The following groups are involved in anti-violence efforts in Chicago. We regret that we do not have enough space to list all the organizations that are working to make the city a safer and more equitable place. For more information about the services available to families of victims and to young people in need of legal services, gang-tattoo removal, shelter and other resources, please contact Chicago’s Citizens for Change (chicagoscitizensforchange@gmail.com), which is compiling a comprehensive guide.
Albany Park Community Center
1945 W. Wilson Ave., Suite 3000
Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: 773.583.5111
Website: www.apccchgo.org
The mission of Albany Park Community Center is to serve, support and educate diverse and multicultural community members as they determine their own path of growth and development. The organization envisions a vibrant community, in which members respect and celebrate diversity, use their skills and talents to help themselves and others live in safety and harmony and realize their hopes for a better life.
Alternatives, Inc.
4730 N. Sheridan Rd.
Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: 773.506.7474
Fax: 773.506.9420
Email: info@alternativesyouth.org
Social Media: http://www.facebook.com/AlternativesYouth or http://twit- ter.com/alternativesinc
Website: www.alternativesyouth.org
Alternatives is a comprehensive, multicultural youth development agency serving more than 3,000 young people and their families each year. Pro- grams include counseling, leadership development and academic enrichment, as well as substance abuse and violence prevention.
Association House of Chicago
1116 N. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL 60651
Phone: 773.772.7170
Fax: 773.384.0560
Website: www.associationhouse.org
Based in the Humboldt Park neighborhood and offering programs and services locally and citywide, Association House helps participants gain independence through six service areas: community services, citizenship classes, child welfare, behavioral health, out-of-school time and El Cuarto Año alternative high school.
The Black Star Project
3509 S. Martin Luther King Dr., Suite 2B Chicago, IL 60653
Phone: 773.285.9600
Fax: 773.285.9602
Email: blackstar1000@ameritech.net
Website: www.blackstarproject.org
The Black Star Project is committed to improving the quality of life in Black and Latino communities of Chicago and nationwide by eliminating the racial academic achievement gap. The group’s mission is to provide educational services that help preschool through college students succeed academically and become knowledgeable and productive citizens with the support of their parents, families, schools and communities.
BUILD
5100 W. Harrison St.
Chicago, IL 60644
Phone: 773.227.2880
Email: contactus@buildchicago.org
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/BUILDChicago?ref=t or https:// twitter.com/buildchicago
Website: www.buildchicago.org
BUILD impacts communities by equipping at-risk youth with the life skills, training and resources necessary to emerge as leaders and active com- munity change-makers. BUILD targets the at-risk demographic for participation and exposes them to multiple community resources, education, leadership training, mentoring and opportunities traditionally unavailable within their communities.
Chicago Area Project (CAP)
55 E. Jackson Blvd., Suite 900 Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312.663.3574
Fax: 312.663.5873
Email: info@chicagoareaproject.org
Website: www.chicagoareaproject.org
CAP empowers a broad base of community stakeholders to work together to improve neighborhood conditions, hold institutions accountable, reduce anti-social behavior by young people, protect children from inappropriate institutionalization and provide youth with positive models for personal development.
Chicago Survivors (formerly Chicago’s Citizens for Change)
1010 W. 35th St., Suite 510
Chicago, IL 60609
Website: www.chicagosurvivors.org
Phone: 312.488.9222
Email: office@chicagosurvivors.org
Founded by Joy McCormack, who tells her story in the final chapter of this book, Chicago’s Citizens for Change aims to reduce youth violence through programs and partnerships that strengthen communities and promote restorative peace-making by supporting families and youth who have experienced loss due to violence. To ensure that no family walks this journey alone, CCC is committed to building a citywide response network to support families and loved ones of homicide victims and to providing opportunities for organizations, social services and justice systems to work together in a coordinated effort to serve Chicago’s citizens.
