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Southport Fundamentals is a woman-and-minority-owned community center located on the north end of Chicago's Southport Corridor neighborhood dedicated to MAKING LEARNING FUN for all ages (grown-ups too)! Southport Fundamentals Acquired by Family Room Chicago Family Room Chicago, a premier family hub, is pleased to announce its acquisition of Southport Fundamentals, a beloved learning space founded by Risa McMahon. This strategic expansion marks the opening of Family Room Chicago's second location, furthering its commitment to providing high-quality programming and a supportive community for families in Chicago. Owned and operated by Lakeview East parent and longtime educator Kimberly Brown, Family Room Chicago is a unique play space, neighborhood club, and parent lounge. The organization's mission is to be the premier neighborhood hub where children can thrive in a nurturing and stimulating setting, and caregivers feel supported, connected, and empowered. The acquisition of Southport Fundamentals aligns perfectly with this vision. Risa McMahon, Founder of Southport Fundamentals, chose to sell her business to Family Room Chicago after two years of building a strong community, stating, "After dedicating myself to building a space where Lakeview families can gather, learn, and have fun in a safe space, I've decided to pass the torch. In making this decision, it was incredibly important to me to honor the legacy of Southport Fundamentals by aligning with a partner who shares SopoFun’s values. I am confident that Kimberly Brown and Family Room Chicago will preserve and expand upon the wonderful community we've built.” The new Southport Fundamentals location will relocate to a new space at 3726 N. Southport and operate under the Family Room Chicago brand as Family Room Chicago on Southport . The new location is slated to open in early September and will offer expanded standard hours, open play, programming, and event rental opportunities. Kimberly Brown expressed her enthusiasm about the expansion, stating, "We are committed to building a sustainable, long-term business that serves the community. The acquisition of Southport Fundamentals is a vital step toward becoming a premier neighborhood hub. Our goal is to be a consistent and affordable resource for families, create local jobs by hiring students and young people, and continue to expand with a corporate-owned and operated model that ensures quality and accessibility." This expansion solidifies Family Room Chicago's role as a cornerstone for Chicago families, offering a safe, clean, and joyful space for learning and play. The first location is at 3229 North Broadway in Lakeview East. Start Now Contact or Visit Us Address 3726 North Southport Ave Chicago, IL 60657 Contact 312-625-7274 connect@familyroomchicago.com Opening Hours Regular Hours Coming Soon 8:00 am – 8:00 pm

Community Center | SKYLINE CHILDREN'S THEATER AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING AT SOUTHPORT FUNDAMENTALS SUMMER CAMPS at SopoFUN Back to ALL programs To Summer Tutoring We are thrilled to partner with Skyline Children's Theater on their 20th year to offer musical theater programming this summer! They'll start learning on Monday morning, rehearse all week, and will perform each Friday on a REAL stage -- at The Mercury Theater! **Click here to see all of SKYLINE CHILDREN'S THEATER programming options!*** MON-FRI 9AM-3PM July 28-Aug 1 (Annie) - FULL! Aug 4-8 (High School Musical) - just a few spots remain! [CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!] We are offering aftercare 3-5PM! Email us so your Skyline camper can get a discounted rate!

Southport Fundamentals | Community Center in Lakeview | PROGRAMS FOR GROWN UPS Adult Programs Oh, but you CAN teach an old dog a new trick...you just need to make learning fun! For grown-ups who like learning new things, we offer a range of programs! Back to ALL programs BOOK CLUB Discuss books and other "mom topics" in a cozy setting at the Southport Moms Book Club! Date/time of next gathering is TBD Stay tuned! OPEN KNIT Learn to knit or get help with knitting projects in a cozy place! By appointment! Email us to let us know what works for you! Email us!

Community Center at 3827 N. Southport | PRIVATE PARTY RENTALS Let's PARTY! TAKE A TOUR Whether celebrating a birthday, a wedding shower or baby shower, a family reunion, class playdate or graduation, we offer a party space that has allows you to host all your guests! You can rent our 3,000 square foot party-tastic space (click to view virtual tour!) which is filled with adorable surprises everywhere you look! We have tons of toys, games and kid costumes (not to mention tables and chairs) , so you don't need to bring much to throw a magical party! Just bring enough food and drinks for your guests, and make yourself at home! Move anything you need to move, and let us know how we can help make it a great day for the guest of honor AND the party planners. *Read reviews* *Jump to pics* We keep our pricing simple. We charge $400 for a 2-hour party -- this includes 30-minutes before and 30-minutes after for set-up and clean-up, so your private rental is really 3 hours long! If you want a long er party, we'll simply add $50 for each additional half hour. We can also offer $350 for a 1.5-hour party. If you want an even shorter party to save on costs, we would love to discuss that wi th you! We keep our pricing as low as we can by offering a "DIY" private space, which means we will mop and take out the trash after your party, but we expect you to leave the space as you found it . If you are not in the mood to clean up the toys and dining tables after the party, you are welcome to just add a $50 cleaning fee to your balance due. For parties with more than 50 guests in total, we will need to add a $50 cleaning fee to your balance. As noted above, all p rivate rentals inclu de t wo 30-minute buffers (before for set-up, after for break-down ). That means, t hose who book 2-hour parties, have the entire space for 3 hours in total. On the day of the party, you'll bring your own food/drinks/decorations/disposable silverware and plates/tablecloths to suit your theme and you can move our furniture (including folding tables/stools for seating) to your liking. If you want to bring a piñata, please remember that our space is nut-free (some of the students who use our space during the week for enrichment classes are severely allergic) ... no nuts please! If you want something special like a ring light to set up a photo booth/selfie station -or- to borrow a projector to showcase a rotating PowerPoint deck or a still photo, those add-ons are just $40 each and can be added to your balance due--just let us know in advance if you want us to have these available for you. W e keep the booking p rocess simple, too. You send an email to Ms. Risa at hello@southportfundamentals.com to ask about availa bility on your ideal times/dates. We will respond with the available times/dates that might be a match for you. You select the start/end time and date for your party, and we will email you the link you can use to reserve your spot with a $1 00 deposit which will be applied to the balance unless you cancel ( you'll pay the balance closer to the date of the party). If you aren't the "DIY" type, we are here to help! Ms. Risa , your ultimate party buddy (and event planning compatriot), will be happy to brainstorm ideas or share contact info for people you can hire if you want something special such as balloon artists, face painters, art teachers, music teachers, karaoke jockeys, DJs, magicians, etc. But, bringing in outside entertainers is completely up to you—lots of people have super fun parties at our space without hiring anyone at all because we have so many fun toys and games, so just go with what works best for you! That's it. That's all there is to it! GET STARTED Video credit: Dan Stepanian-Bennett Anchor 1 Want to see MORE pictures? 📷 Click here to see more pictures of our party rooms!

