AIAI is the only American Indian serving educational nonprofit in Illinois.
It works with all ages from elementary to college age
and elder members of the community to provide education and service that is grounded in Native cultural values to the over 60,000 tribal people in the Chicago area. It has conducted the only consistent after school program for Native children in Chicago for the past 15 years. It has served as a campus of Eastern Illinois University and graduated over 40 Native people with BA degrees. It has offered youth and elders art, music and dance through the largest performance company in the city-the Black Hawk Performance Company. AIAI advocates for better health care for families and the elderly. It truly is a great local nonprofit who spends no money on fundraising or management. AIAI believes all donations should go to serving its participants and their families.
I am so proud of the American Indian Association of Illinois. With very little funding, they have graduated more American Indian college students than any other college or university in Illinois. They also started the first American Indian Museum in Chicago, and continue the work of the oldest American Indian Dance group in Illinois-the Black Hawk Performance Company. They are truly terrific!
Review from Guidestar
This is the most incredible American Indian organization in Illinois dedicated to education for American Indian people. It provides a first class BA degree program called Medicine Shield,fully accredited through Eastern Illinois University in a weekend format. Native Scholars is the name of the after school tutoring program serving CPS children. The Chicago American Indian Museum Without Walls also calls AIAI home and the Black Hawk American Indian Music and Dance Performance Company is a Chicago favorite. Visit www.chicago-american-indian-edu.org for a closer look.
Review from Guidestar