The community's population dropped from almost 95,000 in 1970 to just shy of 36,000 in 2010 with foreclosures brought on by the Great Recession accelerating the pace of decline in recent years.

North Lawndale College Prep (NLCP) opened in 1998[1] to meet the pressing community need of developing an academically rigorous neighborhood school with a strong element of social support.

[2] The Steans Family Foundation, which has funded many education efforts in the community at privately run and district-run schools, was involved in the startup of North Lawndale College Prep.

Robin Steans, a trustee with the foundation and executive director of Advance Illinois, said North Lawndale has "been a challenged community for a long time" and there are no quick solutions for local schools.

[3] NLCP roster spots are available to all students residing in Chicago and admissions decisions are made on a non-selective basis as part of a random lottery conducted by an objective 3rd party.

North Lawndale Prep frequently communicates its motto of "The Phoenix Way: Be Peaceful, Responsible, Respectful, and Prepared" to its students and provides opportunities for them to engage in college level work during their senior year.

Despite the distractions and bad influences in his neighborhood, Maurice attends a charter school (NLCP) committed to helping underprivileged students go to college.

Episode 3: Once a promising student Maurice Massonburg has all but abandoned his college dreams, resigning himself to the hard knocks of life on the west side of Chicago.

Despite impassioned pleas from both his guidance counselor and mother, Maurice remains fixed to his downward spiral of smoking weed and slacking off at school.