Southport Fundamentals | Community Center in Lakeview | WAIVER ACTIVITY WAIVER

Southport Fundamentals | Community Center in Lakeview | DAY OFF CAMPS FOR DAYS WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT School's Out! SopoFUN Day Off Camps We know kids just wanna have fuuuuuuun even when school is out! That's why we offer camps for elementary school kids on days when schools are closed! We are putting things in motion for upcoming days when school's out...if you have a need for an upcoming day off, we'd love to hear from you! Back to ALL programs

Southport Fundamentals | Community Center in Lakeview | OPEN PLAY Hey, Hey! OPEN PLAY! We offer open play hours for children of any age to come and play indoors with our fun toys and games! For our open play programs, we ask that a grown-up stay with the kiddos and encourage them to share in the clean-up duties after playing. Otherwise, just enjoy the cozy seating, free Wi-Fi, and the chance to meet with other adults while you supervise! Back to ALL programs STORYTIME & OPEN PLAY Play AND learn helpful tactics that expand your child's communication skills! Miss Meredith from Little Giggles Speech Therapy leads this 30-minute class followed by an hour of open play ! Tuesdays 10-11:30AM for ages 0-5 RSVP today! OPEN PLAY UPON REQUEST If you find yourself in need of somewhere indoors to get some work done or just relax while your kids play with our toys, please shoot us an email! We can try to set something up for you! Email us!

Southport Fundamentals | Community Center in Lakeview | Programs for babies and kids ages 0-5 years old Hey, Little One! Let's have some FUUUUUN! We offer a range of high quality programs for our youngest learners! Please see the options below (note that some are for any child under 5 years old, some are for kiddos ages 1 year old and older, while others are designed for 6-15 months old). Please let us know if you have ideas! View OPEN PLAY times Back to ALL programs *Pop-Up Alert* Baby Dance Party on Fri 6/20! SPEECH THERAPY Play AND learn helpful tactics that expand your child's communication skills! Enjoy themed activities offered in July by Miss Meredith from Little Giggles Speech Therapy ! Mondays 10:45-11:30AM for ages 6-15 months RSVP today! LITTLE/BABY BOOK CLUB Pre-literacy classes (including a sensory bin activity) offered by Connections Academics! Tuesdays 9:15-10AM for ages 1-5 RSVP today! STORYTIME & OPEN PLAY Play AND learn helpful tactics that expand your child's communication skills! Miss Meredith from Little Giggles Speech Therapy leads this 30-minute class followed by an hour of open play ! Tuesdays 10-11:30AM for ages 0-5 RSVP today! THE MUSIC CLASS Sing and dance to the beat at The Music Class hosted by The Music Playhouse of Chicago for 0-5 year olds! Wednesdays 9-9:45,10-10:45 & 11-11:45AM and Thursdays 9:30-10:15 & 10:30-11:15AM for ages 0-5 RSVP today!

Southport Fundamentals | Community Center in Lakeview | AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS Afterschool Programs Southport FUNdamentals has partnered with several program providers to offer a range of interesting afterschool enrichment activities! Back to ALL programs AFTER CAMP 3-5PM CARE Ms. Ginny from Harmony Learning Adventures will be planning some fun activities the week of 8/4! RSVP link below! RSVP today! SUMMER LEARNING SKILLS Let's battle summer slide! Connections Academics is offering small group tutoring for 3rd-5th graders on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, all summer long! Mondays 3 :30-4:30PM Wednesdays at 5-6PM Inquire today! ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING Connections Academics is offering private tutoring for students of all ages and subjects. Email us to find out more! Times and dates of your choosing! Inquire today! OPEN PLAY BY REQUEST If you find yourself in need of somewhere indoors to get some work done afterschool while your kids play nearby, please shoot us an email! We can try to set something up for you! Times/dates vary (all ages*) Email us!

