WELCOME LETTER
CONTENTS SOUND OFF
6: RACIAL PROFILING IN CHICAGO BY KENNICE FERGUSON 7: CHICAGO: BEAUTIFULLY UGLY BY MARIAH MONROE 8: THE ENDLESS STRUGGLE BY KAYLA BILAL 9: THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF POLICE BRUTALITY BY JADA GAINES
CODE SWITCH
10: THE VILLAGE PROJECT BY JESSICA BOND 11: DONALD TRUMP’S DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LATINOS BY BRIANA GUEVERA 12: CHICAGOAN’S PROTEST POLICE BRUTALITY BY BRIANA GUEVERA 13: ANOTHER CASE, ANOTHER BLACK FACE BY BRESHAUN BROWN
FASHION MADNESS 14-17: FALL INTO FASHIION
STATUS UPDATE
18: THE DRILL MOVEMENT BY LAKENYA CHAPMAN & PRECIOUS CARROLL 19: CHICAGO’S POSITIVE MUSIC BY ASHLEY GORDON 20: THINK TINK! BY JESSICA BOND
WELL-SPOKEN
22: YOU ARE NOT ALONE BY JESSY PETTWAY 23: THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING POSITIVE CHOICES BY ALIZHA VERNON
THE LOCKER ROOM
24: THE RISE OF BLACK HOCKEY FANS IN CHICAGO BY KYLE WILLIAMS 25: JOAKIM NOAH WANTS YOU TO ROCK YOUR DROP BY KYLE WILLIAMS
PARK PROGRAMS
26: MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL VISITS GARFIELD PARK BY BRIANA WILSON 28: TIP FEST BY LAKENYA CHAPMAN & BRIANA WILSON 29: T.R.A.C.E. (TEENS RE-IMAGINING ARTS COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT) BY MARIAH MONROE 30: GARFIELD PARK PUSHCART DERBY BY LAKENYA CHAPMAN 31: TEEN LEADERSHIP CONNECTION COLLEGE TOUR BY KENNICE FERGUSON 32: NORTH REGION CALENDAR OF EVENTS 34: SOUTH REGION CALENDAR OF EVENTS TRUE STAR STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS 36: CENTRAL REGION CALENDAR OF EVENTS
PLEASE LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE PARK MAGAZINE CONTACT US: INFO@TRUESTARMAGAZINE.COM CHICAGOPARKDISTRICT.COM
DEANNA MCLEARY & NA-TAE’ THOMPSON MANAGING EDITOR MARTI PARHAM EDITORIAL COORDINATOR BRYAN CRAWFORD & EVAN F. MOORE ART DIRECTION DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION ANGEL D’AMICO-BAUER PHOTOGRAPHER DESHAUN “TRIG” ADAMS
CONTRIBUTORS
Ashley Gordon
DaQuan Hampton
Briana Wilson
Jessica Bond
Kyle Williams
Kayla Bilal
LaKenya Chapman
Mariah Monroe
Tyra Herbert
Precious Carroll
Not Pictured:
Breshaun Brown Denira Carter Rachel Davis Leah Ellis Kennice Ferguson Jada Gaines Tierra Garrett Brianna Guevara Gabriela Gutierrez Denkwon Henderson Sakora Henderson Jayla Howard Jennifer Johnson Jessica Pettway Danyae Robinson Dontia Rogers Hannah Shareef Alizha Vernon
Temia Ivy
Special Thanks Mayor Rahm Emanuel Superintendent Michael Kelly Board President Bryan Traubert Board of Commissioners Chicago Park District Teen Committee Vaughn Bryant Chief Program Officer
SOUND OFF
WHY RACIAL PROFILING is a Problem in Chicago BY KENNICE FERGUSON, FRESHMAN, NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
R
acial profiling by police is something that many Black Americans in this country have probably experienced at one point in their lives – and people who live in Chicago are no different. What is racial profiling? By definition, racial profiling is the discriminatory practice of law enforcement officials targeting someone based on their race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin. According to the Chicago Tribune, citing data from a study conducted by American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois (ACLU), compared to both White and Hispanic residents of the city, Black people in Chicago were much more likely to be stopped and questioned by police. Blacks account for approximately 32 percent of the city’s population, yet from May to August of 2014 – when the ACLU conducted its study – police in Chicago stopped 182,048 Black people. This accounted for 72 percent of street stops. In comparison, 23,471 White people living in Chicago were stopped by the police during this time (9 percent of street stops) and 42,865 Latinos – who represent 29 percent of the city’s population – were stopped. 6 THE PARK
“Young Black and Latino men are so used to getting stopped in the city, they really don’t complain about it with the intensity that you would think,” Harvey Grossman, the ACLUs legal director, told the Tribune. “It’s become pretty commonplace on the South and West Sides of our city.” “I’ve been stopped six times since I got back from the Marines in May,” Jamel Triggs told DNAinfo during a forum discussing how the University of Chicago’s campus police department seemed to also be singling out young Black men in the area. Triggs told the website that he is employed at Blackstone Bicycle Works where both Chicago and U of C police often come in to have their bikes repaired. Whether it leads to someone losing their life, or simply being stopped, questioned and searched by police for what seems to be no other reason than being Black, racial profiling will continue to be a problem. It doesn’t matter if it happens in a small town or big city like Chicago, racial profiling must come to an end. People deserve to be treated equally by police as human beings. The color of their skin shouldn’t matter.
Chicago:
Beautifully Ugly BY MARIAH MONROE, SOPHOMORE, KENWOOD ACADEMY
T
he violence that takes place in Chicago has earned the city the nickname, “Chiraq.” Some people, especially those who are younger and see some of the bad things that happen on a daily basis, embrace the term. To them, Chicago is a war zone. It’s a place where when you leave your house, whether you’re into bad things or not, you might not make it back home. As bad as that sounds, that’s the reality that a lot of young people in this city are faced with. You see it on the news. You hear it in music. You know that people who live in other places are talking about it. Over the Fourth of July weekend this summer, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that 53 people were hurt from Thursday night until Monday morning, 10 people were killed, including a child who was just 7 years old named Amari Brown. The police said that the bullet that killed Brown was meant for his father who is a known gang member. Because of stories like these, Chiraq has become the identity of this city – especially to those who
don’t live here. But gun violence, drugs and murder isn’t all that Chicago is about. These things happen in every major city in the country. It just seems like people talk about what goes on in Chicago more because the president is from here. But Chicago has a lot of good things going on too. Take a walk through downtown during the summer and you’ll see people enjoying themselves at Millennium Park, on navy Pier, or walking down the lakefront looking at the boats on lake Michigan. The skyline of downtown Chicago is also beautiful and one of the most recognizable in the world. We have a lot of places to shop, lots of nice restaurants to eat at, and Chicago always has a concert or festival going on that people like to come to and have fun. Yes, Chicago has issues. But doesn’t every place? It’s time for us to be proud of our city and do what we can to make it better instead of having people always talk bad about us and bring us down. THE PARK 7
The Endless
STRUGGLE BY KAYLA BILAL, FRESHMAN, WHITNEY YOUNG
I
magine life as a young, African-American male, living in one of the darkest parts of Chicago. On their way to adulthood, these young men are constantly working to avoid a number of obstacles being thrown at them, which are part of a vicious cycle that they are completely unaware of.
