Neighborhood Sports Chicago - Latest news

Historic Gately Stadium Reopens
After Sweeping Renovation

12/19/2011, 11:01 AM

Friday, November 11, 2011

Football players from eight public schools and South Side park districts that share decades-old Gately Stadium in Roseland gathered on Oct. 14 to celebrate a renovation that includes a new synthetic turf field, scoreboard, lighting and seating.

They were joined just before the game between Julian and Michele Clark high schools by parents, educators and representatives of the three organizations that made the renovation possible: the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Public Schools and LISC/Chicago.

The $600,000 renovation includes a new synthetic turf field, scoreboard, lighting and seating.

GORDON WALEK

At the ceremony, Ald. Michelle Harris (8^th) welcomed Chicago Public Schools Chief Jean-Claude Brizard, Bears’ Director of Special Projects Patrick McCaskey, and LISC/Chicago Executive Director Susana Vasquez, explaining how much the new stadium means to the far South Side community.

“The 8^th and 9^th wards could not have undertaken this huge project on our own,” said Harris, who along with Ald. Anthony Beale (9^th) provided the funds for a new scoreboard. “We are immensely grateful to CPS, LISC/Chicago and the Bears for their support. This renovation is a great boost for the hundreds of student athletes – boys and girls alike – whose sports teams or school bands play at Gately.”

Gately has been a vital hub for youth sports and civic team pride, but the field and facilities at 103^rdStreet and Cottage Grove had received no substantial renovation in decades. The recent work was made possible by a unique partnership between the Bears and LISC/Chicago, through the NFL Grassroots Program. That effort has provided $1.35 million – and leveraged a total of $8.3 million — since 1998 to renovate nine fields in communities across Chicago, often in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools or the Chicago Park District.

“We’re deeply honored to have been able to play a role in renovating Gately through our partnership with the Chicago Bears,” said Susana Vasquez of LISC/Chicago. “These fields are tremendous community assets, especially for young people."

LISC/Chicago Program Officer Keri Blackwell (left) and Executive Director Susana Vasquez share smiles with Patrick McCaskey of the Chicago Bears, who donated $200,000 toward the renovation through the NFL Grassroots Program.

GORDON WALEK

The LISC/Chicago – Bears collaboration is the local incarnation of a national partnership between the NFL Grassroots Program and National LISC, which has invested more than $30 million to create or renovate 243 fields in more than 70 cities across the nation.

“The NFL Grassroots Program was created to invest in the communities upon whose support we rely and as a way of encouraging positive and healthy youth development,” McCaskey said. “We base these efforts on the realization that athletics pays real dividends in the lives of young people, in their development, and in the overall unity and vibrancy of their communities.”

The Bears, through the NFL Grassroots Program, donated $200,000 towards the $1.2 million cost of replacing the artificial turf. The aldermen's offices each contributed $5,000 for the new scoreboard. Chicago Public Schools picked up the remainder.

"While I am new to Chicago, I am not new to school sports and the important role they play in the lives of our youth and in the spirit of our schools," said Chicago Public Schools CEO Brizard. "Sports are a great opportunity for students to learn how to work together, show enthusiasm for a shared mission and celebrate accomplishments together.

The marching band at Julian High School takes the field prior to the game between Julian and Michele Clark high schools.

GORDON WALEK

"The generosity of the Bears and LISC make it possible to provide resources for our students that would otherwise be out of reach," he added. "On behalf of the schools and students that now call this renewed stadium 'home,' I extend my most sincere thanks to those who made it possible."

In addition to serving CPS students, the field will also be used for Catholic league games, Jr. Bears and summer leagues. Regular season games began at the renovated Gately Stadium last month and high school football players are already seeing the benefits of the field renovation.

Besides Gately, the LISC/Chicago partnership has supported renovations and improvements at Evanston Township High School; two sites in Jackson Park; LaFollette Park in Chicago’s Austin community, where work is scheduled to be completed in 2012; Lane Tech High School, at the border of the Avondale community; New City; North Park University in North Park; and Orr Academy in Humboldt Park.

New Hoops in the Hood video

12/19/2011, 10:47 AM

Monday, December 19, 2011

For the last several years, Tu Multimedia, through videos and audio slideshows, has been documenting Hoops in the Hood, the summer basketball program that LISC/Chicago supports in communities throughout the city. Here's the latest.....

Hoops in the Hood

12/19/2011, 10:43 AM

Monday, December 19, 2011

From Learn and Earn to Slam and Jam

11/12/2011, 5:47 PM

Friday, November 11, 2011

John McCarron

“There’s no time to get in trouble.”

If the Near North Unity Project needed a motto this summer, Shelby Tharpe surely nailed it.

It was a sticky-hot Friday afternoon and the 13-year-old was conferring with his buddy, Leon Wilbut, near basketball court No. 1 in Seward Park at the corner of Sedgewick and Orleans streets.

Two of the team captains flank Patrick “Shane” Steward, founder and president of Chicago Men in Action, or M.I.A., which runs the basketball league with support from LISC/Chicago and its Near North Unity Project (NNUP).

John McCarron

Shelby goes to Franklin Elementary, which is north of Division Street. Leon goes to Salazar Elementary, south of Division.

Ordinarily that might be a problem. Neither belong to a street gang, but in the brave new world emerging on Chicago’s Near North Side following removal of the Cabrini-Green high-rises, old “affiliation” boundaries have been slower to go away. One side of Division is Vice Lord turf; the other Gangster Disciple country. Wise mothers tell their children not to cross.

Yet here they were, captains respectively of the Celtics and Knicks, two teams in the 12-14 age division of the Bridge the Gap basketball program, talking over ground-rules for their upcoming game.