Community Center | Southport Fundamentals | Learn more about SopoFUN's team! Meet the SopoTeam and FUN-structors Our experienced instructors (aka FUN-structors) are dedicated to providing a nurturing and safe learning environment where kids of all ages (that means adults, too!) can enjoy trying something new, making friends, and celebrating growth! Just a few of them are featured below! Kimberly Brown CEO of Family Room Chicago Kimberly is the CEO of Family Room Chicago, a premier family hub, and opened her first location in Lakeview East in Spring of 2025 and is pleased to announce the acquisition of Southport Fundamentals as Family Room's second location in September! Kimberly is a transformational leader and entrepreneur who loves a healthy dose of constructive, purpose-driven disruption to drive growth – using data, technology, AND our humans. As a proud multi-hyphenate, she believes experience drives empathy. She created the "human-centric" and "inclusive innovation" frameworks used in universities and organizations around the world today. She is honored to take her lifelong passion for advocacy and community engagement to public service. Risa McMahon Founder of SopoFUN Risa ( she/her ), a zany Lakeview mama of two, founded SopoFUN in August of 2023 and served as CEO, CFO, CMO, lead toy fixer, Director of Programming, Party Planner, and head of janitorial services until August of 2025, when she decided she needed to take a nap. Risa passed the torch to Kim Brown at the end of August 2025 and can't wait to see all the FUN plans at the new location! Click here to learn more about Risa's career. Photo credit : Brittany Welch Photography Jana Pawlak Guest Instructor, Knitting Jana Pawlak (she/her) is one of the owners of A Happy Diversion , an online store offering custom knits and painted barn quilt s. Jana is a mom, a maker, and a knitting/embroidery/baking-enthusiast...and she is especially good at helping others learn! She leads our monthly "open knit" program. If you have never knitted, are learning to knit, or if you just enjoy knitting in the company of others, this is the JUDGMENT-FREE place for you! Once a month, we gather to practice and learn...and Jana can help brainstorm solutions if you've "knitted yourself into a corner" and need help! Erin Watt Guest Instructor, Music Erin (she/her) was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. She holds a BA in Theater & Media, an MM in music, and is currently pursuing an MM in music therapy. Erin has been teaching private voice and piano lessons and after school music classes for over 17 years. After a few years performing opera and acting in New York City, Erin came back to Chicago and acquired The Music Playhouse in 2015. Click here to peruse upcoming music classes for 0-5 year olds! Bridget Walsh Guest Lecturer, Education & Counseling Bridget (she/her) is a guest lecturer who presents as part of our "adulting is hard" personal development series for grown-ups. She is the Founder of Bridge Academics and works at Francis W. Parker School. Bridget has extensive experience coaching families through difficulties and encouraging students to advocate effectively while taking responsibility for their future. She integrates plans to meet clients' needs and identifies areas of strength to guide families towards paths where success builds confidence and independent skills. She has a wealth of connections and resources to help families overcome hurdles that may have prevented success in the past. Candace Washington Gu es t Lecturer, Leadership Candace (she/her) is a guest lecturer who presents as part of our "adulting is hard" personal development series for grown-ups. Candace is Founder & CEO of Pivotal Impact , a consulting firm focused on helping companies develop, engage and retain their leaders. As a product of under-resourced communities, she immediately connects with her audience through her authentic, infectious personality and her highly energetic and empowering delivery. Her students appreciate her relatable experiences that allow them to see themselves in her, and immediately take action to elevate their outcomes! Jaime Elaine Gannon Guest Instructor, Music/Dance & Painting Jaime (she/her) is an Ohio native who has made Chicago her home. She studied theater and dance at Loyola and is a painter specializing in colorful, floral pieces. She is also celebrates the arts as a dance, theatre, and music educator. She will be joining us as a music instructor for kiddos through our partnership with The Music Playhouse of Chicago . Jaime is the Founder of The Jaime Elaine Creative and displays her floral paintings in our living room when it's they are being featured at local art fairs. Sign up for music classes for babies and littles on our PROGRAMS FOR AGES 0-5 page! Ms. Keeley Guest Instructor, Math & Pre-Literacy Ms. Keeley (she/her) from Connections Academics is here on to take the stress away from avoiding "the summer slide"! She leads students (grades 3rd-5th) in a small groups, no larger than 4 kiddos, and provides personal instruction on math content they may be struggling with. Ms. Keeley will provide targeted review and re-teaching instruction using content or curriculum related to their classroom work. Ms. Keeley also leads our Little Book Club and Baby Book Club pre-literacy morning classes for littles. Learn more about our afternoon programs for 3rd-5th graders on our AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS page, or for Little Book Club times on our PROGRAMS FOR AGES 0-5 page! Dan Stepanian-Bennett Guest Lecturer, Chess & Guitar By day, Dan is a senior marketing director : social media guru, videographer, strategist and brand storyteller. By night, Dan cherishes "Girl-Dad Time" with preschooler Ella - singing songs, playing board games, along with watching football and taking bike rides on the Lakeshore Trail on weekends. Fortunately, he also happens to be a joy-bomb and a fantastic guitar coach and chess teacher! Adults and kids alike will absolutely love learning from Dan's unique teaching style and soaking up his infectious good vibes. Sarah Zimmerman Guest Instructor, Art Sarah (she/her) has served her community as a librarian and archivist at the Chicago Public Library team for two decades. In her roles, she's managed the Chicago Theatre Collection, developed engaging programs for the public and now leads the Arts & Music and Social Science & History Departments at the Harold Washington Library. In her spare time, Sarah is also an art and music lover (and sometimes baker) and will be joining us for fun classes for all ages to enjoy! She will guide us on paper-centric arts and crafts as well as on paper marbling adventures! Victor Escribens Director of Facilities & Maintenance Victor (he/him) is Southport Fundamentals' primo-tastic facilities director. Whenever Ms. Risa needs anything cleaned or assembled or fixed, Victor is ALL OVER IT! In addition to being a computer superwizard with a powerful mind for all things tech, he is handy as can be with a drill AND is the only person on the planet who meets our standards for maintaining our cleanliness standards. Don't believe it? Check out our Google Reviews and read all about how CLEAN we like to keep things...that's ALL because of Victor! As if that weren't impressive enough, Victor also happens to have a voice like an angel. If you ever need someone to make you cry with their Andrea Bocelli-level vocal artistry, Victor is your guy! He loves exploring the city, going to the beach, and spending with his family--and we are so proud to consider him part of the SopoFUN family! What an absolute GEM! Sookie (The Robot Vacuum) Vice President, Carpet Maintenance Named after the protagonist in the song "Groove Me" by King Floyd, Sookie (she/her) is SopoFUN's loyal robot vacuum. Sookie works tirelessly to suck up crumbs and dirt to make sure our guests have a fabulous bottom-of-foot experience. Our first floor carpets are dreamy, and Sookie takes the same level of pride in her work as Wrigley Field's lawn mowers. When she was given googly eyeballs by Xavier (then age 8) which helped her see that her true love was right in front of her the whole time. In early 2024, Sookie exchanged vows with a white stick vacuum in an intimate ceremony officiated by Madison (then age 9). The children decided he should take her (first) name, so he now goes by "Mr. Sookie". The motto emblazoned on her paper-plate-nametag is: "Sookie is my na me, cleaning dirt is my game."

