Rachel Swittal
StudentsXpress Magazine Publisher
Rachel is a Chicago-based designer with a passion for youth engagement. Much of her career has been rooted in magazine design, where she has developed a strong background in editorial layout. In 2011, she founded StudentsXpress, a publication created for students in Chicago Public Schools, serving PreK–8th grade students across the city.
Originating as a thesis project, the publication was initially intended to reach students in some of Chicago’s most crime-impacted communities, offering a creative outlet that encouraged positive self-expression and highlighted alternatives to violence. It also provided a platform for students to learn from peers with different backgrounds, helping them see new perspectives and understand they were not alone. Over the course of more than 30 issues, the publication fostered connection and empathy among its readers.
Since partnering with Respectful Ways in 2021, StudentsXpress has expanded its reach nationwide and evolved to directly address social emotional learning (SEL) topics. Each issue covers a different Respectful Ways course subject for students to draw ideas from for their artwork and story-telling.
Professionally, Rachel serves as Senior Creative Designer at JCFS Chicago, where she combines design expertise with mission-driven storytelling, and she is also the Art Director for a local lifestyle magazine. In addition to her publishing and design work, Rachel is dedicated to tutoring, mentoring a young girl through Tutoring Chicago and a young boy from Malaysia through her workplace’s HIAS Immigration and Citizenship program. Outside of work, she enjoys going to the theater and movies, reading, and crocheting.
Our 1st graders loved the Be Kind: It Feels Good course. The Kindness Hunt and bucket filling activities were the best. Very engaging.
The Bored, Get Creative module was perfect for our 4th graders pre-winter break. We talked about things they could do if “bored”.