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Youth, Safety, and Recreation
Youth, Safety, & Recreation
We will provide young people and families with the opportunities to thrive through programs and services that engage, support, and inspire, as well as safe and fun spaces that will contribute to the character of the neighborhood.
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Back of the Yards hosts a range of community-building programs and activities for its residents, including Hoops in the Hood, Ballet Folklorico, One Summer Chicago, and English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. In addition to the continuation of these programs, residents expressed a strong desire for the expansion of community recreation options, emphasizing yearlong recreational and community support programming for all ages. Many residents highlighted the need for safe, engaging recreational and leadership opportunities for youth, as well as diverse programming for adults and seniors that could be implemented through the community’s preexisting assets.
Residents also expressed a need to expand after-school programs such as Teen REACH and After School Matters, which are proven to assist in the development of employability, academic, and leadership skills, while providing a positive recreational and social outlet for teens. According to the Illinois Collaboration on Youth, Teen REACH participants graduated at a rate of 99.8%, compared to the statewide graduation rate of 86%.
After School Matters reports show that 93% of participants graduated and 79% reported gains in leadership, teamwork, and problem solving skills.
By expanding youth-oriented programs, teens are exposed to engaging environments and given the tools to help them to become productive, skilled, and healthy individuals. These programs also give youth access to a safe haven during afterschool hours when juvenile crime tends to peak.
Community partnerships between the Chicago Park District, neighborhood schools, and Back of the Yards businesses and organizations can be forged to provide recreational programming and workforce development opportunities.
In addition to youth engagement, it is critical that all residents have access to recreation, safety, and family services. This begins with increased awareness and utilization of already existing neighborhood resources. Back of the Yards organizations can accomplish this through community outreach, increased social media presence, and the development of online information portals. Resident safety can be enhanced by coordinating crime prevention as a community and by creating peaceful, non-violent spaces throughout the neighborhood.
The following strategies focus on increasing access to neighborhood services, recreation opportunities, and safe spaces.
Parks and Community Resources
7
2
1
3
Damen Ave Ashland Ave Racine Ave 4
8 6
5
Pershing Rd
10
43rd St
47th St
Youth, Safety, & Recreation Asset Map Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council The Resurrection Project The Plant Cesar Chavez Multicultural Arts Center Precious Blood Ministry Daniel J. Nellum Youth Services 1 2 3 4 5 6
Halsted St
51st St
Davis Square Park Cornell Square Park Sherman Park Taylor Lauridsen Park 7 8 9 10
9
Garfield Blvd
Resident Vision Ideas
• Develop after school programs to keep kids safe while providing exciting opportunities to every young person • Open more youth services centers for at-risk and high-risk youth • Create a youth community group that teaches leadership skills, sports, art, etc. • Organize more places to serve as “warming centers” other than library • Develop family support groups • Open a community center for adults and youth, offering after school programming, sports leagues, etc. • Open senior recreation centers • Create safe recreational gathering spaces for youth that are open on weekends • Build an indoor swimming pool / sports center • Organize sports activities that include youth • Provide free community gym days that provide an outlet for youth
6 parks 83.3 Acres 28% child obesity rate in BOTY Firearm-related homicide rate = 25.6 per 100,000 population
Source: CMAP 2015 Community Snapshot Source: Healthy Chicago 2.0 Source: Healthy Chicago 2.0
Objectives
Objective 1
Existing Chicago Park District or school-based programming could be expanded to provide youth and adult programming at multiple locations around the community. Ideally, programming would be available in the evening and on weekends; prioritized programs mentioned by residents include youth leadership programs, sports leagues and classes, family support services, and recreation opportunities for seniors. Field houses or school buildings used for community recreation could also serve as “warming centers” in winter and “cooling centers” in summer, to expand this vital service provision to at-risk youth or elderly residents.
Because of gang activity, safety is a concern when traveling to all parts of the neighborhood. Therefore, recreational space and programming could be provided at multiple locations, so youth do not need to cross gang boundaries to access recreation.
Objective 2
Fostering a sense of security among community members, particularly among young people, will help to prevent violence and mental health issues throughout the Back of the Yards community. Schools, churches, and community organizations can play a key role in building upon safe spaces by surrounding residents with the people and resources they need to feel supported. By advocating for a youth center in the neighborhood and ensuring that there are trained individuals overseeing these spaces, more teens can reap the benefits of a supportive social environment.
Case Study:
Sarah’s Circle
Sarah’s Circle is a non-profit organization with a mission of serving women who are homeless or in need of a safe space. Located in Chicago’s Uptown Community, Sarah’s Circle has provided support for thousands of women since 1979. Today, Sarah’s Circle has a Daytime Support Center open to any woman in need, a 50-bed interim housing (shelter) program for women who are currently homeless, and permanent supportive housing for women who have a disabling condition and have been chronically homeless. Across programs Sarah’s Circle staff use best practices and provide case management and supportive counseling to help women achieve their goals.
(Source: Sarah’s Circle)
Objectives
Objective 3
Outreach and the circulation of information regarding the services available to Back of the Yards residents will allow community members to takes advantage of the resources available to them. A Back of the Yards mobile application can be created and used as an easily accessible directory that residents can reference. Expanded social media communication and school-organized tours of neighborhood services will help raise awareness of neighborhood assets.
Objective 4 Objective 5
Building off of Objectives 2 and 3, the expansion of after school opportunities will provide a safe haven for youth and teens. Connecting with programs like TEEN REACH and After School Matters will give young people access to safe, fun, and productive environments that are geared toward skill-building and the reinforcement of strong social networks.