BLACKS ACCOUNT FOR 72 PERCENT OF ALL JUVENILE ARRESTS IN CHICAGO AND ARE DETAINED BY POLICE 2.4 TIMES HIGHER THAN OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS.
It’s not uncommon for them to feel as if the world is against them. To cope, many of them fall into predetermined stereotypes that devalue them, not only as young men, but also as people. Some silently hope for a better life, but are completely unaware of how to make that reality. Well, the answer is very simple – so simple that in a lot of cases, it’s easily overlooked. It all starts with their education. But underperformance on the part of schools in some areas can be traced back to the budget cut crisis involving the Chicago Public School system.
school district. The Washington Post wrote that there are 130 private prisons in the U.S. that bring in approximately $3.3 billion in revenue every year.
According to CPS’s own website, the budget for the 2015-16 school year has been cut by $200 million and the system itself has an operating deficit of $1.1 billion.
The Chicago Youth Justice Data Project found that in Chicago, young, Blacks make up just 30 percent of the city’s population, but account for 72 percent of all juvenile arrests and are detained by police at a rate 2.4 times higher than that of other demographics.
These are just some of the reasons why so many schools have been shut down and why so many young, Black men feel as if they have no other alternative except to conform to the negativity that is taking place in their neighborhood. Today, many jails are privatized and more money is being pumped into them than the 8 THE PARK
We have to ask ourselves what we can do to break this cycle when it seems that everything is stacked against us and designed to make us fail. There is no easy answer other than to take your education very seriously and steer clear of any situation or circumstance that can get you caught up in this terrible cycle.
THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS of Police Brutality BY JADA GAINES, FRESHMAN, LAKE VIEW HIGH SCHOOL
P
olice brutality, according to The Law Dictionary, is the use of any force that goes beyond what would be considered necessary for law enforcement to manage a situation effectively. Most recognize the motto used by police, “To serve and protect,” but given the amount of violence that citizens have suffered, many people in this country – especially AfricanAmericans – don’t feel safe at all. There have been many stories of police brutality flooding the news. From the shooting of Mike Brown in Ferguson, MO, to the death of Freddie Gray at the hands of the Baltimore Police. But closer to home, Chicago has its own history of brutality by law enforcement that doesn’t seem to get as much attention outside of the local news. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, lawsuits related to police brutality total out to $521 million over a 10-year period from 2004 to 2014 – with $84.6 million of that being paid out in 2013. John Burge, the infamous former commander for the Chicago Police Department, oversaw a crew of officers who tortured 120 black men for 19 years, between 1972 and 1991, Time Magazine
wrote. In May 2015, the Chicago City Council voted on a $5.5 million fund that would be used to financially compensate those tortured by Burge. This essentially counts as reparations and is the first time in history that something like this has been done. The Sun-Times wrote that the $521 million used to settle Chicago police brutality cases, would be enough to repave 500 miles of inner-city streets, build five high schools or 30 public libraries. What’s even worse is that there are still close to 500 cases against city officers still pending. This means that even more millions will have to be paid out in settlements. Brutality by police doesn’t just hurt those directly affected, but also people who had nothing to do with it. The money to settle these cases comes from taxpayers. It doesn’t seem fair that people have to pay police salaries when they mess up and hurt people. All police are not bad people. Some do a good job and actually want to help people in the community. But there are some officers who probably shouldn’t wear those uniforms, and those are the ones that give police a bad name. THE PARK 9
CODE SWITCH
The Village Project BY JESSICA BOND, JUNIOR, KENWOOD ACADEMY
“IT’S ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO ME TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND HELP OUT KIDS IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN.” - NAZR MOHAMMED
M
any foundations and charities have been created to help Chicago’s inner-city teens find the right path and stay away from negativity in their neighborhoods so that they can have a bright future. Unfortunately, many of these organizations don’t always capture the attention of teens. However, the Nazr Mohammed Foundation has worked hard to not only get Chicago teens interested and involved in its program, but they’ve created an environment where they discuss societal issues in a fun and engaging way. Started by NBA player Nazr Mohammed and his wife Mandi, The Village Project aims to help at-risk youth find a better path in life. This year’s event was held at the Frances Parker School in Lincoln Park. More than 100 teens involved with the Chicago Park District and the After School Matters program participated. Participants were taken through different workshops that discussed things such as proper etiquette, social media behavior, financial literacy, journalism, and setting goals. After 10 THE PARK
those sessions, teens were then divided into two separate groups of boys and girls and were taken through an open forum led by Nazr, Mandi and those in charge of the individual sessions. This gave teens an opportunity to speak openly about their thoughts and feelings. “It’s always been important to me to give back to the community and help out kids in any way that I can,” Mohammed told The Park. “There are so many things out here that can lead young people down the wrong path in life and I want to try and be an inspiration for them to do the right thing. I truly believe that it takes a village to raise a child and that’s what this program is about: successful people from all walks of life sharing their insight and knowledge with the future generation.” With so many schools closing in AfricanAmerican and Latino neighborhoods, it can be easy for teens to feel like success is an impossible thing to achieve. But The Village Project is a program that helps break that mindset and give people hope that they can do something positive in their lives.
