Sun’s Out… But Where Is Everybody?

Members of North Lawndale know the best time to celebrate the city is when it’s warm outside. But it is also common knowledge that crime becomes a large concern during this time of year. North Lawndale, since 2020, has seen an average of 250.75 violent crime victimizations each year, including 248 crimes already this year, just four months in.

These numbers are unsettling for the citizens in North Lawndale, especially parents. It leaves them asking, “Where can my child go without me fearing they won’t come home?” This is a question that should not have to be on the minds of the hard-working guardians of the community’s future.

But the community should be worried, for organizations and leaders live amongst them, looking to become the answer to the question of protection.

There are some great afterschool programs and youth clubs in the neighborhood, but most of these organizations pay a hefty admission price. This leaves many families without a choice but to leave their children at home, no kid wants to be stuck at home while the sun’s out.

Homes Away From Home

From daycares to sports camps, youth intervention, and even job training and placement, there is something for every child of tomorrow to learn and grow today. So, what are these organizations?

Boxing Out Negativity

Since 2009, Boxing Out Negativity’s (B.O.N.) positive impact on North Lawndale is beyond what many would expect. Their target audience is adolescents and teens at risk of street involvement. With the help of Derek Brown, the founder of B.O.N., these youth learn the physical training of boxing and can have this talent showcased in bouts at the Chicago Golden Gloves Tournaments during March and April. Not only will they learn about themselves as fighters, but also learn about themselves as members of the community.

Brown teaches the youth about civic engagement, team building and cooperation, and recreation. They use these skills to create community-wide events like the Street Love Ride. On this day, all of the community is invited to ride bikes in North Lawndale sending a message of peace and positivity to all living there.

As someone who was an at-risk teen himself, Derek knows the hardships the youth face living in the community. So, he makes sure these children never have to deal with the same trials and tribulations that once plagued him.

For more information, check out the Boxing Out Negativity website.

Anita’s Local Daycare for Toddlers

Anita Archibald lived all her life in North Lawndale, and spent most of her life educating herself and the children she teaches. She graduated from Wells High School and also attended notable colleges like Dekalb, Concordia, and Loyola University, just to name a few.

This led her to work as a teacher and case manager for Chicago Public Schools (CPS), where she worked for 35 years. During her time as a teacher in CPS, she saw how some of the children struggled with simple things like the alphabet. Since then, she’s back to work in North Lawndale, running a local daycare. For 20 years, Anita has prepared children, between the ages of 2-6, for kindergarten so they can hone their early learning and awareness skills.

She also takes the children on field trips to places like the Brookfield Zoo and Navy Pier. “I want the children to experience life outside of North Lawndale, the different cultures and places within the city they can’t see every day,” says Archibald.

Anita’s Daycare also takes the time to interact with parents, telling them about how and where their kids excelled, or where they need help at. With this cooperation, their child can grow to be a skilled and encouraged learner.

The Daycare center is located at 1800 South Lawndale Avenue, for more information call 773-257-0497.

Almighty Blessing’s Art Program

Local social media influencer, Almighty Blessing, is known for being active in the community. One of his biggest missions in life is to make sure Black and brown children of tomorrow use their voices to bring awareness to problems going on in the community. “The inner city doesn’t have enough resources for the youth in North Lawndale, so I’ll take action into my own hands for our future,” stated Almighty Blessing.

The summer program is designed to explore the artistic talents of the youth. The classes covered will include singing/choir, choreography/theater, arts and crafts, and social media literacy. Blessing states that the youth won’t be placed in the classes, as their interest in each subject will decide the subject they choose to be in.

This helps them voice their own opinions by allowing them to make their own decisions and experiencing their talents. It also guides youth into activism and civic engagement, using their abilities as tools to spotlight the community. Youth will also go on field trips to experience more of the city outside of North Lawndale.

The program is located at 3147 West Douglas Boulevard Chicago, IL 60623. The age range is from 7-17 years old and provides food and supplies at no cost.

For more information, contact Blessing at almightyblessing11@gmail.com or call 312-569-2016.

UCAN

With a lot of adolescents and teens graduating this time of year from high school or college, it’s around that age when they have to start fending for themselves. Looking to find their own homes, cars, and other personal necessities that they can only get using one thing, money.

With different negative ways to make money out there, UCAN’s mission is to find jobs for the youth of North Lawndale that fit their interest. In addition to training and preparing them to be the best employees they can be.

But job employment is just the beginning of what the program offers. They help teen parents with day school services, transitional and independent living programs, and consoling services.

In the year 2022, North Lawndale benefitted so much from the help of UCAN. They helped 163 families and youth receive mental health services, and helped over 181 find jobs.

If anyone is interested in UCAN and its plethora of offers, check out its website. People can also contact them at info@ucanchicago.org or call at 773-290-5891 ( Fax: 773-683-2329). To meet in person at 3640 West Fillmore Street.

Written By Daylontie Jasper

Sources:

Boxing Out Negativity: Misson Statement Page

Chicago.Gov: Violence and Victimization Trends

UCANChicago.org: About

Feature and Inset image Courtesy of TNS