The Park Magazine Summer 2015

SUMMER 2015

WORDS Are You

TEXTING

& Driving?

Powered By

Dealing With

DIVORCE

The Effects of

BULLYING

E

Use Your

Is Back!

E

with CDC

STREETER

F R

TEENS TAKE THE LEAD

SEVYN

WELCOME LETTER

CONTENTS SOUND OFF

6: HEALTHY TEEN RELATIONSHIPS BY LAKENYA CHAPMAN 7: THE EFFECTS OF BULLYING BY JAMILA JENKINS 8: THERE’S NOTHING COOL ABOUT DROPPING OUT BY ASHLEY GORDON 9: SO YOU’RE PREGNANT. NOW WHAT? BY LEAH ELLIS 10: DEALING WITH DIVORCE BY BRIANA WILSON 11: THE DANGERS OF TEXTING AND DRIVING BY JONISE PEOPLES

CODE SWITCH

12: OVERCOMING LOW SELF-ESTEEM BY JASMINE SMART

THE LOCKER ROOM

14: MCDONALD’S ALL AMERICAN GAMES BY JASMINE SMART

STATUS UPDATE

16: SEVYN STREETER IS BACK! BY TEMIA IVY & BRANETTA FERGUSON

FASHION MADNESS 18: “DO YOU” SPRING STYLE 22: CELEBRITY FASHION LINES BY TEMIA IVY 23: MUST COP MIKES BY NAJA HARRINGTON

PARK PROGRAMS

24 & 25: CENTRAL REGION CALENDAR OF EVENTS 26 & 27: NORTH REGION CALENDAR OF EVENTS 28 & 29: USE YOUR WORDS TEMIA IVY & BRIANA WILSON 30: TEENS TAKE THE LEAD BY BRIANA WILSON

PLEASE LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE PARK MAGAZINE CONTACT US: INFO@TRUESTARMAGAZINE.COM CHICAGOPARKDISTRICT.COM

TRUE STAR STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS DEANNA MCLEARY & NA-TAE’ THOMPSON MANAGING EDITOR MARTI PARHAM EDITORIAL COORDINATOR BRYAN CRAWFORD ART DIRECTION DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION ANGEL D’AMICO-BAUER PHOTOGRAPHER DESHAUN “TRIG” ADAMS

CONTRIBUTORS

Arthur Hardwick

Branetta Ferguson

Briana Wilson Not Pictured:

Leah Ellis Ashley Gordon Jonise Peoples Naja Harrington Jamila Jenkins

DaQuan Hampton

Jasmine Smart

LaKenya Chapman

Temia Ivy

Special Thanks Mayor Rahm Emanuel Superintendent Michael Kelly Board President Bryan Traubert Board of Commissioners Chicago Park District Teen Committee Michael Scott Jr. Vaughn Bryant

SOUND OFF

Healthy Teenage

BY LAKENYA CHAPMAN JUNIOR, WESTINGHOUSE COLLEGE PREP

R

elationships play a major role in the life of teenagers. They can affect them as a people and who they become as adults. This is why it is important to stay away from associating with the wrong people.

Unhealthy relationships, especially when it comes to dating, can cause a lot of damage to young adults. Unfortunately, this is common.

According to the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence, 62 percent of teens that have been involved in relationships, know someone who’s been in a situation where they’ve been verbally abused. Additionally, 41 percent of teenagers have experienced a similar situation online and 20 percent have had a physical altercation in their relationships.

One of the most difficult things about being a teenager is figuring out who you are and where you fit in. A negative dating experience can cause people to lose their sense of self and question their value as individuals.

Many teens have a hard time discovering their identity and this can affect their relationships with family and friends. Stage of Life wrote that as many as 37 percent of teenagers feel that they don’t know who they are, and 66 percent of teens feel that outsiders don’t see who they are as individuals.

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One drawback to this is that some teenagers may go out of their way to try and please others to gain social acceptance without ever discovering what makes them happy. This can lead to confusion and sometimes even sadness.

There have been decades of research that confirm that a lack of healthy relationships can lead to major problems in a teenager’s life, both physically and mentally.

Young adults struggling with relationships should first try and be comfortable in their own skin. Accept who you are as a person and love yourself. Once you do that, you’ll attract people to you who feel the same way.

Most teens struggling with relationships may feel like they’re alone. However, by being comfortable with who you are, you’ll find that there are other people out there who feel the same way that you do. Once that happens, you’ll find yourself with strong friendships and relationships that you will carry with you for the rest of your life.