Southport Fundamentals | Community Center in Lakeview | ABOUT Oh, what FUN! Hello, and THANKS for visiting our website! Here at Southport FUNdamentals, we are all about making learning FUN! We believe that joy is contagious and that learning from an engaging teacher just feels good! OUR GOAL is to provide a gathering place where students of all ages— babies, toddlers, big kids, teens AND adults —can learn something new in a fun and welcoming environment! We invite you to check out our upcoming CLASSES & CAMPS and OPEN PLAY HOURS to see if anything looks like a match! We also love celebrating life's milestones with PRIVATE PARTIES , so please consider letting us host your next event! Stay here to learn more, or click through our GOOGLE REVIEWS to hear what others have to say! TAKE A TOUR Video credit: Nneka Nwosu Faison Music & Dance At Southport FUNdamentals, we offer music and dance classes that are fun and good for both your brain and body. Our FUN-tastic instructors bring years of experience to your lessons, so you can learn the fundamentals of music and dance in a safe and supportive environment. We strive to create a space that is inclusive and welcoming to all, where everyone can develop their skills and express themselves through music and dance. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, southportFUNdamentals has something for you. Come join us and have some fun! Find Programs Cooking & Baking Which ancient Greek philosopher said "I'm just here for the snacks"? Just kidding. We just made that up to get a chuckle! Those of us with experience in the kitchen how much joy gets poured in when preparing a meal for someone else and we want to share that feeling with others. We believe that cooking and baking skills are learned best when elbow-to-elbow with someone who's done it before, so we provide a warm environment for our students to learn, grow, and connect with one another. When working with young learners in the kitchen, we sneak in mini math and science lessons (it's never a bad time to talk about boiling points and the fundamentals of fractions, right?) and stick to very simple recipes to help our young chefs gain confidence! We hope you'll sign up to cook up some FUN with us. Find Programs Tinkering At Southport FUNdamentals, we believe that "tinkering" is a fun way to get young learners interested in engineering...whether fixing a broken toy or fixing broken code at a programming class. When faced with fixing something that is broken, we take things apart, read instruction manuals, share ideas respectfully, watch videos of other people solving similar problems, and always focus on safety. While sharing the sheer thrill of repairing something that wasn't working properly before, our instructors teach students the properties of materials and the importance of testing when designing and building. Most importantly, we teach the fundamentals of creative problem-solving and hope to inspire the next generation of innovators. Find Programs Sewing, Knitting & Crochet Mending a loose button or a rip in your pants is a critical life skill, not to mention an absolutely awesome feeling! We are here to teach adults and/or youngsters the fundamentals of sewing, knitting, and crochet (as well as how to fold a fitted sheet for anyone interested!) in a judgment-free and patient environment. The fun part is seeing the shining eyes of the student who holds up their finished project with pride! There is nothing like it! We will be sew* very happy if you'll join us! *see what we did there? Find Programs Movement & Exercise At Southport FUNdamentals, we believe that moving your body is essential for both physical and mental health. We want to help you have fun and enjoy the process of getting fit and staying healthy. Our group workouts are designed to challenge your body while also providing a sense of community and support. We offer a variety of classes taught by skilled instructors who focus on moving your body through yoga, dance, and strength and conditioning classes. We feel strongly that all our classes, especially those related to movement and exercise, are a safe space for our students to learn in a judgment-free environment. All are welcome to come join us and start moving and grooving! Find Programs Arts & Crafts Here at SopoFUN, we know everyone is an artist at heart. We provide our students the opportunity to explore and discover their creative potential in a fun and supportive setting. Our professional instructors will guide students through artistic adventures, such as turning something plain into something amazing, creating art out of everyday objects, and making ourselves laugh by attempting to recreate art projects seen in TikTok videos! Our mission is to provide a judgment-free and light-hearted environment where our students can express themselves and release their inner artists. We invite you to join us and discover yours! Find Programs Languages Learning a language is an exciting and rewarding journey and we want to help open those doors for members of our community. At Southport FUNdamentals, we offer group foreign language practice sessions that focus on the flow of conversation. Our language-focused sessions are meant to be a relaxed and fun environment for students to learn and practice with others. Whether you’re looking to learn the basics of a language or brush up on your conversation skills with others, southportFUNdamentals is here to help. Let's talk! Find Programs Personal & Professional Growth Southport FUNdamentals offers classes for adults that focus on a range of topics at convenient times that fit into busy schedules. We believe that learning is a lifelong journey and that kids shouldn't have all the fun--after all, adults also want to feel the ZING that comes from learning something new! Our classes are designed to foster growth, curiosity, and understanding. We offer classes on a huge range of topics such as DE&I, art, history, leadership, business-focused legal issues, finance, and more. Our classes are taught by experienced professionals who have an in-depth knowledge of their subject matter and are united in their goal to help students of all ages "level up" while having fun. Find Programs