Community Organizing and Family Issues/POWER-PAC
1436 W. Randolph St., 4th Floor Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: 312.226.5141
Fax: 312.226.5144
Email: cofi@cofionline.org
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Community-Organizing-and-Family-Issues-COFI/142663769103557
Website: www.cofionline.org
POWER-PAC is a cross-cultural, citywide membership organization of low-income parents. Its mission is to build a strong voice for low-income, immigrant and working families by uniting parents across race and com- munity around issues of importance to families. POWER-PAC members are from throughout Chicago, including the neighborhoods of Austin, Englewood, Grand Boulevard, Humboldt Park, Lawndale, Little Village, Pilsen and West Town. To download the Parent-to-Parent Guide on Re- storative Justice, please go to: http://www.cofionline.org/sites/default/files/ COFI%20Parent%20RJ%20Guide%20english%202012%20update_0. pdf
Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office - Victim Witness Assistance Unit
2650 S. California Ave., 1st Floor
Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: 773.674.7200
Website: https://www.cookcountystatesattorney.org/resources/victim-witness-assistance-program
The Victim Witness Assistance Unit was created in 1981 with the guiding philosophy that victims should be afforded their place in the system, in- formed about the status of the case, supported as the legal process proceeds and referred to outside agencies when additional help is needed. Besides providing in-person court support, victim-witness specialists co-facilitate a monthly support group.
Cure Violence
1603 W. Taylor St.
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: 312-996-8775
Website: http://cureviolence.org
Formerly known as CeaseFire, Cure Violence reverses the spread of violence by using the methods and strategies associated with disease control—detection and interruption, identifying individuals involved in transmission, and changing social norms of the communities where it occurs. The group was the focus of the acclaimed 2011 documentary film The Interrupters.
Demoiselle 2 Femme
9415 S. Western Ave., Suite 200 Chicago, IL 60643
Phone: 773.779.9371
Fax: 773.779.9471
Email: info@demoiselle2femme.org or tpiper@demoiselle2femme.org
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/Demoiselle2Femme, https:// twitter.com/demoiselle2femm, http://www.youtube.com/demoiselle- 2femme, and http://d2fcatalyst.com/
Website: www.demoiselle2femme.org
Demoiselle 2 Femme (D2F), French for “Young Ladies to Women,” is a not-for-profit organization committed to providing holistic programs and services that support adolescent females in a successful transition to womanhood. T-awannda Piper, whose narrative opens this book, is the director of programs for the organization.
Enlace Chicago - Violence Prevention
2329 S. Troy Ave.
Chicago, IL 60623
Phone: 773.823.1062
Fax: 773.475.7953
Email: jasalazar@enlacechicago.org
Social Media: http://www.facebook.com/enlacechicago or https://twitter. com/EnlaceChicago
Website: www.enlacechicago.org
Enlace Chicago has one of the most comprehensive violence-prevention initiatives in the Chicago metropolitan area, providing services ranging from school-based prevention work to advocacy for reform in juvenile justice policy. Enlace is based in the Little Village community.
Gordie’s Foundation
6430 S. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60636
Phone: 773.434.3920
Fax: 773.476.7526
Email: chmillgordie@sbcglobal.net
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gordies-Founda- tion/163496413678066?fref=ts
Founded by Audrey Wright, whose story appears in this book, Gordie’s Foundation provides ex-offenders with marketable vocational training that can be the springboard to a productive lifestyle change. The organization is based in the Englewood community on the South Side.
Greater Roseland Community Committee - Youth Voices Against Violence
11026 S. Indiana Ave.
Chicago, IL 60628
Phone: 773.629.8804
Email: Good2bhisangel@sbcglobal.net
After losing her son to gun violence in 2003, Gwen Baxter founded this organization so that fewer mothers would have to go through an experience such as hers. Youth Voices provides after-school programs, including tutoring and recreation, as well as summer youth employment.