PHOTOGRAPHER ARION DAVIS / STYLISTS DECISION MAKING FOR FASHION BUSINESS COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO

Relationships

THE EFFECTS OF

Bullying on TEENS

BY JAMILA JENKINS, SOPHOMORE, NORTH LAWNDALE COLLEGE PREP

hat is bullying? The word is defined as using superior strength or influence to intimidate a person, and forcing him or her to do what someone else wants. Many teens in high school deal with bullying because it is something that is still occurring today. But with the Internet and social media, bullying in many ways has gotten worse compared to years ago.

There are many different kinds of bullying physical, mental and verbal. Bullying can also affect to the person who is doing it and the person being bullied.

According to eSchoolToday, bullying can be linked to many negative outcomes for teens, such as mental health issues and substance use.

The person who is being bullied may suffer from anxiety and depression, they might feel sad and lonely all the time, lose sleep, or stop doing things that they used to enjoy.

Experts estimate that 20 percent of all students in school are bullied in some way. But bullying doesn’t always have to be physical. It can also happen online.

Cyberbullying is very common and can affect a person in many ways. Mean things can be said

on the Internet that can lead to fights and even worse things such as suicide. StopBullying.Gov wrote that cyberbullying can also cause some teens to suffer health problems and get low grades in school.

Bullying can’t always be prevented, but there are things you could do to lessen your chances of it happening. Staying away from certain people or situations can be a way to stop someone from being bullied. Talking to someone in school or at the local Chicago Park District can help a teen being bullied feel better and more confident about the situation.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) wrote that if you’re a teen who is being bullied, either physically, verbally or online, it’s important to never lose your confidence in these situations. Changing your body language, such as walking tall and holding your head high will signal to a bully that you aren’t as vulnerable a target as they may think.

In addition, the NASW also strongly suggested to never fight back. This will only make the problem worse. If you feel physically threatened or unsafe, it’s best to walk away and go seek help if possible.

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PHOTOGRAPHER ARION DAVIS / STYLISTS DECISION MAKING FOR FASHION BUSINESS COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO

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THERE’S NOTHING COOL About Dropping Out

BY ASHLEY GORDON, FRESHMAN, CHICAGO TECH ACADEMY

T

here are a lot of teens who think that school is not for them anymore and they decide to drop out. Right now, the high school dropout problem is the new crisis facing teens in high school.

According to Dosomething.org, every year 1.2 million students drop out of school. If you break that down, it comes to almost 7,000 teens every day. That is a lot of people who don’t give themselves a chance to get a good education and do something positive in their lives.

Young adults drop out of school for a lot of different reasons. Some feel like they don’t fit in and end up getting picked on in school. This makes them feel as if they don’t want to go back. Some even leave school because of a teen pregnancy and the responsibilities that come once the baby is born.

Other teens decide to drop out because they feel like they can’t do the work and would rather 8 THE PARK

try and get a job and make their own money.

But what they don’t know is that by not finishing high school, you don’t make as much money as someone who graduated and has a diploma.

Dosomething.org wrote that high school dropouts make $200,000 less than students who get their diploma, and $1 million less than a person who goes on to college to get their degree.

Dropping out of high school doesn’t do you any good. The chances of you getting a good job are not in your favor, and this might make you turn to the streets, which could eventually lead you to living your life in a jail cell.

If you’re a teenager thinking about dropping out, just remember that finishing high school is an achievement. It will also open the door to higher education opportunities that can lead to having a good career. Sometimes schoolwork can be tough, but image how much harder your life will be if you decide to drop out of school.

SO YOU’RE A TEEN AND YOU’RE PREGNANT. Now What?

BY LEAH ELLIS, SOPHOMORE, CHRIST THE KING JESUIT COLLEGE PREP

B

y the time you get to high school, it’s not uncommon to see a student who is pregnant.

According to DoSomething.org, 3 in 10 teen girls will get pregnant at least one time before they turn 20. This means that every year there will be 750,000 teenage pregnancies in the United States.

Teenage girls can get pregnant for many different reasons. Some feel emptiness in their lives and they think that having a baby will fill it.

Other teens might think that having a baby that they can play with and dress up would be fun, but they don’t think about the responsibility and how much their lives will change.