Search Results 13 items found for "" REGISTER | sopoFUNdamentals The FUN-genda! Peruse our full list of FUN programs below -or- use the orange "fast filter" buttons to quickly find just your faves! The FUN-genda Program & Ages Learn More & RSVP Description When LITTLES: Little Book Club (1-5YO) https://www.connectionsacademics.com/little-book-club-chicago This pre-literacy class for 1-5 year olds offered by Ms. Anna from Academic Connections is a delightful experience for our littlest readers! Tuesdays at 9:15 & 10:15AM LITTLES: Skip & Scoot (1-5YO) https://skipandscoot.com/classes Little Fitness Adventures from Skip & Scoot includes movement games, obstacle courses, sensory interactions, and dancing for 1-5 year olds! Tuesdays 10:15-11AM LITTLES: The Music Class (0-5YO) https://bit.ly/TheMusicPlayhouseAtSopoFun Singing, rhythm and music basics offered by The Music Playhouse of Chicago for ages 0 to 5! Wednesdays at 9:30 & 10:30AM LITTLES: Musical Theater Afternoon Program (3-5YO) http://www.sopoFUN.com/register/0-5yearolds We have partnered with Skyline Children's Theater to offer this musical theater program - this Fall, the kids will be rehearsing THE WIZARD OF OZ! Thursdays at 3:30-4:15PM (3-5yo) LITTLES: Let it Out: Self-Regulation Dance Fitness (3-5YO) http://www.bit.ly/energyinmotiondance Energy in Motion Dance Lab is offering Self-Regulation Dance Fitness classes on Fridays for 3-5 year olds (4PM) and 5-12 year olds (5PM). Fridays at 4PM for 3-5 year olds LITTLES: Bitty Ballet for 3-5 year olds http://www.sopoFUN.com/register/0-5yearolds Learn the basic positions of ballet, technique, choreography as well as have fun dancing and singing along in this beginner level class run by Chicago Loves Dance for 3-5 year olds. Fridays 10:30-11:15am 5-12YO: School's Out Camps on 9/27 http://www.sopoFUN.com/register/dayoffcamps Even when school's out, kids just wanna have FUUUUN! Check out our options for 9/27 (9A-Noon, Noon to 1PM, 1-4PM, or all three)! Fri 9/27 for 5-12 year olds 8-12YO: Coding/Programming Afterschool Class http://www.sopoFUN.com/register/afterschool We have partnered with Afterschool Enrichment Solutions to offer coding/programming afterschool classes for 2nd-8th graders this Fall! Tuesdays 4:30-5:30PM 5-12YO: Cheerleading Afterschool Program (5+) http://www.sopoFUN.com/register/afterschool We have partnered with Chicago Loves Dance to offer cheerleading afterschool classes for kids ages 5+ this Fall! Wednesdays 5-6PM 5-12YO: Musical Theater Afterschool Program http://www.sopoFUN.com/register/afterschool We have partnered with Skyline Children's Theater to offer this musical theater program - this Fall, the kids will be rehearsing THE WIZARD OF OZ! Wednesdays 4:30-6:30PM (3rd-5th grade) or Thursdays at 4:30-5:30PM (K-2nd grade) 5-12YO: Let it Out: Self-Regulation Dance Fitness http://www.bit.ly/energyinmotiondance Energy in Motion Dance Lab is offering Self-Regulation Dance Fitness classes on Fridays for 3-5 year olds (4PM) and 5-12 year olds (5PM). Fridays at 5PM for 5-12 year olds ALL AGES: Open Play http://www.sopoFUN.com/register/openplay Caretakers have a cozy indoor space to bring kiddos of all ages to play without weather concerns! Various times each week! ADULTS: Open Knit (Adults & 8yo+) http://www.sopoFUN.com/register/adults Adults and kids over age 8 are invited to come KNIT for just $5. All experience levels are welcome! Tu 9/10 at 6:30PM (2nd Tuesday every month) ADULTS: Conversational Spanish Practice (Adults & 8+) http://www.sopoFUN.com/register/adults Adults and kids over age 8 of any experience level are invited to come practice speaking conversational Spanish in real time with Ms. Risa for just $5. Tu 9/10 at 6:45PM (2nd Tuesday every month) ADULTS: Southport Moms Book Club (Adults) http://www.sopoFUN.com/register/adults We hope you'll join us for a Southport Moms book club for adults where we discuss the selected book (and other topics!) in a casual environment. Th 9/12 at 7PM ADULTS: Adulting is Hard: Budgeting (Adults) http://www.sopoFUN.com/register/adults Ms. Risa will share budget management tips for adults and an Excel template designed to manage personal expenses and pay off debt. Th 9/19 at 7PM Info coming soon! Music Discovery (3-5 and 6-8) http://www.sopoFUN.com/register/afterschool Small group lessons offered by The Music Playhouse for 3 to 5 year olds and 6-8 year olds. Future session dates/times (September) coming soon! Info coming soon! Sign Storytime (0-4) https://bit.ly/signstorytime Language and speech development strategies for caretakers offered by Little Giggles for ages 0 to 4! Future session dates/times (October) coming soon! School's Out—Age 5-12 Afterschool—Age 5-12 Programs for Adults Open Play—All Ages Programs for Ages 0-5 Fullscreen Page | sopoFUNdamentals Southport Fundamentals | Community Center | 3827 North Southport Avenue, Chicago, IL, USA Welcome to TM A community center located on the north end of Chicago's Southport Corridor neighborhood dedicated to MAKING LEARNING FUN for kids of all ages (grown-ups too)! To read about our PROGRAMS or to sign up for your next fun learning experience, click the "REGISTER" button below! To learn more about PRIVATE RENTALS for birthday parties or baby showers, click "PARTIES" button below! REGISTER PARTIES PHOTOS There are so many ways to have FUN! At Southport FUNdamentals, we believe that learning should be a FUN experience. Our students engage in interactive lessons -- taught by funny, kind, engaging INSTRUCTORS -- that help them develop a love for learning. With a focus on celebrating progress, rather than perfection, our classes offer students of all ages (yes, even grown ups) the opportunity to explore and learn in a supportive and stimulating environment. ​ Please visit our REGISTER page to learn more about the programs we offer. Or, take a look at our PARTIES page to learn more about private rentals! ​ Give us a try, you might just have a little fun!