DONALD TRUMP’S Discrimination Against Mexicans BY BRIANNA GUEVARA, SOPHOMORE, CHICAGO BULLS COLLEGE PREP
D
onald Trump has been very popular since he announced that he was running for president of the United States. But some of the things that he’s said in public have offended a lot of people. In June, Trump made very disrespectful comments about Mexicans. He said that people coming from Mexico to America were rapists, drug dealers and criminals. According to a report from CBS News, Trump also called the U.S. a “dumping ground for Mexico” and said that the people trying to escape extreme poverty by coming to the states for a better life represented a “tremendous infectious disease.” He also said that if he were to be elected president, he would build a big wall on the border to keep people out and not only that, he would make Mexico pay for it. Many people who heard the stereotypical way that Trump described Mexicans were very upset, including Mexican-Americans in Chicago and other places across the country. NPR wrote that because of his offensive comments, NBC dropped Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” and the Miss Universe and Miss USA beauty pageants because Trump is a co-owner. As a Mexican-American, what Trump said was wrong and very offensive to myself and my family. I go to school and work hard to become successful in life. My family works hard too. People from Mexico come to America to escape working on the farms for no money and no
opportunity. Many Mexicans who have jobs in the U.S., use the money they earn to help out the family they still have back home. Every culture and race has people who do bad things. It’s not just Mexicans. You would think that someone running for president would have more class and not be so disrespectful. Trump’s comments lost him a lot of votes in the MexicanAmerican community. I’m not old enough to vote yet, but people in my family who are said that they would never vote for him. Trump doesn’t seem to understand that the Latino and Hispanic vote is very important and many politicians work to make a relationship with these voters, not make them angry and upset. But Trump doesn’t seem to care and that’s why I don’t think he should be president because he’s very mean and disrespectful to people. That’s not how a president should be. THE PARK 11
Chicagoans Protest
Police Brutality BY BRIANNA GUEVARA, SOPHOMORE, CHICAGO BULLS COLLEGE PREP
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undreds of people from Chicago have come out in protest to show empathy for others in different states. According to a CBS Chicago report in April, a number of Chicagoans gathered outside of the police headquarters in support of Baltimore resident Freddie Gray, who died after sustaining injuries while in police custody as he was transported in a paddy wagon. His death sparked outrage around the country from people who are tired of seeing citizens being killed by police. In Chicago, CBS Chicago wrote that protesters gathered at 35th and Michigan and then marched south down King Drive and later, Cottage Grove, where they stopped at 55th street and stood in the intersection in a circle, blocking traffic. While many protests around the country became violent, in Chicago, everything was peaceful. No protestors were hurt or arrested by police. Not only are Chicagoans fighting back and using their voice to raise awareness about this problem, but people in other cities are doing the same. In Baltimore, where Gray died, property was destroyed and many people were arrested and 12 THE PARK
jailed. It’s easy to see why they would be angry. There was a feature story in The Atlantic in April 2015 that showed how deep the police brutality problem is in that city. From 2011 to 2014, the city paid $5.7 million to people who had been affected by police brutality. Some of these people were teenagers and others were even older, like an 87-year-old woman who was attacked by police while she was trying to help her grandson who had been shot. “He pulled me up, pushed me in the dining room over the couch, put his knees in my back, twisted my arms and wrist and put handcuffs on my hands and threw my face down on the couch,” she said in her lawsuit. Police brutality is a huge problem in this country and it has to stop. The protests are a good thing as long as they stay peaceful because when people come together for a common cause, things can change. By shining light on the problem, maybe politicians will create laws that limit the amount of force that police can use on citizens and hold aggressive officers criminally accountable when they mistreat and hurt people.
ANOTHER CASE,
Another Black Face BY BRESHAUN BROWN, SOPHOMORE, BROOKS COLLEGE PREP
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n July 19, 2015, another Black life was lost due to police brutality. Some painted the situation as a traffic stop gone bad, while others pointed to a pattern of unarmed Black people being killed by police.
WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO BLACK PEOPLE, IT ONLY MAKES THE RELATIONSHIP WITH POLICE WORSE.
Sam DuBose was shot and killed by Ray Tensing, a police officer for the University of Cincinnati. Initially, Tensing said that DuBose tried to drive off and fearing that he might be dragged underneath the car, the police officer fired a shot that hit DuBose in the head, instantly killing him. However, Tensing was wearing a body camera and when the video came out, it showed the truth of what actually happened, which wasn’t even close to what the police officer reported. The footage showed Tensing attempt to open the car door and DuBose slammed it back shut. That’s when you heard the gunshot and then the car rolled off a short distance.
Deters, the Hamilton County prosecutor who said that he would personally see to it that DuBose and his family got justice. Deters also said that Tensing should have never been a police officer in the first place.
When another University of Cincinnati police officer showed up you could see Tensing say that DuBose tried to run him over. This same officer even put that in his police report. It almost seemed like they forgot that they were wearing
When things like this keep happening to Black people, it only makes the relationship with the police worse. That’s why many Blacks in this country don’t trust the police because they feel like they don’t care about them.
body cameras. Tensing was later arrested and charged with murder. He was also fired from his job even though he tried to get it back after he was bonded out of jail. “This is the most asinine act I’ve ever seen a police officer make. It was senseless. It’s just horrible,” the Cincinnati Enquirer quoted Joe
If Tensing wasn’t wearing a body camera, they probably would’ve tried to make DuBose out to be the biggest criminal in the world. Hopefully Tensing goes to jail for a very long time. Maybe that will make police officers think before they beat somebody up or pull out their gun and shoot. THE PARK 13
FASHION
FALL
INTO FASHION Photographer: DeShaun Adams Fashion Stylist: Nicole Parrott for Kaleidoscope by Kolaberri Hair & Make Up: Diamond Beach & Brittany Beach for Beauty Boulevard
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Right Bottom Light Blue Woven Button Up- Marshall’s White Mesh Cutout Crop Top- Shop.Outfit101.com 7Seven Denim Jeans, Distressed by Kaleidoscope by Kolaberri Brown Roxy Cowboy Boots- Burlington
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Left Black Ribbed Dress- Shop.Outfit101.com White, Black & Blue Leopard Moto Jkt- Shop.Outfit101.com White Snakeskin Sandals with Black Fur Detail- MelodyEhsani.com Black Keyhole Opening Dress with Floral Print, White Bow Chiffon Blouse- Shop.Outfit101.com Black Strappy Platform Shoes- Chernin’s Right Top White and Black Mesh Shift with Pockets- Urban Outfitters Black Strappy Steve Madden Pumps- Burlington Right Bottom White Sleeveless Mesh Fringe Dress- Shop.Outfit101.com Black Fringe Steve Madden Stilettos- Burlington
Left To Right White and Black Mesh Shift with Pockets- Urban Outfitters Black Strappy Steve Madden Pumps- Burlington White Embroidered Skater Dress- Shop.Outfit101.com Black Calvin Klein Perforated Pumps- Marshall’s Black on Black Stripes and Mesh Dress- Shop.Outfit101.com Steve Madden Snakeskin Heels- Burlington White Lace 2pc Skirt Set- Shop.Outfit101.com Nude Jessica Simpson Pumps- Marshall’s Black & White Cameo Cap Sleeve Dress with Embroidered Bodice- Urban Outfitters Black Patent Leather Steve Madden Pumps- Burlington White Sleeveless Mesh Fringe Dress- Shop.Outfit101.com Black Fringe Steve Madden Stilettos- Burlington Black Keyhole Opening Dress with Floral Print, White Bow Chiffon Blouse- Shop.Outfit101.com Black Strappy Platform Shoes- Chernin’s
THE PARK 17
STATUS UPDATE
The Drill
Movement BY LAKENYA CHAPMAN & PRECIOUS CARROLL, SENIORS, WESTINGHOUSE COLLEGE PREP
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rill music is a hardcore form of rap music that started in Chicago, on the South Side in the early 2000’s by Pacman who was from Dro City in Woodlawn. The sound is very aggressive and usually reflects the environment of the neighborhoods that the artists live in or come from. The music itself can be very dark and lyrically violent. Some of the artists that have made drill music popular – not just in Chicago, but across the country – are Chief Keef, Lil Herb, King Louie, Lil Durk, Lil Bibby and Katie Got Bandz. All of them have an underground following and some have even had their songs played on mainstream radio. One of the good things about drill music is that it has given young people a chance to display their talent, either through rapping or making the beats that shape the drill sound. Young Chop is a very popular and successful producer who has played a key role in making drill music known. Critics also blame drill artists for much of the violence that goes on in Chicago. As expected, the people involved in the drill scene think the blame is misplaced. “Before drill music, people already had their beef and wars going on,” Katie Got Bandz said in an interview with Ebony Magazine. “This has been going on in Chicago before Chicago got noticed.” 18 THE PARK
“I don’t even know what Drill music is, but whatever they think it is we just telling the truth,” Young Chop told HipHopDX. “Everything that’s in the raps is the truth of what’s going on in the streets of Chicago right now.” Over the last two years rappers like Young Pappy, Lil JoJo, Big Glo and most recently, Capo, were all shot and killed on the streets of Chicago. Of course, drill music was the blame. Chief Keef, Lil Durk, Lil Bibby and Lil Herb, have all moved out of Chicago to try and get away from the violence. Drill music has become the soundtrack of the streets. Some people may think that’s not good, but it’s not all bad, especially if it’s the truth.