J-Def Peace Project
1436 W. 18th St.
Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: 312.405.8221
Email: emald19@yahoo.com
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-J-DEF-Peace-Proj- ect/171459632918845
The J-Def Peace Project uses multidisciplinary arts to foster a peaceful community. Its goal is to continue the work of aspiring hip-hop artist Jeff Abbey Maldonado Jr., who was murdered in the Pilsen neighborhood in 2009. His father, Jeff Maldonado Sr., talks about the young man’s life and legacy in this book.
Kids Off the Block, Inc.
11627 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60628
Phone: 773.995.9077
Fax: 773.264.3912
Email: diane.latiker@sbcglobal.net or dianekob@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.kidsofftheblock.us
Founded by Diane Latiker, whose narrative appears in this book, Kids Off the Block provides at-risk, low-income youth positive alternatives to gangs, drugs, truancy, violence and the juvenile justice system.
Latino Cultural Exchange Coalition
2646 W. Division St.
Chicago, IL 60622
Phone: 773.367.1374
Email: Azteca1519@yahoo.com
Co-founded by Max Cerda, whose story can be found on these pages, this group—located in Humboldt Park—works with at-risk young people and ex-offenders.
Lazarus Jones Save Our Children Campaign
P.O. Box 257474
Chicago, IL 60625
Phone: 773.386.0750
Email: lazarusjonessocc@yahoo.com
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lazarus-Jones-Save-Our- Children-Campaign/129568373810731?ref=hl
Website: http://www.lazarusjonessocc.org/
Founded by Pamela Hester-Jones, whose story appears on these pages, the Lazarus Jones Save Our Children Campaign focuses on improving safety within our communities through support, counseling and educational workshops.
Marillac Social Center
212 S. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: 773.722.7440
Fax: 773.722.1469
Email: info@svdpc.org
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/MarillacSt.VincentFamilySer- vices and https://twitter.com/MSVChicago
Website: www.marillachouse.org
Since 1914, Marillac Social Center has been serving the needs of the poor and working poor of the West Side of Chicago. Sponsored by the Daughters of Charity, Marillac Social Center provides vital programs and services in the areas of child development, social services, family services, senior services and youth programs.
Now Is The Time
Now Is The Time is a citywide initiative aimed at inspiring young people to make positive change in their communities and stop youth violence and intolerance. The organizations behind this effort include Steppenwolf and many of Chicago’s other leading theater companies, as well as the Chicago Public Library, Facing History and Ourselves, and dozens of other organizations and institutions.
Parents of Murdered Children, Inc. (POMC)
Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers
2800 W. 95th St.
West Pavilion, Room 8536
Evergreen Park, IL 60805
Phone: 708.720.6104
Alt. Phone: 773.847.1613
Website: http://www.pomc.com/index.html
Parents of Murdered Children, Inc. is a non-profit self-help support group for survivors of homicide victims. The group offers follow-up with supportive family services after the murder of a family member or friend. The Chicago Area Chapter of POMC holds monthly meetings, provides a tele- phone network of support, supplies information about the grief process, organizes a speaker’s bureau and provides accompaniment for survivors who must attend court proceedings.
Precious Blood Ministry
P.O. Box 09379
Chicago, IL 60609
Phone: 773.952.6643
Fax: 773.952.6739
Email: nojail@aol.com
Website: www.pbmr.org
Located in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, Precious Blood Ministry works with young people 14 to 24 years old, many of whom are court-in- volved or are coming out of detention or incarceration. Precious Blood Ministry employs a restorative-justice program that tries to create a safe ha- ven for young people, engage them and help them access whatever resourc- es they need, including mentoring, job placement, housing and education.
Project H.O.O.D. (Helping Others Obtain Destiny)
6620 S. Martin Luther King Dr.
Chicago, IL 60637
Phone: 773.326.4200
Website: http://www.projecthood.org/
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/PastorCoreyBrooks or https:// twitter.com/CoreyBBrooks
Pastor Corey Brooks, whose story appears on these pages, founded Project H.O.O.D. to build a community center and call attention to street vio- lence on Chicago’s South Side.
