The Praxis Institute

What The Praxis Institute does

The Praxis Institute is a Chicago-headquartered, privately held consulting and professional services organization founded in 2019 that delivers healing-centered, transformative programming for positive youth development. Its portfolio comprises six interconnected services — Workshop Facilitation, Communities of Praxis (peer learning networks), Participatory Evaluation, Coaching, the Institute for Critical Youth Development (research and training), and Social Emotional Arts & Radical Community Healing — together with a community-based sub-brand, Kindred, which extends the methodology into direct-to-consumer arts, wellness, and mental health programming in Chicago.

The firm operates without a proprietary technology platform; its intellectual property sits in its human-delivered methodology, a multicultural team of educators, therapists, artists, coaches, counselors, activists, evaluators, and researchers, and a curated Praxis Alliance of external consultants. The offering is grounded in participatory and healing-centered practices rather than software, with delivery supported by social media (Instagram, LinkedIn), a Medium publication, and a website-driven consultation booking flow.

Commercially, Praxis generates revenue through quote-based professional services contracts with a diversified client base spanning Chicago-area government agencies (Chicago Public Schools, Department of Family and Support Services, One Summer Chicago), national nonprofits (After School Matters, Youth Guidance, Covenant House, Sanneh Foundation), philanthropic funders (Obama Foundation, Chicago Beyond, Chicago Bulls Charities, United Way), academic and research institutions (Northwestern University, AIR), and one enterprise partner (JP Morgan Fellowship Initiative). The organization employs approximately 10 people, has no disclosed funding rounds or revenue, and operates exclusively in the Chicago Metropolitan Area while maintaining relationships with several nationally scoped partners.

Name

The Praxis Institute

Legal name

The Praxis Institute

Website

https://praxisinst.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Praxis Institute is a Chicago-based consulting firm founded in 2019 that delivers healing-centered workshop facilitation, coaching, participatory evaluation, and arts-based programming to government agencies, schools, nonprofits, and philanthropic partners for positive youth development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Consulting Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education & Teaching Volunteer Programs (EDAIAGAD)

Keywords

• Youth development consulting
• Workshop facilitation services
• Participatory evaluation
• Healing-centered coaching
• Social emotional arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Services and Consulting: Praxis Institute generates revenue through professional services including workshop facilitation, coaching, participatory evaluation, and training programs. They collaborate with government agencies, schools, nonprofits, and philanthropic organizations on youth development initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Praxis Institute is a Chicago-based consulting and professional services organization that delivers healing-centered, transformative solutions for positive youth development. Its core offerings include workshop facilitation, coaching, participatory evaluation, communities of practice, the Institute for Critical Youth Development, and social emotional arts and radical community healing programs. The firm partners with government agencies, schools, nonprofits, academia, and philanthropic organizations across the Chicago region.

Product overview

The Praxis Institute offers a portfolio of six interconnected service offerings centered on collective action for positive youth development. The core services include Workshop Facilitation, Communities of Praxis (peer learning networks), Participatory Evaluation, Coaching, and the Institute for Critical Youth Development, all integrating theory and practice for healing-centered transformative solutions. Additionally, the Social Emotional Arts & Radical Community Healing program combines artistic expression with wellness practices. The subsidiary program Kindred extends these healing-centered approaches into community-based liberatory arts experiences including youth art programs, open studio pop-ups, and wellness coaching. The organization collaborates with partners across government, schools, academia, community organizations, and philanthropy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kindred: A program rooted in the belief that by combining the arts, community, and intention, we can create a space for liberation and healing on an individual and collective level. Offers include open studio pop-ups, youth art programs, natural mandala art sessions, mental health and wellness support, coaching, support groups, and intentional sports and wellness coaching.

Products and services

• Workshop Facilitation Professional workshop facilitation services for organizational and community development, enabling partners to integrate theory and practice for transformative solutions in youth development contexts.
• Communities of Praxis
• Participatory Evaluation
• Coaching
• Institute for Critical Youth Development
• Social Emotional Arts & Radical Community Healing
• Kindred

Named customers27 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and secondary.