As a teenager, you don’t realize how much work being a parent can be. This is why many young adults who get pregnant in high school drop out and have to get full-time jobs to support themselves and their babies.

baby. The most helpful tip is to be sure to finish school. Being a parent can be overwhelming.

A new baby requires a lot of love, time and attention. But you also have to remember that your education is important because it will help you to be able to provide for your child much better than if you decide to just drop out.

You have to buy diapers, clothes, shoes and formula and sometimes, your mom or your dad might not want to help you out. Then you have to find a way to take care of everything on your own.

Also, New Kids-Center wrote that it’s OK to ask someone for help. Whether it’s your mom, grandmom or a neighbor, any adult who is

Young adults need to make smart choices and

experienced in raising children can be a great source of support.

think about how much their lives will change after having a baby. Most teens are unprepared to be a parent and it can be hard.

New Kids-Center offered some helpful advice for teens who are pregnant or have already had a

Also remember that if you’re a teen who is already familiar with being a mom, you can help others by telling your story and encourage young adults to wait as long as they can before trying to have a baby.

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Dealing with Divorce

BY BRIANA WILSON, JUNIOR, VON STEUBEN

M

ost teenagers want to succeed in life, have fun and be happy. However, when you’re under a lot of stress, this can be difficult to think about, especially if you’re a teen whose parents are going through a divorce.

Divorce can make teens feel anxious, insecure and sometimes even depressed. Teens can become distracted in school and in some cases their personality can change in negative ways.

Some parents may confide in their teenagers and express their feelings to them. This can put pressure on a young adult because they feel like they have to side with one parent over another and grow up a lot quicker than expected.

Divorce can also cause problems in school.

Some teens may have a hard time concentrating because of the things they have to deal with at home. Many students going through this can lose focus and their grades will fall as a result.

Sometimes, teens whose parents are divorcing will become disengaged socially as well. They won’t want to go to dances or parties or even

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talk to their friends. Some teens will even blame their parents divorce on themselves, putting even more pressure on them.

Overall, divorce can cause many issues in a teenager’s household and life. Although their parents separating may be difficult to adjust to, it’s important to remember that things will get better with time. The website Safeteens.org suggests that young adults caught in the middle of a divorce should do their best to “keep living your life.” Instead of focusing on family problems spend your time doing the things that you enjoy most to counteract the negative feelings you may have.

If you need someone to talk to, try and find someone at school, like a teacher or counselor, a close friend or even a family member. If there is a Chicago Park District that you go to often, you can even try talking to one of the adults there that you trust.

Divorce isn’t an easy thing to deal with as a teen, but remember that you don’t have to feel like you’re by yourself.

THE DANGERS OF TEXTING

AND DRIVING

BY JONISE PEOPLES, SOPHOMORE, CHICAGO TECH ACADEMY

F

or teens, one of the most exciting times in high school is getting a drivers license for the first time. But many teens who get behind the wheel of a car will use their phones to send text messages while they’re driving. This is very dangerous.

According to Textinganddrivingsafety.com, texting while driving will make a car accident 23 more times likely to happen. This is because sending a text message can take your eyes off the road just long enough to cause a horrible circumstance you will ultimately regret.

A lot of teens said they text and drive because they see adults do it all the time. But you should know that adults who do it aren’t being safe drivers either. Plus, teens who text behind the wheel are four times more likely to get into an accident than an adult who is an experienced driver. But either way, texting and driving is very dangerous.

Teens with a cell phone and a driver’s license should always wait to use their phones when they get behind the wheel. Any message that you need to send to someone can wait when you’re driving.

If not, you can pull over, send your text and then get back on the road and drive to your destination.

For teens, texting and driving has become a bigger problem than drinking and driving.

Textinganddrivingsafety.com wrote that 13 percent of drivers between the ages of 18 and 20 had a car crash because they were either talking on their phone or sending a text while driving.

With so many teens getting into accidents because they were trying to text and drive at the same time, you can make sure that you’re not the next one. Remembering that texting and driving not only puts you in danger, but everybody on the road around you, too.

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CODE SWITCH

Overcoming

Low Self-Esteem

BY JASMINE SMART, SENIOR, GUERIN COLLEGE PREP

elf-esteem is defined as a person’s mental image of his or herself. In his article, “Low Self Esteem,” Saul McLeod wrote that self-esteem declines in adolescence.