Project NIA
1530 W. Morse Ave.
Chicago, IL 60626
Phone: 773.392.5165
Email: mariame@project-nia.org
Website: www.project-nia.org
Project NIA supports youth in trouble with the law, as well as those victimized by violence and crime, through community-based alternatives to the criminal legal system. The group advocates for redirecting resources from youth incarceration to youth opportunities.
Purpose Over Pain
P.O. Box 1235
South Holland, IL 60473
Phone: 773.234.8117
Email: purposeoverpain@gmail.com
Purpose Over Pain was formed in 2007 by members of seven families who had lost children to senseless gun violence. The co-founders include Pa- mela Montgomery-Bosley, whose story is in this book. Purpose Over Pain works to assist families victimized by gun violence by helping with funeral expenses, offering counseling and directing them to support groups. Mem- bers of the group also lobby for common-sense gun legislation and speak at schools and community events about gun violence and what it does to communities.
Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP)
602 E. 61st St.
Chicago, IL 60637
Phone: 773.217.9598
Email: southsidestop@gmail.com
Website: www.stopchicago.org
STOP is a community organization that fights for South Side residents on issues such as gentrification, displacement and health cuts, as well as youth incarceration and criminalization.
Strengthening Chicago’s Youth (SCY)
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
225 E. Chicago Ave., Box 157
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312.227.6678
Email: info@scy-chicago.org
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/StrengtheningChicagosYouth or https://twitter.com/SCY_Chicago
Website: www.scy-chicago.org
Spearheaded by Lurie Children’s, SCY is a group of private and public stakeholders that takes a public-health approach to violence prevention, with a focus on policy, systems and environmental change. SCY believes that preventing violence before it occurs requires a balanced effort that addresses the complex factors underlying violence and builds on the assets of youth, families and communities.
UCAN
3737 N. Mozart St.
Chicago, IL 60618
Phone: 773.588.0180
Fax: 773.588.7762
Email: info@ucanchicago.org
Social: https://www.facebook.com/UCANChicagoland or www.twitter. com/UCANchicago
Website: www.ucanchicago.org
UCAN strives to build strong youth and families through compassionate healing, education and empowerment. UCAN aims to help prevent violence by focusing on non-violent conflict resolution strategies, mentoring, youth empowerment, leadership development and advocacy.
YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago -
Youth Safety and Violence Prevention
1608 W. 21st Place
Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: 312.587.2243
Fax: 312.447.3096
Email: mhelder@ymcachicago.org
Website: https://www.ymcachicago.org/programs/youth-safety-and-violence-prevention
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago provides leadership and initiatives that help make neighborhoods safe through a unique combination of collaborative community organizing, education and training, family-wellness programs, and intensive youth and family outreach. Through the Youth Safety and Violence Prevention and Street Intervention Program, the Y integrates evidence-based prevention, intervention and reduction strategies and has a presence in 11 of Chicago’s at-risk communities including Humboldt Park, Little Village, Logan Square, Pilsen and South Chicago.
Youth Guidance
1 N. LaSalle St., Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312.253.4900
Fax: 312.253.4917
Email: info@youth-guidance.org
Social Media: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJHHjBRA7zQ&fea- ture=plcp
Website: www.youth-guidance.org
Youth Guidance operates the Becoming a Man program, a school-based counseling, mentoring, violence prevention and educational-enrichment program that promotes social, emotional and behavioral competencies for at-risk male youth from Chicago’s toughest neighborhoods.
Youth Service Project, Inc. (YSP)
3942 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
Phone: 773.772.6270
Fax: 773.772.8755
Email: info@youthserviceproject.org
Social Media: https://twitter.com/YSPChicago, http://www.youtube.com/ user/YouthServiceProject, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Youth-Service-Project/245115743727 or http://www.youthserviceproject.org/?- feed=rss2
Website: www.youthserviceproject.org
Since 1975, YSP has worked with youth and families in the greater Humboldt Park community. The group offers programs in seven core areas: edu- cation, recreation, intervention, prevention, arts and culture, community building and diversion.