Chicago’s POSITIVE Music Artists BY ASHLEY GORDON, SOPHOMORE, CHICAGO TECH ACADEMY
C
hicago’s hip-hop scene gets a bad rap. When people talk about the music coming out of the city, the conversation almost always focuses on “drill.” Part of the reason for that is because rappers like Chief Keef, Lil Durk, Katie Got Bandz, Lil Bibby and others, have all found mainstream success. They tell stories about Chicago that many teens want to listen to and can’t seem to get enough of. But rap in Chicago isn’t just about drill. In fact, some of the biggest hip-hop, and even R&B artists, from the city have found success rapping and singing about totally different subjects. Lonnie Rashid Lynn, better known as Common, has been around since the early 90’s and dropped his first album in 1994. Since then he has gone on to star in multiple movies and TV shows,
“Dream Girls”. From there, Hudson won a Grammy, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. Kanye West is probably the biggest hip-hop artist from Chicago. He started out as a smalltime producer, also from the South Side, and blew up into being one of the most recognizable rappers and producers ever. Not only did he make beats for Jay Z and other artists on Roca-Fella records, but he has recorded six solo albums and won 21 Grammys. Kanye has also had his own Nike shoe and has released a clothing line with adidas. A new shoe is reported to drop on Black Friday. Some call Kanye arrogant and weird, but you can’t question the success he’s had in the music industry.
and has two Grammys and an Academy Award. Jennifer Hudson grew up in Englewood on the South Side. She rose to fame in 2004 on “American Idol”. Even though she didn’t win, many believed she was one of the show’s best contestants. That appearance helped her get a record deal and a starring role in the hit movie
Chicago’s music scene was created by the hopes and dreams of kids wanting to become famous and live a better life for themselves and their families. Drill music may be the only thing people associate with Chicago right now, but if they look a little harder, they’ll find that everything coming out of the city, music wise, isn’t bad or negative. THE PARK 19
Think
TINK!
BY JESSICA BOND, JUNIOR, KENWOOD ACADEMY
T
ink is a local artist from Calumet City in the south suburbs of Chicago and has been on the music scene for close to three years. Not only can she sing, but she can also rap and write songs. In her career she’s worked with big-time producers like Timbaland – she’s signed to his Mosely Music Group label – and other Chicago artists like Jeremih. Her latest hit, “Million,” is a remake of Aaliyah’s classic song, “One in a Million.” As a product of Chicago Public Schools – Tink attended Simeon Career Academy on the city’s South Side – she understands the need for teens and other young people to get a good education. On Saturday, August 22, iGlow presented The Golden Apple Back to School Empowerment Conference to help young girls with workshops to improve their self-esteem and staying on the right track in school. Tink was a guest speaker at the conference and she sat down with The Park to talk about her personal experiences and the new music she has coming out. The Park: How does Chicago inspire your music? Tink: Chicago inspires me to be blunt. I feel like a lot of Chicago music is straight to the point. If you’re from Chicago you don’t sugarcoat anything, so I try to stay true to that through my music and just tell it how it is. 20 THE PARK
The Park: Do you have any new projects coming out? Tink: Of course! I just dropped “Winter’s Diary 3” which was strictly for my fans. I think my dayones were really anticipating this mixtape. All in all, I still have “Think Tink,” the album that is on the way and produced by Timbaland. It’s very exciting, you know, because he has a fresh sound and mixed with my vocals, it should be crazy! The Park: What are your biggest musical inspirations? Tink: I always try to remember how the music felt back when I was a kid. I listened to a lot of SWV, TLC, and Jodeci – a lot of 90s groups, you know? They just made me feel something and it inspires me to make my audience feel something through my music. The Park: What are some of the biggest obstacles you had to face to get to where you are now? Tink: I had to really learn to be about my business, you know. Really early on I was just [making music] and it was fun. But the older I got, I had to realize that this is my life; this is my job. That’s an obstacle in itself being 20-years-old because there are a lot of things that could distract me. That’s what causes me to make sure I stay focused on business and what’s coming ahead.
“IF YOU’RE FROM CHICAGO YOU DON’T SUGARCOAT ANYTHING, SO I TRY TO STAY TRUE TO THAT THROUGH MY MUSIC AND JUST TELL IT HOW IT IS.” - TINK
PHOTOGRAPHER: SHAUN.ANDRU STYLIST: DUTCH DAVIS
THE PARK 21
WELL-SPOKEN
You Are Not
Alone
BY JESSY PETTWAY, FRESHMAN, CICS CHICAGOQUEST NORTH
W
e are all born the way we are. We can’t help that our hair is curly, or our bodies are shaped differently, or our skin is a different color. So when someone says that they are gay or bisexual, they may feel as if they were born in the wrong body. Being a teen in the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) community is a huge struggle. Many people may feel that if they came out, friends and family members would reject them. This can create feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. This is why both suicide and homelessness rates for LGBT teens are extremely high. The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) wrote that up to 40 percent of homeless youth identify with the LGBTQ community. This is because many of them feel compelled to run away to avoid being criticized or judged by their families. Many of these teens suffer from mental, physical and verbal abuse at the hands of people who are supposed to love and support them no matter what. 22 THE PARK
“We are seeing a new epidemic of LGBTQ youth homelessness largely because youth are coming out earlier,” Jeff Krehely, director of The LGBT Research and Communications Project at the Center for American Progress, said to the USICH. “They are coming out to their families at age 12 or 13 instead of 18 or 20.” According to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Chicago Public Schools reported that there were 22,144 homeless teens enrolled during the 2013-14 school year, an increase of 18 percent. Project Fierce Chicago wrote that of the thousands of teens and young people who will experience being homeless in the city, 3,000 of them will be LGBTQ. Suicide and homelessness for young people of any gender or sexual orientation is not OK and it’s important for them to have healthy support systems. If you know someone who is LGBTQ, don’t bring them down or call them names. Instead, just accept them for who they are because their sexuality doesn’t change their personality. They have as much right to a happy life as anyone else.