As students, teenagers are faced with trying to fit into different social groups and meet new friends. If they have difficulty meeting new people or feel like an outsider, this can have an impact on how they view themselves. This is on top of the work they have to do in their classes and any extracurricular activities in which they may be involved.

Juggling all of these responsibilities can be overwhelming to teens and they may not feel like they can handle them. This can also have a big impact on their self-esteem.

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Some teens may come from difficult home situations and be forced to drop out to help the family pay bills, and others simply have no interest in learning. This can lead to students becoming involved in drugs and alcohol as

PHOTOGRAPHER ARION DAVIS / STYLISTS DECISION MAKING FOR FASHION BUSINESS COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO

S

“REMIND YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL AND THAT’S WHAT MAKES YOU SPECIAL.”

coping mechanisms because they have no guidance or direction in their lives. All of these things are tied into someone having low self-esteem.

So how can someone who doesn’t feel good about themselves change their attitude?

For starters, they should talk about how they feel to an adult they trust. Teens dealing with self-esteem issues may feel that no one understands what they’re going through and may feel they have no one in which to confide.

A teacher, school counselor or even someone at the Chicago Park District would be willing to listen and understand what you’re going through. You can also talk to a close friend or peer who understands what you’re going through and maybe the two of you can lean on each other for support. you, causing you to feel down on yourself. If your Dr. Neel Burton wrote in Psychology Today that it’s important for teens to always think positively about themselves. Remind yourself that you are a unique individual and that’s what makes you special.

It’s important to never listen to that negative inner voice – the one that is constantly criticizing

self-esteem is low, remember that it doesn’t have to be that way.

Burton also wrote that it’s important to stay away from situations or people that can make you feel bad. By keeping yourself surrounded by positive energy instead of negative, it makes lifting your self-esteem a much easier process.

LOCKER ROOM

McDonald’s

All-American Games

SPOTLIGHT THE BEST OF THE BEST

BY JASMINE SMART, SENIOR, GUERIN PREP ACADEMY

T

he McDonald’s All-American Games have been in Chicago at the United Center for the last five years. This year’s games were on April 1st and as always, featured the best high school boys and girls basketball players from across the country.

The girl’s game was first and was the most exciting. The final score was 89-87 with the East team beating the West in a close game. Marina Mabrey, who will be attending Notre Dame in the fall, scored 12 points and had 6 rebounds for the East team. She was named co-MVP with Te’a Cooper who scored 21 points – missing the girls scoring record by 2 points – for the West squad and will be going to Tennessee next year.

“I had no idea I was that close to the record,” Cooper said after the game.

The boys game wasn’t as close, but still competitive and a lot of fun too watch. The East squad beat the West 111-91. Cheick Diallo, from New York, was named MVP with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the East team. For the West, Allonzo Trier, who is from Seattle and will be going to Arizona next year, led the West team with 17 points.

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Jalen Brunson, who won the Powerade Jam Fest skills competition at the University of Chicago, was the only local player in the game. His father Rick Brunson used to play in the NBA and was an assistant with the Chicago Bulls. Brunson had a quiet night with 6 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the West team – which was coached

by Robert Smith, the head coach at Simeon

Career Academy – but he tried to play his best in front of his family and friends at the United Center.

“The only thing I was focused on was making sure I was making the right play and keeping my teammates involved … But I had fun playing,” Brunson told The Park.

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STATUS UPDATE

Sevyn Streeter IS BACK ON THE SCENE WITH HER NEW SINGLE

“Don’t Kill The Fun”

BY TEMIA IVY & BRANETTA FERGUSON, JUNIORS, WESTINGHOUSE COLLEGE PREP

S

evyn Streeter is an up-and-coming R&B artist from Florida. At just 28 years old, she’s already had a hit song with Chris Brown called “It Won’t Stop” and is hoping that her new single, “Don’t Kill the Fun,” will be the next one.

After starting her career in two all-girl groups, TG4 and RichGirl, Streeter became a solo artist and released an EP, Call Me Crazy, But… in 2013.

In March, the singer performed for two nights in Chicago to promote her upcoming album, On The Verge, and she sat down with The Park to talk about her life and career as a musical artist.

The Park: What made you become a solo artist?

Sevyn Streeter: Growing up, I never thought I’d be in groups. I always wanted to be a solo artist... God put songwriting in my life and that turned into me demoing records for Chris Brown and him loving what the demo sounded like and shopping me for a deal, getting one and me sitting here with y’all today.

