CHICAGO – Twelve high school art students from Chicago’s Simpson Academy for Young Women (the only Chicago public school exclusively for pregnant students) visited the Chicago office of Christie's auction house located in the John Hancock Building. The event was sponsored by the Women’s Leadership Forum of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP.

Christie’s hosted this event on Dec. 7 with a mock art auction for the students as well as information about the auction world, the photography currently on display in Christie’s Chicago office and careers in the art world. The students also enjoyed refreshments and gifts, courtesy of Christie’s.

“We were pleased to have the students from Simpson Academy visit Christie’s. We are always happy to have students learn about what we do here and maybe choose art as a profession themselves one day,” said Steve Zick, who heads Christie’s Chicago office.

“We are thankful to Christie’s and Katten Muchin Rosenman for giving our art students the opportunity to visit Christie’s and learn about photography and potential careers,” said Dr. Beverly Bennett, Principal of Simpson Academy for Young Women.

Simpson Academy for Young Women is the only Chicago Public School exclusively for pregnant and parenting students (grades 6 - 12). It accepts pregnant students from any school in Chicago. With an enrollment of approximately 250 students, the school offers a general curriculum within a nurturing environment that includes social work services and counseling for students and their families.

The Women’s Leadership Forum (WLF) of Katten Muchin Rosenman has a continuing commitment to assist Simpson Academy. The WLF has sponsored workshops on various topics, including child support, interview skills, resume writing and motherhood readiness. The Firm is also supporting a mural project where art students will create a mural depicting significant women in history, a holiday tea for parents and a holiday book drive. The WLF has donated furniture for the teachers’ lounge and helped the school in other key areas of need. A baby supply drive and more workshops are planned for the spring.

“This was an exciting and unique opportunity for these students to learn about art and experience it first hand, and we are glad to have been able to make it possible,” said Susan Goldenberg, a partner with Katten Muchin Rosenman and the Firm’s liaison with Simpson Academy.

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP (www.kattenlaw.com) is a national, full-service law firm with offices in the nation's largest centers of business, government, finance and technology. The Firm’s 600 attorneys in more than 40 practice areas provide timely and cost-effective counsel to clients in numerous industries. They serve as business advisors and advocates for a wide range of public and private companies - from entrepreneurial, emerging-growth, and middle market firms to global Fortune 100 corporations - as well as government entities, non-profits, and charitable and cultural organizations.