THE IMPORTANCE OF
Positive CHOICES BY ALIZHA VERNON, SOPHOMORE, SOUTH SHORE INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE PREP
V
iolence, guns, gangs and drugs are negative themes that affect many youth in Chicago. Every day in the news there are stories of young kids being shot all over the city. It’s a shame that they’ll never get to grow up and experience life as an adult, and their families will never be able to see what kind of person they raised them to become. In neighborhoods across the city, it’s so easy for teens to get caught up in things that could get them arrested or worse. Sometimes it’s because they think it’s the cool thing to do. All of the music that’s out and videos that young people see glamorize the street. Other times, youth get involved in negativity because that’s all they see around them. Young people will often imitate the things they pick up from older acquaintances, and if those people aren’t positive role models, they can steer teens and others in the wrong direction. That’s why it’s important for Chicago teens to make positive choices. From the places you hang out to the people you surround yourself with, one bad decision can change your life forever. That’s not something that a lot of young people think about, but they should. There are many programs in the city that can help youth get on a better path and encourage them to stay on it. BUILD is an organization that works to save at-risk youth from a dangerous lifestyle. They help more than 3,000 teens and young people in neighborhoods like Garfield Park, Humboldt Park and Austin.
After School Matters offers a variety of programs that help keep teens off the street and away from the violence. Many parents feel comfortable getting involved with ASM because they know that they will be in a safe and positive environment. Youth need to be involved with things that keep them going in the right direction after school and even in the summer. Teens shouldn’t be reluctant about getting involved with these programs, especially if they want to avoid the things in the street that can trip them up and send them down a bad road that they can’t seem to turn away from. THE PARK 23
LOCKER ROOM
THE RISE OF
Black
Hockey Fans in Chicago BY KYLE WILLIAMS, FRESHMAN, WESTINGHOUSE COLLEGE PREP
H
ockey is mostly viewed as a White sport to people who don’t follow the game, but there’s a reason for that kind of perception. From its inception in 1917 to 1991, only 18 AfricanAmerican players had competed in the NHL. With virtually no representation, Black sports fans tuned out the game. Adding to the issue is the fact that hockey is a game that requires the proper facilities and equipment to play; both of which aren’t readily accessible in neighborhoods where Black people tend to live. “There aren’t that many rinks in urban areas and the cost of equipment is outrageous,” William Douglas, author of The Color of Hockey blog, told the Chicago Tribune. Douglas’ blog is dedicated to raising awareness of the number of minorities who have played hockey. “There’s a perception in the African-American community that we shouldn’t like hockey or sports like NASCAR. Not seeing players of color on the ice on a regular basis, or not knowing there are players of color, reinforces the stereotype. Then it became a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts.” But in Chicago, the success of the Blackhawks in recent years, has caused African- American viewership in the city to go up. According to Shannon Ryan of the Chicago Tribune, the Blackhawks have the highest growth rate from 24 THE PARK
African-American fans in the entire league. Between 2011 and 2014, Black people expressing interest in the Blackhawks grew from 12.6 percent to 21.9 percent. It’s no coincidence that this increase occurred due to the team wining the Stanley Cup in 2010 and 2013. “Everyone loves a winner,” Aven Deese, an African-American Hawks fan explained to the Tribune. Between 2010 and 2015, the Blackhawks have won three Stanley Cups. By comparison, in that span of time, the Bulls have gone to Eastern Conference Finals once, been eliminated in the first round of the NBA Playoffs three times and in the second round, twice. Also, the Cubs and White Sox have missed the playoffs every year the Hawks have won the title, and the Bears last made the postseason when the first Stanley Cup came home to Chicago. It’s safe to say that as long as the Blackhawks keep winning, more Black people in Chicago will become fans of the game.
JOAKIM NOAH
WANTS YOU TO
“ROCK YOUR DROP” BY KYLE WILLIAMS, FRESHMAN, WESTINGHOUSE COLLEGE PREP
I
n August, Chicago Bulls star Joakim Noah came to the Major Adam’s Community Center to kick off the ONE CITY youth basketball tournament and debut his new PSA for the “Rock Your Drop” campaign. Noah was joined by his mother, Cecelia Rhode – who actually designed the Drop – sister, Yelena, and representatives from his Noah’s Arc Foundation. Noah spoke about the importance of giving kids in Chicago a safe place to hang out while also raising awareness about the Rock Your Drop movement. “The message we’re putting out is dope. It feels great; I’m not gonna lie,” Noah told The Park. “Rock Your Drop is a movement that started with my mother…. When I see people wearing their Drops, it means the world to me because this is a sculpture that my mom made and I’m so proud of her.”
When something is as strong as gun violence and you’ve seen the pain that mothers go through, that’s all our problem.”
Given the amount of violence that takes place in the city – mostly involving young people – many families are torn apart. Rhode said the Drop symbolizes the tears that are shed at the loss of a young person. She said that it also represents a drop of consciousness that connects us all and brings us to the realization that positive change is needed to save the lives of young people in the city.
After the PSA, Noah stayed around for the basketball tournament, made up mostly of kids that have been participating in Noah’s Arc Foundation programs at the Major Adams Community Center for the last five years. Over the years, he’s developed a bond with those students, many of whom have become mentors for younger kids entering the program. Noah is very proud of the work that he’s doing in the community and wants everyone to know that he doesn’t do it for show. It comes from his heart.
“I’m from Sweden. Now you may say, ‘What is this blonde lady doing on the South Side of Chicago? This isn’t your problem.’ But I say no.
“This is not a gimmick,” he said. “We’re doing this for all the right reasons. To be able to do all this work makes me happy.” THE PARK 25
THE PARK
Mayor
Rahm Emanuel VISITS GARFIELD PARK BY BRIANA WILSON, JUNIOR, VON STEUBEN
C
hicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel partnered with the U.S. Department of the Interior to promote the “Let’s Move! Outside” campaign, which was created by Michelle Obama to encourage youth to spend time outdoors. It’s no secret that video games, smartphones and tablets, have made young people and teens less active than ever before. That’s why a campaign like this is so important. On July 28, Mayor Emanuel, Sally Jewel of the U.S. Department of the Interior and Michael Kelly, CEO of the Chicago Park District, came to Garfield Park to officially launch the Let’s Move! Outside initiative. Many teens participating in After School Matters summer programs at the 26 THE PARK
park, joined Mayor Emanuel as he promoted the importance of participating in outdoor activities. “The goal we have for kids in Chicago is that by 2018, everyone will have a park within a 10 minute walk from where they live,” the mayor said. “The Chicago Park District recently won a Gold Medal Award [by the National Recreation and Park Association] and is the first large city to have that recognition. Whether it’s large parks like this one at Garfield Park, or one of the many smaller playgrounds throughout the city, children are getting the opportunity to be exposed, see and experience being outside in a safe way, while also enjoying nature.”