​ VIRTUAL TOUR Contact In the News Interview - Wisdom Wednesday - Ms. Risa was interviewed by Leticia Andrade as part of her "Wisdom Wednesday" series, where Latina business owners share their entrepreneurial stories. In this video, Ms. Risa shares how every decision throughout the space was driven by creating an inclusive place where everyone feels comfortable and welcome. ​ ​ ​Article - Case Study Feature in ChiBizHub - this article was published on 06/09/24 and talks about the owner and the vision. ​ ​ ​ Article - Feature Article in Block Club Chicago - this article was published on 09/28/23 and talks about the opening of Southport Fundamentals, and the all the services we are excited to offer! ​ ​ ​ Press Release - Press Release Fri 08/25/2023 re: Ribbon Cutting on Tues 08/29/23 to celebrate our grand opening. Event photos linked here! Programs for 0-5 year olds | sopoFUNdamentals Hey, Little One! Let's have some FUUUUUN! We offer a range of classes taught by engaging instructors for our youngest learners! Please see the options below and let us know if there are other programs you'd be interested in! Back to ALL programs MORNING PROGRAMS AFTERNOON PROGRAMS SING OUT! WITH MR. SHAUN Families with 2-6 year olds won't be able to resist singing out with Mr. Shaun ​ ​ ​ Sundays 9:15AM-10AM RSVP today! THE WIZARD OF OZ ​ ​ Skyline Children's Theater is offering musical theater classes for 3-5 year olds! ​ Thursdays 3:30-4:15PM RSVP today! LITTLE BOOK CLUB Pre-literacy classes for 1-5 year olds offered by Connections Academics Tuesdays 9:15-10 or 10:15-11AM RSVP today! "LET IT OUT" DANCE FITNESS ​ ​ "Let it Out" Self-Regulation Dance Fitness Program for 3-5 year olds offered by Energy in Motion Dance Labs ​ Fridays 4:00-4:45PM RSVP today! LITTLE FITNESS ADVENTURES Movement games, obstacle courses, sensory fun, and dancing for 1-5 year olds! Tuesdays 10:15AM-11AM RSVP today! MUSIC DISCOVERY Music lessons offered by The Music Playhouse of Chicago! Times/Dates for 3-5 year olds = TBD! Info soon! THE MUSIC CLASS Music lessons for 0-5 year olds offered by The Music Playhouse of Chicago Wednesdays 9:30-10:15 or 10:30-11:15AM RSVP today! AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR 5+ | sopoFUNdamentals Afterschool Programs Fall Quarter 2024 Southport FUNdamentals has partnered with several program providers to offer a range of interesting afterschool enrichment activities for Fall 2024. For students under age 5, adult is required. For students older than 5, their grown-ups are welcome to drop-off and come back at the end of class, or may stay in the living room and enjoy the free wifi, coffee and comfy chairs! ​ Back to ALL programs PROGRAMMING Let's Code It: Scratch Superstars by Afterschool Enrichment Solutions ​ Tues 4:30-5:30 (2nd-8th) ​ RSVP today! CHEER ​ Southport Spirit Squad: Cheer/Poms Lessons by Chicago Loves Dance ​ Weds 5-6 (K-4th) ​ RSVP today! THEATER The Wizard of Oz by Skyline Children's Theater ​ Weds 4:30-6:30 (3rd-5th) Thurs 3:30-4:15 (ages 3-5) Thurs 4:30-5:30 (K-2nd) RSVP today! DANCE "Let it Out" Self Regulation Dance Fitness Program ​ ​ ​ Fridays 4-4:45 (ages 3-5) Fridays 5-5:45 (ages 5-12) RSVP today! SCHOOL'S OUT CAMPS FOR 5+ | sopoFUNdamentals "School's Out" and "Parent Survival" Camps We try to offer camps for kids 5 and older on days when schools are closed. Below is what we have planned so far, and we are putting things in motion for other days this Fall when school's out...please keep checking back! ​ Sometimes grown-ups caring for young kids just need some coverage! At Southport FUNdamentals, we offer fun programs on random Friday or Saturday nights so that parents can enjoy a kid-free evening... s tay tuned for our Fall/Winter "parent survival night" offerings! Back to ALL programs OPEN PLAY FOR ALL AGES | sopoFUNdamentals Hey, Hey! OPEN PLAY! When there is time between other programs, we occasionally offer open play for children of any age to come and play indoors with our toys! For open play, there are no instructors or official lesson plans...just FUN! We ask for a caretaker to stay with kiddos...plenty of free wifi, coffee and comfy chairs to relax while you supervise! Back to ALL programs SUMMER CAMPS | sopoFUNdamentals The Summer FUN-genda! Throughout the summer of 2024, Skyline Children's Theater offered "Lakeview Broadway Juniors" weeklong summer camps from 9A-3P for kiddos ages 5-9 years old! ​ ​ At the end of each week, on Friday afternoons, our performers put on productions in full costume at The Mercury Theater that family members could attend! Click here to see photos of performances on Facebook or Instagram ! ​ We are still solidifying plans for next summer, so please check back! Back to ALL programs Dana test | sopoFUNdamentals Afterschool Programs Southport FUNdamentals has partnered with several program providers to offer a range of interesting afterschool enrichment activities that take place on our lower level. Most parents drop-off and come back at the end of class, but feel free to stay in the living room and enjoy the free wifi, coffee and comfy chairs! ​ Back to ALL programs Register Here Register Here Register Here Register Here Register Here Class Name Day Time Details Register Class Name Day Time Details Register Class Name Day Time Details Register Class Name Day Time Details Register Class Name Day Time Details Register SING OUT! WITH MR. SHAUN Families with 2-6 year olds won't be able to resist singing out with Mr. Shaun ​ ​ ​ Sundays 9:15AM-10AM RSVP today! THE WIZARD OF OZ ​ ​ Skyline Children's Theater is offering musical theater classes for 3-5 year olds! ​ Thursdays 4:30-5:15PM RSVP today! LITTLE BOOK CLUB Pre-literacy classes for 1-5 year olds offered by Connections Academics Tuesdays 9:15-10 or 10:15-11AM