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The Park: As an artist that’s done a lot and had a chance to do big things, do you believe that life is what you make it?

Sevyn Streeter: Absolutely! Life is absolutely what you make it. You can make the best of what’s in front of you, or you can spend the rest of your time praying and wishing that you had what [someone else] has. But that’s not going to get you anywhere.

The Park: What would you say the peak of your career has been?

Sevyn Streeter: I’m so excited about my album, On The Verge, but the peak of my career would have to be “It Don’t Stop,” being No. 1 for nine weeks. That was like the greatest thing ever. I have a plaque on my wall and nothing tops that for me right now.

“Don’t Kill The Fun,” featuring Brown, is Streeter’s first single off of her new album On The Verge, and is steadily climbing the Billboard music chart.

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FASHION

“Do You”

SPRING STYLE

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Hair by Diamond Beach (Beauty Boulevard) Make up by Brittany Beach (Beauty Boulevard) Photography by DeShaun “Trig” Adams

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ARE YOU INTO

Celebrity

Fashion Lines?

BY TEMIA IVY, JUNIOR, WESTINGHOUSE COLLEGE PREP

M

ost people use the way that they dress to express themselves and show off their personal styles. Today, there are a lot of celebrities coming out with their own clothing lines to expand their brands and of course, make money.

Over the years, fashion has changed with the times and today, there are a lot more rappers, actors and singers that have their own lines.

Kanye West recently launched a new shoe and clothing line with adidas at Fashion Week in New York. Many people like West because of his music, but they also like the way that he dresses because he has his own unique taste and style.

“I really admire Kanye’s fashion sense. He can dress,” said Emmanuel Oliver, a junior at Westinghouse College Prep. “I would wear his clothing line, but the only thing I don’t agree with is the price.”

Kendrick Lamar, who recently released his new album, To Pimp a Butterfly, teamed up with Reebok as part of their “Be Ventilated” advertising campaign for the new Ventilator Day Glo shoe. In the commercial, Lamar talked and portrayed the leader of a revolution of people all wearing Reebok’s.

He said he wanted to work with Reebok because the company does a lot of work in the community and that was something he wanted to be a part of.

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When celebrities work with other companies or come out with their own clothing lines, it makes people want to go out and buy it. This shows leadership and how influential they are on society. A lot of famous people also come out with their own lines as a way to better connect with their fans.

But that feeling may not always be authentic.

“A lot of teens in today’s generation hop on and off bandwagons a lot,” Oliver said. “They’ll buy clothes, not because they truly like it, but because it’s what’s in at the moment.”

It’s important to come up with new fashions so that people don’t feel like all clothes are ordinary and the same. It seems that rappers, singers and other influential people are making a big impact on the world of fashion and it’s fun to see what someone is going to come out with and wear next.

MUST COP MIKE’S For The Summer

BY NAJA HARRINGTON, JUNIOR, WESTINGHOUSE COLLEGE PREP

W

hen you’re a teenager, what’s one thing that you make sure you keep up with?

Many might say their personal appearance and that’s why they like to keep up with the latest fashion trends and new clothing styles.

But when you’re a teenager, when you wear a new outfit, the one thing that can make or break it is your shoes.

Being in Chicago, most teenagers wear Jordan’s a lot, but we like to call them “Mikes.” The Air Jordan brand has been popular since the 80s. The NBA actually banned the shoe and Michael Jordan got fined every time he wore a pair in a game.

Later on, people like Spike Lee, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence wore Mikes and gave them a lot of attention. But just like then, teenagers wore them a lot just like we do now.

Today, Jordan’s are still popular and there are a lot more styles and colorways on the market. Teens like staying on top of the newest Mike’s that come out so they can wear them at school, or just every day so they can impress their friends and not feel like they missed out on getting a hot shoe.

“Jordan’s are a must have shoe because they are stylish,” said Charisma White, a junior at Westinghouse. “I always look forward to copping the freshest Mike’s.”

As for price, well, that can vary based on demand for the style and your shoe size.

Sometimes Mike’s can go for a little as $80 and as high as $300.

“I wear a size 5 so I pay around $150,” White said. “But if I plan on getting my shoes early I pay around $250 or $300.”

