Full-day program
Students spend the full day with RAGE, with a clear plan to transition them back into their regular school day.
The Rage Foundation: Release Anxiety to Gain Excellence
The Rage Foundation keeps Chicago's high-risk students in school. We run full-day programming that replaces suspension with skills, and we're building a home for music, art, sport and enterprise where young people can grow into what's next.
In the heart of challenges lies the spark of your potential
The problem we solve
Three in ten
Research from past programming shows that three in ten high-risk students will be sent out of school for one to ten days, for behaviour, conflict with peers or clashes with adult authority.
Every day out of class makes the next one harder. The RAGE Program targets the causes behind school failure instead of the symptoms, and has made a measurable difference on attendance, authority issues, parent connection and suspensions in Indiana and Chicago schools.
The RAGE Program
A full school day of programming dedicated to at-risk youth, from kindergarten to grade 12. We challenge inappropriate behaviour, meet developmental needs and teach the skills that make school work, in a safe and positive setting.
We work inside schools through a Memorandum of Understanding with the school corporation, alongside principals, teachers and parents. The goal for every student is the same: return to full inclusion in their school, with new skills.
School-wide rotation
Students rotate through the program basics, building format, focus and community connection across the whole student body.
Instead of suspension
Rather than sending students home, a full day addresses what led to the placement and returns them to class with new skills.
- Anger management
- Carpentry
- Clothing design
- Gun violence prevention
- Music production
- Video production
- Skateboarding
- Entrepreneurship
How a day works
Students work through thinking errors, communication, cooperation and pro-social skills. Entrepreneurship runs through every day, giving hands-on exposure to design, technology and video as a first step into careers.
Group sessions
Build communication skills, acceptance within the group and a shared way of processing what happens in the program.
Adventure-based challenges
Cooperative problem-solving activities that develop trust and teamwork in the group.
Kids College
Two daily sessions of math and language arts with a sports-based approach, aligned to state standards and testing.
Virtual classroom and role play
Students practise classroom behaviour every day and rehearse how to handle real situations from their school setting.
Restorative reintegration
Students reflect on the event that brought them here and plan, with school and family, how to move forward.
Parents as partners
Families are contacted from day one, starting with the strengths we see, so behaviour change carries over at home.
Built on what works
The social skills we teach are the six pillars of Character Counts.
TrustworthinessCaringRespectResponsibilityFairnessCitizenship
The program rests on evidence-based practices in education:
- Character education
- Community team building
- Social skills development
- Role play
- Multiple intelligence theory
- Career exploration through entrepreneurship
- Parent involvement
- Technology
- Mentorship
The next step: a home for edutainment
We're building an experiential indoor and outdoor event complex in Chicago, a destination where young people learn by making, performing and competing.
RAGE Incorporated is a social energy movement that blends music, sports, fashion and culture through education, with an edge that crosses age, race and income. The complex is where that movement gets a permanent address.
Hip-Hop CaféA restaurant themed on hip-hop history, serving healthy, inspiring food and drink.
Graphic design
Art installations
Esports gaming
Entrepreneurship training
Skateboarding events
Music production
Film production
Festivals and live concerts
Tattoo lessons and conventions
Let your passion ignite the path to change.
May your determination fuel the journey towards a brighter Chicago. Together, we forge progress through adversity, creating a legacy that ignites the dreams of the future.
Lamar Flowers Founder, The Rage FoundationBack the movement
Superintendents and principals have told us the need is there and the invitation is open. What we need now is the backing to deliver full-day, full-year programming, and to build the complex.
Every partnership starts with a conversation. Tell us how you'd like to be involved and we'll come back to you with a plan.
Investors and funders
Fund program placements in schools, or invest in the edutainment complex and help shape what it becomes.
Talk about fundingSchools and districts
Bring the RAGE Program into your middle, high or elementary schools as an alternative to suspension and expulsion.
Bring RAGE to your schoolCommunity partners
Mentor a student, share your craft in music, film, design or business, or open your venue to our events.
Get involved