The educational organization of Joe Robinson, known to the sneaker world as Joe Freshgoods, has revealed a new effort aimed at motivating students at a Chicago high school.
Community Goods, the organization founded by Joe Freshgoods, and the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chicago Blackhawks, have teamed up with Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet High School to debut a school store, dubbed Open Market Goods.
The store, according to a statement, will offer the students opportunities to earn points “after exhibiting pre-defined positive behaviors such as good grades, merits and special acts of kindness” that can be redeemed for school supplies, sneakers and “special merchandise and experiences created by Robinson and the Chicago Blackhawks.”
The hope of the store, according to a statement, is to take student motivation to the next level and set them up for long-term success beyond school.
“The partnership with the Chicago Blackhawks and Joe Freshgoods will impact students in their growth and responsibility toward understanding the power they have within themselves to create opportunities for themselves and their community,” said Charles Anderson, principal of Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet High School, in a statement. “We are looking forward to this partnership creating a new wave of excitement when we look at approaches to self-advocating, empowerment and impacting students’ ability to increase their communication skills.”
The school store is one of the ways the three will continue to work together, and their next creative endeavor is already underway. The Chicago Blackhawks and Community Goods recently hosted a design workshop for the students to create a special warm-up jersey, made in collaboration with Robinson and the Blackhawks’ creative team. The jersey will be worn Saturday when the Blackhawks face the Nashville Predators at the United Center in Chicago. What’s more, the students and their families will attend the game to see their final design.