We’re excited to share our new mural in partnership with the Cristo Rey Network, a group of 37 Catholic high schools across the country, including in Chicago, its surrounding suburbs, and Milwaukee, that combine college preparatory academics with professional work experience.

With vibrant colors and eye-catching imagery, this mural illustrates the evolution of growth in Cristo Rey students. Through rigorous academic learning integrated with four years of real-world professional job placements, students gain formational experiences in high school that open doors to college and career opportunities. The mural illustrates that students’ courageousness and hard work, immersed with Cristo Rey’s culture centered on belonging, faith, and community, not only shape their own futures, but also the futures of generations to come.

Wintrust has a long-standing partnership with the Cristo Rey Network schools in the area and is an employer with the Corporate Work Study Program for students, which is designed to provide students with real-life job experience and helps fund operation costs and tuition for students in need.

The organization is actively seeking new corporate partners for the program, as the pandemic has resulted in a drop in employer participation. Nationally, Cristo Rey schools have seen a decline in students with job placements, decreasing from 90% of students in paid positions to 57%. To learn more about getting involved in the Corporate Work Study program, visit hirecristorey.org.

To learn more, or to see how you can get involved with the Cristo Rey Network, visit cristoreynetwork.org.