“THE GOAL WE HAVE FOR KIDS IN CHICAGO IS THAT BY 2018, EVERYONE WILL HAVE A PARK WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK FROM WHERE THEY LIVE.” - MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL
Tyra Herbert, a senior at Providence St. Mel High School and a contributor to The Park magazine, had the honor of introducing the mayor and telling her own story about how much the Chicago Park District has played a role in her own life and the lives of her younger siblings. “I’ve been involved in Chicago Park District programs since I was 6 years old. I’ve gone to the Shedd Aquarium, to the different museums that we have here, and even to the beach. For underprivileged youth, programs like this give kids an advantage,” she said. “People my age, younger and older, should take advantage of these programs because they open up doors and expose you to things that you may not get to experience on your own.”
Later, Mayor Emanuel, Secretary Jewell, Herbert and other youth helped tend to trees adjacent to the Garfield Park basketball courts where the press conference was held. The day was a great way to celebrate the ways in which the Chicago Park District and the mayor are working to provide fun and safe ways for youth to enjoy the city they live in and have fun. THE PARK 27
TIP Fest BY BRIANA WILSON, SOPHOMORE, VON STEUBEN & LAKENYA CHAPMAN, SENIOR, WESTINGHOUSE COLLEGE PREP
E
very teenager looks forward to summer vacation and being off from school. But during the summer months in Chicago, violence and senseless murders go up and many teens have a hard time enjoying themselves because they know that at any given moment, they can find themselves in the middle of a dangerous situation. This is one of the reasons why the Chicago Park District teamed up with the Chicago City of Learning to create the first annual “Teens in the Park Fest.” The event was curated by Chance The Rapper and featured local artists DLow and Logan. The TIP Fest was free and was the first in the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Park series. Chance The Rapper’s involvement created a buzz around the event and brought teens from all over Chicago, downtown to Northerly Island in late June, just as the summer was getting started. “All of the teenagers here are having fun. But most importantly, they’re out of the streets and safe from any violence and negativity,” DLow told The Park. Those in attendance had an opportunity to visit the many stands that were set up containing a lot of different activities. And in addition to the performances by DLow and Logan, Chance The Rapper also performed with Donnie Trumpet and brought out Kendrick Lamar as a special guest who performed his hit song, “i.” “It’s nice seeing something in the city that’s going down this good as opposed to all of the negative 28 THE PARK
things we hear about and see every day living in Chicago,” said Logan. Chicago gets a bad rap across the country. People who don’t live here think that it’s just people selling drugs and shooting each other. But the TIP Fest showed that teens in Chicago know how to have fun in a way that is positive and safe. Young people here are just as tired and frustrated with the negativity as the people who try and paint Chicago as a bad place. The TIP Fest was an example that not everything that happens in the city is bad and that good things do happen and people appreciate them.
TRACE:
CONNECTING CHICAGO COMMUNITIES BY MARIAH MONROE, SOPHOMORE, KENWOOD ACADEMY
“T
eens, Re-Imagining Arts, Community, Environment” is a program that promotes environmental learning and community awareness through artwork. In collaboration with the Chicago Park District, TRACE is designed to help teens create positive change within their communities. Ariana Bell, who heads the TRACE program at Cornell Square Park on the South Side of Chicago, explained the purpose and value of the program. “The main objective is to bring the community together through pictures and interviews of citizens to get their perspective on the violence in the neighborhood,” Bell told The Park. “We then create a collage of the community to show the positive side of the area instead of the negative – which is what most people hear and see.” In addition to the collages, TRACE also uses videos to convey the beauty of the neighborhood and allow visitors to the park to come in and create their own collages highlighting the beauty of where they live. “When the collages, videos and other projects are completed, we invite the people who live in the neighborhood to come out and see what we’ve done,” Bell explained. She also engages in discussions with teens involved in the TRACE program on ways to possibly make the areas they live in a better and safer place. “Sometimes we sit around, gathered in a circle, and talk about the situations in Chicago that bother us or make us uncomfortable,” Bell
said. “These discussions, at times, can be really emotional. But within those feelings of fear, anger and sadness, the teens are able to open up and create ideas on how to make Chicago a better city.” Through a collaboration with the Chicago Park District, the TRACE program is able to display the artwork and collages created by teens at different parks around the city. The goal is to raise awareness and get people thinking about all of things about Chicago that are beautiful, instead of the city always being depicted negatively, especially in the media. “I truly believe that this kind of art is beneficial because it helps to bring people in the city together,” said Bell. “That’s what we need right now.” THE PARK 29
Garfield Park PUSHCART DERBY BY LAKENYA CHAPMAN, SENIOR, WESTINGHOUSE COLLEGE PREP
G
arfield Park hosts a lot of events for teens in the summer. This year, to close out its slate of programs, the park held an extreme pushcart derby. The goal of the event was to advocate for social justice issues, one of which is human trafficking. The human trafficking problem in Chicago grows bigger every year. Because the city is the third largest in the U.S. that holds regular conventions and has two major airports, it is an ideal location for young women – and sometimes men – to be easily exploited. Making the problem worse is that many of these crimes take place off the radar of police. The Internet has made it easy for people to “order” escorts and prostitutes, many of whom are young people and teens. The problem has become so bad that CBS Chicago reported that the city’s first ever Prostitution and Trafficking Intervention court was established in June. The goal is to help those involved in human trafficking connect with various social services in the city to help them turn their lives around and get away from selling their bodies. “They will learn how to break their pasts, and cut all ties with those who have abused them, or dragged them into living lives of desperation,” said Anita Alvarez, the Cook County State’s Attorney. The Garfield Park pushcart derby featured teams from 25 parks located in the Chicago Park Districts central region. In addition to being used for racing, the pushcarts that were designed by the teens in each program also served as art pieces that advocated for an end to the human trafficking problem. 30 THE PARK
Teens were also challenged to build pushcarts out of recycled materials that would not only make it go fast, but also safe for people riding in it. Staff members at the Chicago Park District and their teens worked closely with the James Dyson Foundation of Chicago to give them pointers on engineering to help those participating in the race make good pushcarts. Sonica Ruiz, a Chicago Park District program specialist at Garfield Park, oversaw the derby and explained the ways in which the program benefitted those who took part in the race. “The teens – or should I say young adults – get very excited and also competitive during this event. Everybody is real secretive about their carts because they really want to win.” Ruiz also felt that the derby was a great way for teens to make friends and build relationships with people from other neighborhoods and create not only a sense of community, but accomplishment. “Kids from all these different communities come together and cheer each other on,” Ruiz said. “That’s a big deal to be able to meet so many people from different backgrounds and come together in the spirit of teamwork.”