RSVP today! "LET IT OUT" DANCE FITNESS ​ ​ "Let it Out" Self-Regulation Dance Fitness Program for 3-5 year olds offered by Energy in Motion Dance Labs ​ Fridays 4:00-4:45PM RSVP today! LITTLE FITNESS ADVENTURES Movement games, obstacle courses, sensory fun, and dancing for 1-5 year olds! Tuesdays 10:15AM-11AM RSVP today! MUSIC DISCOVERY Small group piano, ukelele and percussion lessons lessons offered by The Music Playhouse of Chicago Times/Dates for 3-5 year olds = TBD! Info soon! THE MUSIC CLASS Music lessons for 0-5 year olds offered by The Music Playhouse of Chicago Thursdays 9:30-10:15 or 10:30-11:15AM RSVP today! PARTIES | sopoFUNdamentals Let's PARTY! Whether celebrating a birthday, a wedding shower or baby shower, a family reunion, class playdate or graduation, we offer a party space that has allows you to host all your guests! TAKE A TOUR Video credit: Dan Stepanian-Bennett LEARN MORE! You can rent our 3,000 square foot party-tastic space (click to view virtual tour!) which is filled with adorable surprises everywhere you look! We have tons of toys, games and kid costumes (not to mention tables and chairs) , so you don't need to bring much to throw a magical party! Just bring enough food and drinks for your guests, and make yourself at home! Move anything you need to move, and let us know how we can help make it a great day for the guest of honor AND the party planners. *Read reviews* *Jump to pics* ​ We keep our pricing simple. ​ We charge $300 for a 1.5-hour party, or $350 for a 2-hour party. ​ If you want a long er party, we'll simply add $50 for each additional half hour. If you want a shorter party, reach out by email to discuss your idea! All p rivate rentals inclu de t wo 30-minute buffers (before for set-up, after for break-down ). ​That means, you have the entire space for 2.5 hours in total if you book a 1.5-hour party. Those who book 2-hour parties, have the entire space for 3 hours in total. On the day of the party, you'll bring your own food/drinks/decorations/disposables to suit your theme and you can move our furniture (including folding tables/stools for seating) to your liking. ​ W e keep the booking p rocess simple, too. You send an email to hello@southportfundamentals.com to ask about availa bility on your ideal times/dates. We will respond with the available times/dates that might be a match for you. You select the start/end time and date for your party, and we will email you the link you can use to reserve your spot with a $1 00 deposit ( you'll pay the balance closer to the date of the party). ​ If you aren't the "DIY" type, we are here to help! ​ Ms. Risa , your ultimate party buddy (and event planning compatriot), will be happy to brainstorm ideas or share contact info for people you can hire if you want something special such as balloon artists, face painters, art teachers, music teachers, karaoke jockeys, DJs, magicians, etc. But, bringing in outside entertainers is completely up to you—lots of people have super fun parties at our space without hiring anyone at all because we have so many fun toys and games, so just go with what works best for you! That's it. That's all there is to it! GET STARTED Anchor 1 Want to see MORE pictures? 📷 Click here to see more pictures of our party rooms! Southport Fundamentals | INSTRUCTORS Meet the FUN-structors Our experienced instructors (aka FUN-structors) are dedicated to providing a nurturing and safe learning environment where kids of all ages (that means adults, too!) can enjoy trying something new, making friends, and celebrating growth! Just a few of them are featured below! Risa McMahon Chief Enthusiasm Officer & President of Shenanigans Risa ( she/her ), a proud mama of two, has been described as "a magnet for fun", is as zany as she is organized (very). With decades of vocal lessons under her belt, she often bursts into song and changes lyrics to suit her mood. She loves parties of all kinds and loves teaching others how to unlock their hidden gifts. Known best for her witty remarks and wacky dance moves, she also happens to be a notary public , a total whiz at Excel spreadsheets, an admirer of cool words, a member of ALA's DEI&A committee , and a relentless problem solver. She picked up a thing or two as the daughter of a seamstress, a Girl Scout, captain of the SPHS cheerleading squad, and VP of the USC Helenes ... and firmly believes she can do anything she sets her mind to! Learn more about Risa's career. ​ Photo credit : Brittany Welch ​ Jessica O'Connell Guest Instructor, Treats & Sweets Jessica (she/her) is known to some as "Dr. O'Connell"...and if you have a child who was born in the last few years, she may have even delivered your baby! What you may not know is that she can bake like nobody's business! This incredibly sweet mom-to-three will swap the scrubs for her best apron so she can guide budding master bakers on how fun it can be to mix, stir, frost, and sprinkle seasonal sweets! The littles in your life will beg you to sign them up again, and you may find yourself happy to oblige once you taste what's in those take-home containers! ​ Sign up for her next cookie decorating class by shimmying on over to our FUN-genda which you can find on the REGISTER page! Dan Stepanian-Bennett Guest Lecturer, Chess & Guitar By day, Dan is a senior marketing director : social media guru, videographer, strategist and brand storyteller. By night, Dan cherishes "Girl-Dad Time" with preschooler Ella - singing songs, playing board games, along with watching football and taking bike rides on the Lakeshore Trail on weekends. Fortunately, he also happens to be a joy-bomb and a fantastic guitar coach and chess teacher! Adults and kids alike will absolutely love learning from Dan's unique teaching style and soaking up his infectious good vibes. Michaela Williams Guest Instructor, Dance Michaela Williams (she/her) has been teaching dance, music, and theatre to children ages 3-18 for the past six years across the