Fall/Winter Recap

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How COVID-19 has impacted Chicago Youth Programs

Chicago Youth Programs has transitioned to working remotely until shelter in place orders are lifted. But, we have found a silver lining! Program staff are busy working on virtual program content and are innovating everyday. We look forward to engaging our youth and families in this new way. They need our support now more than ever and we are committed to being a resource for them. #CYPpromise

CYP Chronicles

Our school year programs started off strong with the expansion of our mentor team and the addition of new community partners. As a result we were able to provide more resources and additional services to our school partners in an effort to reach more youth.

This school year we have 346 youth in our weekly programs and over 50 college students while other young adults are pursuing trade school careers. Elementary school youth continued with tutoring, mentoring and enrichment activities. The early literacy program continues to work with our youngest youth while engaging parents. In fact, during the first semester 90% of the early literacy students increased their phonics skills by one grade level or above. Our clinics served 400 individual patients.

Building New Relationships

As a new Chicago Blackhawks grantee our middle school youth were able to participate in the Blackhawks Heart program that taught them about creating a vision, self-branding, and self-awareness. Through this program our youth were able to build self confidence while receiving positive motivation for their futures. And of course, they made time for a little hockey too!

Our expanded services at Burke Elementary in the Bronzeville community are well underway thanks to a recent grant from Bright Star Community Outreach, in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation. With this funding, we are transitioning our early literacy program at Burke to a full-fledged Parent Run Early Program. This shift will introduce the consistent support of the students’ parent or caring adult as they work hard to build their phonics and literacy skills. The goal is to empower parents to have early involvement in their child’s education and build the foundation for their involvement moving forward. Studies show that a connected, involved parent is a significant key to students’ success in school. We look forward to seeing how both the students and their parents thrive in this program!

During the midterm season Discover Financial teamed up with Chicago Cares to provide our college students with care packages. Our families are typically not able to support their college students in this way, so everyone was thrilled to receive such thoughtful support from Discover Financial and Chicago Cares!

The First of Many

We had our first family night out at CYP. Youth and families from all communities and volunteers came together to have a costume party. Thanks to Hines at River Point, the Obama Foundation and WGCI for sponsoring this event. We had over 100 families participate in this family night full of games, prizes, food and FUN!

SEASON OF HOPE 2019

Thank you to all of our Season Of Hope tree sponsors for making this year an amazing success! See Photos

24 Trees = 24 youth supported in programs for a full year!

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SECRET HELPERS!

15 gift donation sites = Over 1,200 gifts

Over 1,200 gifts = 404 youth receiving 3 gifts each

Corporate Volunteer Shout Outs

Thanks to DePaul University, Chicago Cares, The Obama Foundation, Ernst & Young, Smoke Ball, United Airlines and PCMA for taking the time to provide onsite operational support to CYP throughout the fall and winter seasons.

Hope Gala 2020

We made the difficult decision out of concern for the well-being of all, and the growing awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic to postpone our 2020 Hope Gala.

Due to the postponement, Chicago Youth Programs will transfer all sponsorship and ticket purchases to the new date. Details on the new date will be made available in the weeks to come.

Please email mbrooks@chicagoyouthprograms.org if you have any questions.

CYP Promise Campaign

As we all shift to a new normal due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, it is important that our work continues. Our mission to improve the health and life opportunities for youth is a need now more than ever and we need your help to continue. At the start of April and for the next few months CYP is campaigning to keep our promise to the youth and families in our communities. With your help we will continue to help youth achieve long-term success through the long term investment that we make in them. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & Linkedln to hear more in the coming weeks.

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