Teen Leadership Connection COLLEGE TOUR BY KENNICE FERGUSON, FRESHMAN, NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
O
ver 76 Teen Leadership Connection members from 13 Chicago parks toured two universities in St. Louis, MO, as part of a college tour this summer. Those who participated visited Harris-Stowe State University and McKendree University. McKendree, actually in Lebanon, IL, is just a few miles east of St. Louis. Harris-Stowe State is a historically Black university established in 1857, while McKendree University is a small, liberal university that is actually the oldest in the state of Illinois. To be eligible for this trip, each person enrolled in the Teen Leadership Connection program had to accumulate points throughout the school year by participating in service-oriented events at their respective parks. Over the last two years, South Region Teen Leadership Connection members have volunteered at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago Breast Cancer Awareness & Research Walk, the Chicago Hunger Walk and a Soles 4 Souls shoe drive. In addition to visiting the universities, Teen Leadership Connection members and staff participated in Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI) exercises to get to know each other better. They also engaged in group discussions with current Harris-Stowe State and McKendree University students to try and get a feel for what daily life is like in college.
Teen Leadership Connection members are living examples of the potential impact their initiatives can have on the future. At each college, Teen Leadership Connection members and staff participated in an information seminar, learning about the respective colleges. They engaged in discussions about college life, what student
While in St. Louis, Teen Leadership Connection members and staff also got a change to visit the St. Louis Gateway Arch, Sky Zone indoor trampoline park, Pole Position Raceway, and Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, MO.
expectations are at this level of schooling, and what they could do to make their college experience a successful one. Teen Leadership Connection provides an outlet for teens to have safe, constructive and positive recreational outlets at their local parks. THE PARK 31
North Region Calendar of Events
Flag Football Hollywood Park Mondays – Thursdays 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Teen Leadership Gill Park Thursdays 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teen Club Horner Park Thursdays 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Teen Basketball Green Briar Park Wednesdays & Fridays 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Teen Club Jefferson Park Mondays 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Teen Club Haas Park Fridays 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Teen Summit Jefferson Park Saturdays 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Teen Woodcraft Shabbona Park Mondays 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Teen Fix Boxing Jefferson Park Fridays 8:00 PM – 8:45 PM
Teen Boxing Simons Park Mondays – Fridays 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM
Teen Woodcraft Lincoln Park Cultural Center Thursdays 4:15 PM – 6:15 PM
Urban Moves Willye White Park Wednesdays 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Color Theory & Oil Painting Eugene Field Mondays 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Teen Boxing Hamlin Park Wednesdays – Fridays 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Play Production Partnership Eugene Field
Teen Boxing Loyola
Saturdays 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesdays – Fridays 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
South Region Calendar of Events
Tuley Park: Digital Workshop Begins Thursday, October 1, 2015
O’Hallaren Park: Prep for Pumpkin Patch Thursday, October 22, 2015
Don Nash Park: Neo-Futurist Theater Workshop Friday, October 2, 2015 from 6-8pm
Dawes Park: Haunted Screams Movie Night Thursday, October 22, 2015
Region Event- Career in Focus: Health Career Fair at MXC Saturday, October 3, 2015
Hamilton Park: So You Think You Can Dance Friday, October 23, 2015
Don Nash Park: Neo-Futurist Theater Workshop Saturday, October 3, 2015 from 6-8pm Northwestern Football Game at Sherwood Park Saturday, October 3, 2015 Teen 2K16 NBA Night Thursday, October 8, 2015 Sherwood Park: Skating & Bowling at MLK Friday, October 9, 2015 Sherwood Park: Teen DJ program at Jackson Park Tuesday, October 13, 2015 O’Hallaren Park & Dawes Park: Area Trip to MLK Wednesday, October 14, 2015 Sherwood Park: Teen Culinary Fun W/ Food Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Abbott Park: Movie Time Friday, October 23, 2015 Volunteer Opportunity: Light the Night Walk at Grant Park Saturday, October 24, 2015 at 4:30pm O’Hallaren Park & Dawes Park: Hayes Pumpkin Patch Saturday, October 24, 2015 Fright Night at Dawes Park Thursday, October 29, 2015 Hermitage Park: Movie Night/ Pumpkin Wars Friday, October 30, 2015 at 5pm O’Hallaren Park: Halloween Event at Hayes Friday, October 30, 2015 Grand Crossing Park: Haunted House Friday, October 30, 2015 at 4:30pm Sherwood Park: Teen Halloween Glow Stick Party Friday, October 30, 2015
Sherwood Park: Teen DJ program at Jackson Park Thursday, October 15, 2015
Abbott Park: Halloween Party Friday, October 30, 2015
Region Event: Rally 4 the Cure Volleyball Tournament at Robichaux Saturday, October 17, 2015
Trumbull Park: Walking Dead Halloween Event Friday, October 30, 2015
Dooley Park: Movie & Game Night Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at 6pm
Region Event: Food Drive Kick Off Monday, November 2, 2015
34 THE PARK
Palmer Park: Wild Poets Event Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 6pm Abbott Park: Movie Time Monday, November 16, 2015 Dooley Park: Movie & Game Night Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at 6pm Palmer Park: Wild Poets Event Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at 6pm Region Event: Thanks & Giving B-Ball Tournament Thursday, November 19, 2015 O’hallaren Park: Teen Trip Thursday, November 19, 2015 Dawes Park: Be Thankful Potluck Dinner Thursday, November 19, 2015 O’hallaren Park: Senior Thanksgiving Event Friday, November 20, 2015 Sherwood Park: Toys for Tots Toy & Coat Drive Begins Friday, November 20, 2015 Abbott Park: Pre-Giving Back Party Friday, November 20, 2015 Trumbull Park: Area Thanksgiving Event Friday, November 20, 2015 Hermitage Park: A Day of Giving at You Can Make It Shelter Saturday, November 21, 2015 Grand Crossing Park: Turkey Bowl Games Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Volunteer Opportunity: Turkey Trot @Grant Park Saturday, November 28, 2015 Tuley Park: Digital Workshop Concludes Tuesday, December 1, 2015 Brainerd Park: Kick Back Fun Night Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 6pm Volunteer Opportunity: Santa Hustle 5K at Soldier Field Saturday, December 5, 2015 Robichaux Park: Dancing With the Teens Friday, December 11, 2015 at 6pm Sherwood Park: Teen Secret Santa Begins Monday, December 14, 2015 Dooley Park: Movie & Game Night Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at 6pm O’hallaren Park: Teen Christmas Party Thursday, December 17, 2015 Dawes Park: Teen Holiday Game Night Thursday, December 17, 2015 Region Event: Food Drive Ends Friday, December 18, 2015 Palmer Park: Toy Drive & Giveaway at Roseland Hospital Friday, December 18, 2015 Sherwood Park: Holiday Party, ASM & Secret Santa Ends Friday, December 18, 2015 Abbott Park: Teen Christmas Party Friday, December 18, 2015
Palmer Park: Community Hike at Hegewisch Marsh Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Trumbull Park: TLC Holiday Party Friday, December 18, 2015
Sherwood Park: Thanksgiving Food Drive Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Region Event: 1 Summer Chicago Event at Soldier Field Saturday, December 19, 2015
Abbott Park: Hollywood Park Friday, November 27, 2015
Sherwood Park: Toys for Tots & Coats Delivery Saturday, December 19, 2015 THE PARK 35
Central Region Calendar of Events
Joffrey Dance Workshop at Seward Dance
Halloween Festival at Pulaski Park
October 14, 2015 from 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
October 17, 2015 from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Fee: Free
Fee: $10
Ages: All Ages
Ages: All Ages
This workshop is part of a 9 park series. Visit www.
