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Family and Youth Services Bureau Acting Associate Commissioner Curtis Porter

Positive Youth Development State and Local Collaboration Demonstration Projects
Fiscal Year 2005 Highlights: Illinois

Local community: Bronzeville neighborhood, Chicago exit disclaimer

A rich history and strong community groups are helping this largely African American neighborhood, once dubbed the “Harlem of Chicago,” face urban challenges such as crime, unemployment, school closings, and gentrification. With new condos displacing hundreds of thousands of people from the neighborhood, the Bronzeville partnership is working to give young people a say in what’s happening and a part in rebuilding their community.

The collaboration aims to show that adult-youth partnerships can yield more impressive outcomes in a community than efforts that exclude young people. All young people, even those not normally recruited to lead, are being included in the collaboration, and organizers hope to find ways to create similar leadership opportunities for youth throughout Illinois.

Partners:

Office of Prevention, Illinois Department of Human Services (grantee agency)
Grand Boulevard Federation (lead local partner)
Youth Network Council exit disclaimer
Teen Living Programs exit disclaimer (Runaway and Homeless Youth grantee)
Firman Community Services exit disclaimer
Chicago Area Project exit disclaimer
Chicago Youth Centers, Elliott Donnelly Youth Center exit disclaimer
Chicago Urban League exit disclaimer
Centers for New Horizons exit disclaimer
City of Chicago’s Windows of Opportunity
Chicago Park District, Kennicott Park exit disclaimer
Kenwood Oakland Community Organization
Race to Knowledge, Inc.

In Fiscal Year 2005, the Illinois project’s youth-led committees

  • Established priorities and midyear goals
  • Planned, raised funds for, and marketed a career fair, a cultural day, and a forum for youth and police
  • Worked with various community organizations to advocate around issues of youth employment and quality education
  • Helped hire a Positive Youth Development project coordinator with ties to the Bronzeville community

Challenges to the collaboration project’s work include

  • Identifying youth who have leadership potential but who are not already involved in community service
  • Finding the resources to offer additional stipends, so that more young people can be recruited for the youth councils