At the end of the day, it’s best to take good care of your shoes so that they always look new and fresh, regardless of the latest styles that come out. Still, if you like Mike’s, then you’re going to want to pay attention to these must-haves for the summer: AIR JORDAN 11 LOW “GEORGETOWN” – APRIL 11 AIR JORDAN 7 “HARE” – MAY 16 AIR JORDAN 1 RETRO HIGH OG – CHICAGO – MAY 30 AIR JORDAN 5 “INFRARED/POISON” GREEN – JUNE 6 AIR JORDAN 7 “BORDEAUX” – JULY 18 THE PARK 23

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CPD’s

“Use Your Words”

EVENT GETS STUDENTS TALKING

BY TEMIA IVY, JUNIOR, WESTINGHOUSE COLLEGE PREP & BRIANA WILSON, JUNIOR, VON STEUBEN

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n Good Friday, The Chicago Park District held its 7th annual Youth Art Activism Fest, “Use Your Words,” at Austin Town Hall, featuring spoken word artist Young Flame and the host, Phenom. Teens from all across the city took part in performances, workshops, discussions and resources to help teenagers in their everyday lives. One workshop was organized by NUF-SAID, a website created by teenagers as part of the Chicago Youth Voices Network. Another workshop was “Pushing Us Out of School and Into Prisons,” which was held by the Chicago Freedom School.

NUF-SAID gives teenagers a chance to express themselves and tell their own stories. You can also post videos of your talent, write blog posts and upload music to share with others. The NUFSAID session focused on social media and how there should be limits about what is right and wrong. After an icebreaker, the workshop broke into groups and read a short story.

and Columbia College. For teenagers, they have opportunities to do internships and get scholarships for college.

One of a teenager’s many goals in life is to go to

There was also a discussion on how social media can cause fights and disagreements. The groups talked about ways to filter negative messages on social media and other ways to solve problems before they get out of hand.

school and get a step further in their education and work on their road to success. However, many high school students are feeling imprisoned due to drastic changes in the Chicago Public School’s discipline policy.

NUF-SAID is affiliated with many different organizations, like True Star Magazine

One of the biggest focuses at the event was the issue of many African-Americans and Latinos

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who are being pushed out of school and into juvenile centers. When teens stop going to school, they can end up on the streets where they can easily be thrown in jail.

Due to the fact that the disciplinary rules and actions have become so strict, it isn’t hard for a student to be suspended, expelled, or even arrested as part of the CPS Zero Tolerance Policy.

When teens get in trouble at school, it sometimes seem as if they are being treated as adults. They get punished without even being given a chance to explain their side of the story. Some schools even have police stations inside them with real police officers who, unfortunately, have arrested many area teens.

However, one hopeful change that many schools are trying is peer juries. This is where students have an opportunity to express themselves and give their side of the story instead of just being kicked out of school.

“A jury of your peers is good because you can come and talk about different things going on with you disciplinary wise,” said Emani, a senior at Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep. “Instead

of getting expelled for a fight, you can go to your school’s peer jury to discuss what really happened and look at ways you can prevent things from happening again.”

Unfortunately, there aren’t many schools that have peer juries. But if you are a student concerned about your rights, you should bring up the idea to your principal of having one at your school.

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Teens Learn To

“ Take The Lead!”

IN PROGRAM BUILDING WORKSHOP

BY BRIANA WILSON, JUNIOR, VON STEUBEN

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he Chicago Park District believes that having a strong relationship with teenagers and helping them to become leaders in their communities is very important. This is why as part of the Youth Development Series, the Park District held the “Take The Lead!” – Program Building workshop at Garfield Park.

The goal was to teach teenagers different techniques and tools that would help them better interact with kids and help them to become leaders. The different activities and conversation topics enlightened the young adults who participated and they had a lot of fun.

“We want teens and youth to think about working with kids because everybody was a kid once,” Lori Cardwell, director of the Jesse White Community Center explained.

The young adults learned games and other helpful strategies they could use to better interact with minors. There was “Fold the Line,” which is a way to teach kids how to quickly form groups.

Another activity was “Sticker Voting.” This allows people to express themselves and give their opinions on different topics.

One of the participants in the workshop said that she would use this activity with her cheerleading 26 THE PARK

team to find out how they feel about the work they’re doing. One of the good things about the workshop is that the teens who were learning the different activities, were also able to find out more about one another and work on their social skills.

As a teenager, having a great relationship with children is very important since they do look up to you. Because of this workshop, many teenagers were able to leave with different techniques that they can use when working with kids as part of an afterschool program, a counselor at a Chicago Park District camp, or to just be a mentor to someone.