Midwest. She studied Musical Theatre and Dance at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, where she taught at the local dance studio. After graduation, she toured the Midwest with a traveling children's theatre company, and then moved to Chicago, where she’s been performing and teaching ever since! In addition to performing arts, Michaela is passionate about fitness and works full time at a local athletic club. She is a certified Barre instructor and loves to take all sorts of fitness classes. Bridget Walsh Guest Lecturer, Education & Counseling Bridget (she/her) has been teaching and working alongside families since 2004. She is the Founder of Bridge Academics and works at Francis W. Parker School as a Learning Specialist. Bridget has extensive experience coaching families through difficulties and encouraging students to advocate effectively while taking responsibility for their future. She integrates plans to meet clients' needs and identifies areas of strength to guide families towards paths where success builds confidence and independent skills. She has a wealth of connections and resources to help families overcome hurdles that may have prevented success in the past. ​ Candace Washington Gu es t Lecturer, Leadership Candace (she/her) is Founder & CEO of Pivotal Impact , a consulting firm focused on helping companies develop, engage and retain their leaders. As a product of under-resourced communities, she immediately connects with her audience through her authentic, infectious personality and her highly energetic and empowering delivery. Her students appreciate her relatable experiences that allow them to see themselves in her, and immediately take action to elevate their outcomes! Jaime Elaine Raglow Guest Instructor, Yoga, Dance & Painting Jaime (she/her) is an Ohio native who has made Chicago her home. She studied theater and dance at Loyola and is a painter specializing in colorful, floral pieces. She is also celebrates the arts as a dance, theatre, and music educator. Jaime is the Founder of The Jaime Elaine Creative and will be joining us as a fitness instructor for adults (hip hop and yoga classes), and a music instructor for kiddos through our partnership with The Music Playhouse of Chicago . In a few months when her schedule allows, we hope she will lead our students in some painting and art classes as well! Sarah Zimmerman Guest Instructor, Art Sarah (she/her) has served her community as a librarian and archivist at the Chicago Public Library team for two decades. In her roles, she's managed the Chicago Theatre Collection, developed engaging programs for the public and now leads the Arts & Music and Social Science & History Departments at the Harold Washington Library. In her spare time, Sarah is also an art and music lover (and sometimes baker) and will be joining us for fun classes for all ages to enjoy! She will guide us on paper-centric arts and crafts as well as on paper marbling adventures! Olivia Sobieraj Guest Volunteer Lecturer, Chicago History Olivia (she/her) grew up hearing stories of Chicago buildings and has been studying Chicago history in her spare time for nearly a decade since she graduated from Indiana University with degrees in Marketing and French. ​ She will be regaling us this Fall with the myths and truths behind the Great Chicago Fire. ​ When not working as a Marketing Manager for a Big 4 firm, she enjoys learning about architectural preservation and equitable access to resources. In her humble opinion, there is nothing more joyful than sharing a good story about her home! Dana Linney Guest Instructor, Benefits & HR Dana (she/her) brings decades of experience leading benefits and HR teams and wellness initiatives for some of the Chicago's top companies. Her relatable, easy-going approach makes it easy to grasp even the most challenging subjects. Whether teaching students to rewrite their resumes to land their dream job, or evaluating employer-provided insurance offerings to best suit their needs, her students always walk away smiling! Jared Renteria Marketing Intern Jared (he/him) is Southport Fundamentals' marketing intern and helps Ms. Risa with communications and program promotion projects. Jared has resided in the Avondale neighborhood his entire life. He is a Lane Tech alum and current UIC student, who is majoring in Communication and minoring in Criminal Law and Justice. He loves exploring the city and trying out new restaurants in his spare time. A proud father of a Labrador-Pit, you can usually find him enjoying a beautiful day in Logan Square or in the bleachers at Wrigley Field. ​ During the Summer, he teaches at Lil Sluggers, a baseball program for children. He also teaches teens the fundamentals of cooking and baking at Concordia Place. He loves educating the youth, as he believes that young people play an essential role in shaping our society. Sookie (The Robot Vacuum) Vice President, Carpet Maintenance Named after the protagonist in the song "Groove Me" by King Floyd, Sookie (she/her) is SopoFUN's loyal robot vacuum. Sookie works tirelessly to suck up crumbs and dirt to make sure our guests have a fabulous bottom-of-foot experience. Our first floor carpets are dreamy, and Sookie takes the same level of pride in her work as Wrigley Field's lawn mowers. She was recently given googly eyeballs by Xavier (age 8) which helped her see that her true love was right in front of her the whole time. In early 2024, Sookie exchanged vows with a white stick vacuum in an intimate ceremony officiated by Madison (age 9). The children decided he should take her (first) name, so he now goes by "Mr. Sookie". The motto emblazoned on her paper-plate-nametag is, "Sookie is my na me, cleaning dirt is my game". ADULT PROGRAMS | sopoFUNdamentals Adult Programs Oh, but you CAN teach an old dog a new trick...you just need to make learning fun! For grown-ups who like learning new things, we offer a range of programs! Back to ALL programs Previous 1 2 Next