Youth employment and workforce development opportunities in Back of the Yards will help young people to develop social, technical, and leadership skills, while simultaneously curbing opportunities for youth to engage in violent activities. As a component of the youth center mentioned in Objective 2, a workforce development hub will provide young people with access to workforce training, mentorship, education completion resources, and employment opportunities.
Youth, Safety, and Recreation Info Table at Community Event. Source: Great Cities Institute, 2019.
Objectives
Objective 6
The central goal of community policing is for the police to build relationships with the community through interactions with local agencies and members of the public, creating partnerships and strategies for reducing crime and disorder. The training of local beat officers, the development of block clubs, and the implementation of restorative justice measures will all contribute to a communitydriven approach to crime prevention and rehabilitation in Back of the Yards.
Case Study:
Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy
Since 1993, the CAPS program is a community driven policing strategy that aims to bridge the gap between the police force and the citizens of Chicago. A District Advisory Committee made up of community leaders, business owners, and community activists meets regularly with the District Commander to discuss police district affairs. The program was revitalized and reprogrammed in January 2013.
(Source: Chicago Police Department.)
Case Study:
Boston Community Policing Program, Boston, MA
The Boston Police Department has created new programs aimed at direct engagement with residents and increasing accountability and transparency within the Department. Informally, officers are encouraged to engage with youth in sports games and talent shows, visit members of the community on special occassions, and go on neighborhood walks to meet residents. After implementing community policing practices between 2014 and 2015, Boston’s total crime rate dropped 9%, hitting the lowest crime rates since 2005. The city also saw a 15% decrease in arrests, and homicide numbers per 100,000 people went from 53 to 40.
(Sources: Pioneer Institute)
Objectives
Case Study:
Centre for Justice and Reconciliation, Worldwide
The Centre for Justice and Reconciliation promotes the use of restorative justice to rehabilitate offenders through reconciliation with their communities and victims. The Centre’s mission is to develop restorative justice in criminal justice systems throughout the world because it has been shown to lower repeat offender rates, reduce costs, and reduce victims’ trauma. The Centre provides information and resources for those who would like to learn more about restorative justice and their campaigns to reform the criminal justice system to adopt restorative justice approaches in the United States and abroad.
(Source: Centre for Restorative Justice and Reconciliation.)
Police Memorial Mural. Source: Great Cities Institute, 2018.
Objective 1
Strategies
Work with community partners, including the Chicago Park District and local schools, to provide recreational programs and community supports to residents of all ages. a. Work with the Chicago Park District to expand recreational programming at multiple neighborhood parks and field houses.
b. Partner with neighborhood schools to provide open gym times for residents.
c. Train mentors to oversee programs and provide additional support to youth if needed. Lead Organization(s)
Chicago Park District, CPS
Strategies a. Maximize usage of existing spaces in schools, churches, and community organizations after hours. b. Collectively organize and advocate for a youth center in the neighborhood. c. Train a corps of young leaders that can help oversee these spaces.
Objective 3
Strategies
Enhance awareness of neighborhood services, programming, and resources. a. Create a Back of the Yards mobile application as a central location of storing and updating information for neighborhood residents. b. Train teen ambassadors to spread awareness about youth programming. c. Organize field trips for local high school students to explore neighborhood assets such as nonprofits, agencies, and youth centers. d. Develop a cohesive social media strategy that markets resources, programming, and services to youth and families. Lead Organization(s)
BYNC, TRP, U.N.I.O.N., La Casa Norte
Lead Organization(s)
BYNC, TRP, U.N.I.O.N., La Casa Norte Partnering Organization(s)
BYNC, TRP, CPL, U.N.I.O.N. La Casa Norte, Chicago Police Department
Partnering Organization(s) CPS, CPL, Chicago Park District, Chicago Police Department
Partnering Organization(s)
CPS, CPL, Chicago Park District, Chicago Police Department
Strategies a. Collectively organize and advocate for TEEN REACH to gain resources for the after-school programming in the community.
b. Collectively connect with organizations like After School Matters to expand paid after-school opportunities for youth in the neighborhood. Lead Organization(s)
BYNC, TRP, U.N.I.O.N., La Casa Norte Partnering Organization(s) CPS, CPL, Chicago Park District, Chicago Police Department
Objective 5
Strategies
Objective 6
Strategies
Expand workforce development opportunities for young people ages 16- 24. a. Create a Reconnection Hub in the community as a centralized location where young people can gain access to workforce readiness opportunities, education completion resources, and access to employment opportunities. b. Enhance or create outreach tools to engage most disconnected youth. c. Identify local youth-friendly employers to provide youth employment opportunities. d. Partner with local youth-friendly employers to gain a better understanding of the “demand” for local talent and then create the “supply” pipeline of youth in the community. Lead Organization(s) Partnering Organization(s)
BYNC, TRP, U.N.I.O.N., La Casa Norte CPS, CPL, Chicago Park District, Chicago Police Department
Advocate for a community-driven approach to safety and crime prevention. a. Work with organizations to provide community policing training to local beat officers. b. Encourage and support the development of block clubs. c. Encourage walking and bicycling to neighborhood activities. d. Encourage restorative justice approaches to crime and our response to crime. e. Expand protection to victims experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault. Lead Organization(s) Partnering Organization(s)
BYNC, TRP, U.N.I.O.N., La Casa Norte CPS, CPL, Chicago Park District, Chicago Police Department
Houses on Loomis Blvd. Source: Great Cities Institute, 2018.
