both present and future use. By fostering a lifelong love of learning, cultivating creative problem-solving skills, and empowering individuals to define and achieve their goals, LOTUS Third Spaces serve as catalysts for personal and community transformation.

We Expose

There are countless career paths that a kid can choose. Our mission is to continually curate experiences/activities that expose students to career opportunities that align with passion as an introduction or a deeper dive. We then show that student where the academics are in that career path. We try to answer questions like, “When will I ever use this math again?”

Focus Your Generosity

Whether it is time, talent, or financial support, your contribution shapes more than a program—it shapes people. L.O.T.U.S. grows from the mud, where the richest roots take hold. Our work is grounded in the clay—the same clay that forms our people, our stories, and our strength. This is where transformation begins: not in polished places, but in the soil of struggle, culture, and possibility. We invite you to plant your generosity here, among the grassroots, where it nourishes something lasting. You are the "US" in L.O.T.U.S.—the steady hands, the shared breath, the extended branch that our children and communities depend on. Let us grow, together, from the ground up.

About us

LOTUS-
Lifting Ourselves Through US

LOTUS is a registered 501(c)(3), non-profit organization based in Chicago, IL, founded with the mission to educate and to supplement the education of students and people of marginalized communities. Through the sharing of experiences and skills, LOTUS strives to connect with students in an innovative way that will drive students both academically and personally.

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Join the Cause

Become A Volunteer For Community

Ready to lift up someone in need? Join us in creating an inclusive community of people.

Our Awesome

Creative Team

Aaron Ireland

President/ Founder

Evan Sledge

Executive Director

Key Takeaway

At LOTUS

We disrupt the ways our communities and people at large have traditionally learned in academic settings. We aim to guide, motivate, and to recalibrate the moral compass of our community, instill pride in our shared humanity, and guide/inform the members of the communities we serve toward industries and lifestyles that promote healthy growth and evolution—not just survival.

Our Amazing

Partners

From the Communities we serve

Impact Stories

I'm an educator and could not reach my child
“I was struggling with getting my son to believe that I wanted what was best for him. I don’t know what Aaron said, and honestly don’t want to know everything, but the boy’s focus came out of nowhere. He needs a session about once or twice a quarter to keep him on the path.”

"Camp Flight Is Better Than All Camps"

“My son said, ‘Camp Flight is better than all camps.’ And we send him to some serious camps, or so we thought. The structure is so accommodating and the content is beyond stellar. Academics and outdoor summer fun. There are absolutely no other camps like this in the city for sure. And in the heart of Bronzeville.”