CircEsteem
CircEsteem, established in 2001, is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering social change through the innovative approach of social circus. By using the dynamic and engaging medium of circus arts, CircEsteem empowers Chicago's youth to build self-esteem, develop valuable life skills, in safe and inclusive environments. Our programs offer a unique blend of physical activity and creative expression, helping young people to grow in confidence, collaboration, and perseverance.
CircEsteem strives to make circus available to all students regardless of financial means. To serve this mission, we offer financial aid to eligible participants.
Together, We Make Dreams Come True!
Join the community that believes every child deserves joy, confidence, and a place to belong. Center Ring members give monthly so that every young person can learn, grow, and shine through CircEsteem’s circus classes, summer camps, afterschool programs, and more! Your support keeps our Chicago nonprofit strong and ensures our circus programs remain accessible to all children.
Winter Programming Begins January 2026
Featured Programs
HomeWork & CircusWork
Located in a number of CPS schools across Chicago and our Uptown Headquarters, HomeWork & CircusWork (HWCW) is a free after school program for youth.
Chicago Youth Circus
Chicago Youth Circus (CYC) is a vibrant Saturday program held in two locations, dedicated to developing circus skills and providing performance opportunities for youth. Our program includes a variety of circus disciplines such as juggling, unicycle, gym wheel, trapeze, silks, lyra, clowning, and many other circus skills.
Performance Troupe
CircEsteem’s Performance Troupe is designed for experienced youth seeking to advance their skills to the next level and participate in performance opportunities through CircEsteem.
Day at the Circus Camps
Day at the Circus camps will be offered on the following non-CPS attendance days for the 2025/ 2026 School Year:
January 5
February 17
March 17, 18
April 3
*BYO Snack, Lunch, & Water Bottle.
Each day will include a deeper dive into specific skills, group games, and arts & crafts activities. Each day camp will have a theme.
There is a cap of 20 students to this Day Camp, so reserve your spot now!
Location: 4730 N. Sheridan
Ages: 6-16
Time: 9am - 3pm
Cost: $97
*Financial aid available
Help Shape CircEsteem’s Next Chapter
CircEsteem and its Board of Directors are kicking off the search process for a new Executive Director! We are starting with a collaborative process to fully define the skills, experiences, and characteristics we are seeking in this important role. We anticipate sharing a formal job description for the role toward the end of January, and in the meantime we wanted to start collecting information from community members who are interested in applying!
Prioritized experiences for Executive Director candidates include:
- Recent experience in a senior leadership role with a mission-driven nonprofit
- Expertise in nonprofit financial management and/or fundraising
- Experience with youth development and/or performing arts organizations
We will be building a diverse slate of candidates and the evaluation process will be informed by our equity lens. If you are interested in learning more about the CircEsteem Executive Director role, and would like to be notified when our job description becomes available, please complete the online form linked below.
Serving Chicago Smiles Since 2001
“To see the look in a kid’s eyes when they first juggle or spin a plate, it’s like a light goes off. It’s just so magical to see”
Sam Brown, Teaching Artist
We Bring The Fun To You
Parties & Workshops
Hire CircEsteem for your next birthday, bar/bat mitzvah, parade, corporate or professional sporting event. We provide strolling performers, interactive circus workshops, and fully produced circus shows.
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Subscribe to Stay Updated!
info@circesteem.org
(773) 732-4564
4730 N. Sheridan Rd.
Chicago, IL 60640
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