• Obama FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor philanthropic partner supporting youth development initiatives. Collaboration on collective action for positive youth development across Chicago communities.
• Chicago Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary educational partner for school-based youth development programs, professional development, and community school initiatives.
• After School MatterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for after-school and summer programming focused on positive youth development through arts, sports, and STEM education.
• Girard CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing academic and enrichment programs for students in grades 1-12 with a focus on whole-child development.
• Surge InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner focused on developing leaders of color in education through mentorship and professional development programs.
• National Partnership for New AmericanssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting immigrant and refugee youth integration and development across communities.
• Service YearsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partner providing service year opportunities for young people in youth development programs.
• One Summer ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCitywide initiative connecting Chicago youth to summer employment, internships, and job training programs.
• JP Morgan Fellowship InitiativeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partnership providing fellowship opportunities and funding for youth development and career pathways programs.
• Northwestern UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner for evidence-based youth development research and evaluation studies.
• Sanneh FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth development partner providing after-school and summer programs focused on education, athletics, and community building.
• Youth GuidancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComprehensive youth development organization providing programming including Becoming A Man (BAM) and Working With Youth (WWY) programs.
• Covenant HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting homeless and at-risk youth through housing, education, and career development services.
• Chicago Freedom SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth-led organization building power through civic engagement, leadership development, and social justice education.
• AIR (American Institutes for Research)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for participatory evaluation and evidence-based research on youth development outcomes.
• My Brother's KeeperflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational initiative focused on improving outcomes for boys and young men of color through mentoring, education, and employment programs.
• The Center for Law and Social PolicysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicy partner working on economic advancement and mobility for youth and families through policy research and advocacy.
• Chicago Bulls CharitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports philanthropy partner supporting youth wellness, education, and basketball programs for Chicago youth.
• United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity services partner providing funding and coordination for youth and family support programs across Chicago.
• Chicago BeyondflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilanthropic investment partner focused on funding innovative approaches to youth safety and wellbeing in Chicago.
• Department of Family and Support ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity government partner providing social services coordination and funding for youth and family support programs.
• A New Deal for YouthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational campaign advocating for increased public investment in youth employment and development programs.
• Alternative Schools NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of alternative education providers serving out-of-school youth through GED and workforce development programs.
• AMPTsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional development and training partner for educators and youth workers.
• REACHsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth development network providing resources and coordination for community-based organizations.
• Chicago Youth CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComprehensive youth development organization serving youth through after-school, summer, and family support programs.
• Prevention FirstsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubstance abuse prevention and wellness education partner for youth and community health programs.
• The Fellowship Initiative Youth GuidancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntensive mentorship and leadership program for young men of color developed in partnership with JPMorgan Chase.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Communities in Schools: National nonprofit organization providing integrated student supports within schools, including mentoring and social-emotional development. Operates as a broader incumbent with national scale in the school-based youth development services market where Praxis is active.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development organization operating club-based programs for school-age children. Serves as a broad incumbent in the youth development space, addressing many of the same social-emotional and educational needs as Praxis Institute's programming.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring organization operating one-to-one mentoring programs across the U.S. Represents a broader incumbent in youth development with national scale, brand recognition, and similar mission-driven service delivery model.
• AIR (American Institutes for Research): Large behavioral and social science research organization conducting program evaluation. Listed as a research partner and represents a larger incumbent in the participatory evaluation and youth development research space where Praxis operates.

Direct peers

• After School Matters: Chicago nonprofit providing after-school and summer programming in arts, sports, and STEM for teens. Listed as a core partner of Praxis Institute and competes for the same Chicago youth development funding and contract opportunities.
• Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP): National policy organization working on economic advancement for youth and families. Listed as a secondary partner and shares the intersection of research, policy advocacy, and direct youth program support that defines Praxis's work.
• Surge Institute: Chicago-based organization developing leaders of color in education through mentorship and professional development. Listed as a core partner and operates complementary leadership development programming for the same educator/youth worker audience.
• Youth Guidance: Chicago-based youth development organization operating Becoming A Man (BAM) and Working With Youth programs. Listed as a direct partner of Praxis Institute and operates in the same Chicago youth services ecosystem with comparable social-emotional programming for at-risk youth.
• Chicago Freedom School: Youth-led organization building power through civic engagement, leadership development, and social justice education. Listed as a core partner and shares Praxis's healing-centered, transformative approach to youth empowerment.
• Sanneh Foundation: Minneapolis-based nonprofit providing after-school and summer programs focused on education, athletics, and community building. Listed as a core partner and shares the integrated youth development service model across community-based programming.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-praxis-inst
• Instagraminstagram.com/praxisinstchicago/?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Praxis Institute