Join the Halloween fun with a variety of activity that in-
chicagoartistsmonth.org/ for more information.
cludes inflatables, hayride, pony rides, shows and crafts.
Wildcrafting in the City at Skinner Nature
Haunted House at Pulaski Park
October 15, 2015 from 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
October 17, 2015 from 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Fee: Free
Fee: $10
Ages: All Ages
Ages: All Ages
Four workshop themes are Cord Making, Wool Dye-
Come and have fun and get scared all at the same time
ing, Wood Carving, and Basket Weaving.
at this year’s spooky and terrifying Haunted House.
Star Party at Chicago Women’s Park & Gardens
Tour de Parks: Milkweed Bike Explosion at Columbus
October 16, 2015 from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Nature
Fee: Free
October 18, 2015 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Ages: All Ages
Fee: Free
Family friendly night under the stars exploring the cos-
Ages: All Ages
mos and indulging in s’mores over the campfire. Visit
Join Slow Roll Chicago as we adventure across Austin,
www.chicagoartistsmonth.org/ for more information.
visiting parks along the way. Email Natureoasis@gmail. com to borrow bikes.
Haunted House at Pulaski Park October 16, 2015 from 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Haunted House at Pulaski Park
Fee: $10
October 23, 2015 from 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Ages: All Ages
Fee: $10
Come and have fun and get scared all at the same
Ages: All Ages
time at this year’s spooky and terrifying Haunted
Come and have fun and get scared all at the same time
House.
at this year’s spooky and terrifying Haunted House.
Urban Forestry 101 at Humboldt Nature
Boo-Palooza at Wicker Park
October 17, 2015 from 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
October 24, 2015 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Fee: Free
Fee: Free
Ages: All Ages
Ages: All Ages
Through games and activities, you will gain a better
Costume parades with prizes for children, families, adults
understanding of why trees are essential to cities.
and dogs, games for all, performances, pumpkin patch and decorating, dancing, a maze, bobbing for apples,
Pumpkin Patch at Skinner Park
ghost bingo, and activity tables.
October 17, 2015 from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Fee: Free
Fall Fest at Armour Square Park
Ages: All Ages
October 24, 2015 from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Family-friendly event filled with pumpkins of all shapes,
Fee: $10
personalize it at the pumpkin decorating station,
Ages: All Ages
Halloween-themed carnival games, a petting zoo, in-
Join us for an afternoon in the park at this family-friendly
flatables, a costume contest, tattoos, music, and food.
event filled with pumpkins of all shapes, personalize it at the pumpkin decorating station, Halloween-themed carnival games, a petting zoo, inflatables, a costume contest, tattoos, music, and food.
36 THE PARK
Haunted House at Pulaski Park October 30, 2015 from 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM Halloween Party at Commercial Club Park October 24, 2015 from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Fee: Free Ages: All Ages Activities include crafts, face painting, storytelling, and interactive games followed by a mini-parade around the
Fee: $10 Ages: All Ages Come and have fun and get scared all at the same time at this year’s spooky and terrifying Haunted House. Spooky Skate Party at Smith Park
block.
October 30, 2015 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Haunted House at Pulaski Park
Ages: All Ages
October 24, 2015 from 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM Fee: $10 Ages: All Ages Come and have fun and get scared all at the same time
Fee: Free Bring your skates and scooters and wear your favorite Halloween Costume to the annual Spooky Skate. Spooktacular Family Day at Davis Square Park
at this year’s spooky and terrifying Haunted House.
October 31, 2015 from 11:00 AM -1:00 PM
Joffrey Dance Workshop at Austin Town Hall Dance
Ages: All Ages
October 28, 2015 from 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Fee: Free Ages: All Ages This workshop is part of a 9 park series; Chicago’s neighborhood parks are your city as a Studio. Visit
Fee: Free Join us for some family fun day filled with Arts and Crafts and games. Halloween Festival at Pulaski Park October 31, 2015 from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
www.chicagoartistsmonth.org/ for more information.
Fee: $10
Haunted House at Austin Town Hall Park
Join the Halloween fun with a variety of activity that in-
October 29, 2015 from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Fee: $3 Ages: All Ages Have fun and get scared all at the same time at this
Ages: All Ages cludes inflatables, hayrides, pony rides, shows and crafts. Haunted House at Pulaski Park October 31, 2015 from 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
year’s spooky Haunted House.
Fee: $10
Haunted House at Fosco Park
Come and have fun and get scared all at the same time
October 29, 2015 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Fee: Free Ages: All Ages Come and have fun and get scared all at the same time
Ages: All Ages at this year’s spooky and terrifying Haunted House. In Our Own Words at Austin Town Hall November 7, 2015 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
at this year’s spooky and terrifying Haunted House.
Fee: Free
Autumn Fest at Sumner Park
Youth lead an unfiltered discussion on the role of arts
October 30, 2015 from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Fee: Free Ages: All Ages The fun includes face painting, Pumpkin painting, refresh-
Ages: All Ages in their lives and communities in collaboration with Arts Partners and programs from the Chicago Park District. Visit www.chicagoartistsmonth.org
ments and candy bags.
Skate with Santa at Maggie Daley Park
Halloween at McKinley Park
Fee: $10
October 30, 2015 from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Fee: Free Ages: All Ages Join us for an evening of Halloween family fun in the park for crafts, delicious treats and enjoy being in the company of ghoulish characters who will compete for the title of the best costume!
December 5, 2015 from 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM Ages: 3 - 15 Come skate with Santa. All participants must provide ice skates or rent ice skates at the time of the event. Haines Park Teen Game Night December 15, 2015 from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Fee: Free Ages: 13 - 18 Teen night with pizza, beverages and games (3 on 3 basketball, Playstation and dodge ball).
THE PARK 37
38 THE PARK
ONE SUMMER CHICAGO
JoB-FaIR SOLDIER FIELD • DECEMBER 19, 2015 • 11AM - 2PM • AGES 14-18
Résumé Workshops
Take advantage of our résumé building workshops to fine-tune your profile and let your best you shine.
Networking
Meet the people who hire teens just like you every year and find out what they have to offer.
Mock Interviews
Want more confidence? Get comfortable with the interview process so you can dominate your next interview.
Find The Job For You
This is your chance to find a job that works for you, learn about future employment opportunities and determine your next steps to get the job you want. Dress to impress...you never know who you might meet. And don’t forget your résumé! (bring a few copies)
This free event is exclusive to teens 14 to 18 years old — For more information, visit us online at:
www.chicagoparkdistrict.com
STAY CONNECTED. THE PARK 39
S U M M E R + FA L L + W I N T E R + S P R I N G
I N T H E PA R K S A L L Y E A R R O U N D
City of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, Mayor Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners Chicago Park40 District, THE PARK Michael P. Kelly, General Superintendent & CEO
STAY CONNECTED.