CAP’s Youth As Resources Grants Funded by McCormick Tribune Foundation

(Chicago, IL) Eleven youth-run programs received grants ranging from $650 to $2000 from the Chicago Area Project’s Youth As Resources Program during a gala ceremony on June 30, 2012 at the Chicago Area Project (CAP) office, 55 E. Jackson in Chicago. The grants are funded by the McCormick Tribune Foundation. The grant monies awarded are $17,000.

Youth As Resources (YAR) challenges youth to identify community needs and design projects that use their skills, creativity and energy to help others in the community.

YAR at the Chicago Area Project’s commitment to the importance of youth voices is reflected in the composition of the YAR governing board, which is largely made of youth between the ages of 14-25. The YAR grant decisions were made by the governing board. Youth and adult board members work I partnership to make all funding decisions.

The grant program is designed to help fund groups or organizations working with youth as leaders and decision makers. The projects partner youth and adults working together to creatively solve a community issue or need. The Youth As Resources were granted for projects in three categories: Health/Wellness, Violence Prevention and Artistic Expression.

The Grant Winners include:

Beethoven Elementary School/The World Performance Team: The concept of this project is to provide positive alternatives to crime in the Woodlawn Community. Through the project young people travel and showcase their hard work and talents across the country. The performance team is made up of youth ages 7-14. The group is a drill team which provides young people with a performing arts curriculum, gang prevention programming, male mentoring, community service opportunities, discipline and charitable giving opportunities.

Camp Butterfly’s Monarch Butterfly Team/Kwanzaa 365: The Monarch leaders will host project activities to influence disconnect within their community using the principles of Kwanzaa.

Kenwood Oakland Community Organization/Connecting Chicago’s Youth to Change Violence in Our City: One Neighborhood at a Time: Project seeks to change the level of violence in the community by connecting youth and adults from different backgrounds through a youth violence prevention project called Youth CAPs. The Youth CAPs program creates safe, non-threatening places for youth in the Grand Boulevard Community. The Chicago Police Department works closely with the program to inspire positive relationships between the youth and the police. The project creates positive alternatives to violence.

Faithful Few/Girls off the Streets: This is project designed to run a basketball camp in the Woodlawn Community to keep young girls safe and healthy. Athletes recruit participants for the camp. Violence, obesity, teen discipline and leadership are topics also addressed. The project seeks to keep teen girls healthy and happy.

The Healing Experience, Inc./Empowering a New Generation Anti-Violence Forum: A youth led community forum focused on violence prevention project designed to motivate positive, community involvement. The project is addressing the lack of functional and structured anti-violence programs that provide mentorship for African American males ages 14-21.

Institute for Positive Living/Health Awareness Carnival: A youth driven carnival themed event promoting membership for the Institute for Positive Living computer lab, which serves the Bronzeville/Grand Boulevard Community. The youth will showcase a number of talent and learned skills from their time in the Institute for Positive Living computer lab. Residents of the Lawless gardens apartments will have access to the lab and are encouraged to participate in workshops or sign up for privileges provided by the lab. Issues discussed during the carnival are AIDS/HIV awareness , teen/adult issues, diabetes, jobs and school scholarships.

Instituto Progreso Latino/Instituto Family Engagement Nights: In an effort to bring a disconnected community together this project is designed promotes intergenerational activities in the East Garfield Community (Pilsen).

OM Production International/Healthy Cooking in the Hood: The project features youth teaching community residents about health and good tasting food and how to cook it.

Westlawn Gospel Chapel/We Are One – The Fight Against Violence: The project is planned to be a two-day event. The discussion topics themes are how are gangs affecting the community. On the second day of the event will be a peace rally and a community clean up.

Young Women’s Leadership Charter School/Latin Culture Club: The students will create an environment where they can express Latin culture through music, sports, cultural activities, group discussions, food and guest speakers. The students seek to combat bullying in the school. The project will run an entire school year. The funding category is violence prevention and artistic expression.

CHICAGO AREA PROJECT (CAP): The Chicago Area Project is a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening Chicago’s neighborhoods and to helping Chicago’s young people. The original mission of CAP has not changed since its inception, to work toward the prevention and eradication of juvenile delinquency through the development and support of affiliated local community self-help efforts in communities where the need is greatest.

YOUTH AS RESOURCES (YAR): Youth as Resources is a youth development program that gives money (small grants) to youth groups to operate volunteer projects in their community. Since 1993, YAR has funded over half a million dollars to over 2000 youth service projects in the Chicago metropolitan area. YAR believes that youth have untapped talents that can benefit them and their community and that youth involved with community service projects or youth/adult boards begin to feel a sense of connection, civic responsibility, and self-worth.

For information about how you can become involved in the Chicago Area Project/Youth As Resources Youth program, contact Kathleen Mosley at 312-588-3816 or at YAR@chicagoareaproject.org.