North Region Calendar of Events

North Region Teen Basketball Championships Broadway Armory Saturday, June 6th 4:30pm Windy City Hoops Loyola Park Amunsen Park Friday and Saturday Nights Drum Circle Mozart Park Friday, June 19th Friday, July 17th 7:30pm - 9:30 pm Wheel Jam Hermosa Park Thursday, June 25th 1:30pm - 2:00 pm

School of Rock Winnemac Park Friday, July 3rd 7:00pm - 8:30pm CWCMC Youth Motown Review Chase Park Friday, July 24th 6:30pm - 8:30pm DJ In The Parks Loyola Park Friday, August 14th 6:00pm - 8:30pm Teen Trapeze Showcase Broadway Armory Friday, August 21st 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Circus Fun With Circesteem Buttercup Park Thursday, June 25th Thursday, July 9th Thursday, July 23rd Thursday, August 6th 5:00pm - 7:00pm

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Central Region Calendar of Events

Stop Human Trafficking Wellness Walk-a-thon June 13th 10am - 2pm Join the Chicago Park District in a walk to bring awareness and helping Stop Human Trafficking. The walks will be taking place at over 40 parks. For more information call 312-747-7138 or visit teensinthepark.com.

If you or someone you know is suspected of being victim of human trafficking call 911 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

X-STREAM SUMMER Leadership Camps June 29th - August 7th Camps will provide six weeks of activities, challenges and field trips. Highlights will be an end of the summer Beach Bash and Push Kart Derby. For more information call 312-746-5962.

Jamiah on Fire Kenwood 1330 E. 50th St., July 11th at 2pm Homan Square 3517 W. Arthington St., June 19th, 6-8pm Jamiah On Fire And The Red Machine is a local youth band made up of three cousins ages 19,16 and 14. The band has been together for seven years and performs throughout the Chicagoland area. Jamiah on Fire and the Red Machine is a success story and supports the fact the kids can do great things!

DJ IN THE PARKS As part of Night Out in the Parks, come out for music and dancing with DJ! Anderson Park, 3748 S. Prairie Ave., 8/7, 2pm-6pm Tilton Park, 305 N. Kostner Ave., 8/14 at 5pm Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St., Chicago 8/8, 6:30pm LaFollette Park, 1333 N. Laramie Ave., 7/10 at 1pm Augusta Park, 4433 W. Augusta Blvd. -8/13 at 4pm Shedd, 3660 W. 23rd St., 6/12 or 8/22, 4pm-6pm Fuller, 331 W. 45th St, 8/7 at 4pm Armour SQ, 3309 S. Shields Ave., 6/12 or 8/22, 6pm-8:30pm Moore Park, 5085 W. Adams St., 7/7, 4:30pm-6:30pm

Taylor Moore and Friends Taylor Park, 39 W. 47th St., July 30th, 7pm-8:30pm

Ladies of Virtue / Lov Rocs Douglas Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Dr, August 9th, 2pm-4pm Cornell Square, 1809 W. 50th St., August 14th, 6pm-8pm A family friendly event targeting youth & teens to encourage them to live a healthy lifestyle. LOV ROCKS will expose young people to various dance forms (e.g., hip hop combining street dance with funk, jazz, and break dancing), double-dutch, zumba, and other activities to keep youth moving.

Chicago West Community Music Center Motown Review Seward Park, 375 W. Elm St., July 17th at 6pm Garfield Park 100 N. Central Park, August 7th at 6pm CWCMC Youth Performing Ensemble will present A Motown Review – Dancing in the Street. The Ensemble youth will sing, play instruments and dance to Motown songs and tell the story of Motown

Taylor Moore & Friends provide a variety of music and engaging activities for concertgoers. The band will highlight a number of genres that will take listeners from the tribal drums of Africa, to Latin sounds of South America, to the jazz of Harlem and the gospel and blues of Chicago! Funk, rhythm and blues and reggae are also included in the playlist and are guaranteed to keep people entertained and enthusiastic about live music.

Elevarte / We Are Hip Hop Dvorak, 1119 W. Cullerton St., August 8th, 1pm-6pm The We Are Hip Hop Youth Festival is presented by youth, under the direction of ElevArte staff and teaching artists, and in partnership with The Chicago Park District at Dvorak Park. The event is free and open to the community. This event advocates unity and peace in our city’s teen communities through hip hop culture and principles.

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* Dates and time are subject to change

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