This pleases Patrick “Shane” Steward, founder and president of Chicago Men in Action, or M.I.A., which runs the basketball league with support from LISC/Chicago and its Near North Unity Project (NNUP).

“Sometimes kids come to me with [team] rosters already made up,” Shane said. “We don’t go for that. We mix ’em up. Kids gotta learn how to get along.”

Referee Johnny Payton tosses a jump ball during a game at Seward Park, which brought together young people from both sides of Division Street in "violation" of gang boundaries.

John McCarron

And get along they do, all summer, every Friday afternoon on the courts behind the Seward Park field house. On the sidelines Shane is in charge, making sure the “shorties” show manners as they line up for free hot dogs and soft drinks; making sure the right teams get the right color tee shirts; making sure the boom box is pulsing and the announcer at the scorer’s table credits players for selfless passes as well as three-point bombs.

“We’re always looking for leaders,” said Shane, nodding toward Shelby and Leon.

Leadership is at a premium in this neighborhood, where hundreds of high-rise families have been uprooted and resettled in townhouses and mid-rises that look like a big improvement … but test a kid’s coping skills every day. Shelby and Leon grew up in the high-rises but now are adjusting to new expectations—and aggravations—of mixed-income housing where old forms of “hangin’ out” are frowned upon.

Monday through Thursday the two are downtown, at Harold Washington College, in the “Learn and Earn” program run by the city and CHA. There they brush up on academic skills, learn about various career paths and best of all, they say, collect a small stipend for six weeks.

But Fridays are best. Fridays they get to slam-and-jam with their homies at Seward Park. There’s no time to get in trouble.

Kids need options
With one weekend to go in the month of July, Chicago police already had recorded 230 murders during 2011, a majority of the victims being minorities in their teens and 20s.

Gangs don't mess around with the aptly named Justice Stamps, director of the Marion Stamps Youth Center.

John McCarron

It is true that FBI-index crimes—murders, assaults, rapes, etc.—have been trending down in recent years, both in Chicago and nationwide. But as the economic non-recovery grinds on, police and community leaders are seeing a new brazenness among gang bangers who can see no other future for themselves.

As of late July Chicago police had shot more than 40 people this year, most of them young and all of them, police say, brandishing a weapon. A total of 25 were shot by police in all of 2010.

“Respect is missing. They are not scared of anything,” said Charles Price, who monitors gang activity for the Local Advisory Council representing public housing tenants in the Near North neighborhood.

Price was among 30 community leaders who huddled July 26 in the community room of the 18^thDistrict police station for a mid-summer reality check on the first few months of the Near North Unity Project. On one matter there was strong consensus: Positive youth activity and personal safety are not only interlocked … they are key to the neighborhood’s success.

“Kids just need options,” said attendee Duwain Bailey, chief of operations for the Chicago Housing Authority. “Not every kid is going to gravitate toward sports. For some it’s music. For others cooking or baking. Or maybe they’d just as soon get a job and work. As an organization, we’ve got to help create those opportunities."

Especially concerned about youth behavior and personal safety were seniors at the conference table.

“My community is everything but safe,” said Willie B. Jones, representing seniors living in CHA apartments on the 1300-block of North Cleveland Avenue. “We don’t feel comfortable walking a square block, not with young gentlemen standing there on the corners by the eights and tens. We feel intimidated. We feel vulnerable. But we need our exercise.”

Youth served first
Much of what was said at the meeting confirmed NNUP organizers’ early decision to start the effort by immediately providing support for summertime youth activities, such as Bridge the Gap basketball.

The drum line prepares to march forth.

John McCarron

Elsewhere in the city, LISC/Chicago has first identified an existing community organization with which to partner as part of NCP; then, a lot of early effort has gone into helping neighbors produce a comprehensive Quality-of-Life plan to guide subsequent activity.

Keri Blackwell, senior program officer for LISC/Chicago, said NNUP does need to identify or create a lead local organization, one that will eventually produce a comprehensive neighborhood plan. But by moving first to support highly visible summer programs, she said, a grassroots constituency is coalescing that can tackle those more detailed chores beginning this fall … after kids go back to school.

“So we’ve got Friday night jazz in Seward Park; we’ve got crews of kids working clean-and-green Saturday mornings; we had about a hundred youths at Community of Peace working on environmental issues; we’ve got the basketball. … It all takes manpower, … and the kind of buy-in that makes people stick around.”

“This is not a science,” seconded Stanley Merriwether, the LISC consultant who coordinated the effort locally. “Different communities have different personalities, different complexities. There’s not a formula that says you do this and then you do that.”

The two handed out forms detailing what LISC looks for in a local partner and asking for names of community groups that might fill the bill. Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) also will have a strong say.

Flag of hope

A Tae Kwan Do demonstration unfolds during halftime of one of the basketball games.

John McCarron

But it was youth problems and solutions that dominated the meeting, and two youngsters from the city’s After School Matters (ASM) program at Seward Park were asked to speak. Jeremy Dossie and Crystal Herron both raved about their daily drum line and flag corps practices at Seward Park … but complained other kids not in the program come by “to make fun and try to start fights.”

Then again, troublemakers don’t come around when Justice Stamps is at the park making sure her ASM campers are on task and not being harassed. She’s director of the Marion Stamps Youth Center, an activity named in memory of her mother, a legendary organizer in the Cabrini-Green area.

“All of my kids graduate high school and plan to go to college,” Stamps said of her Youth Center regulars. Her summer’s big breakthrough, she said, was getting kids living north of Division to come down to Seward Park for ASM camp.

“It’s been a task-and-a-half ” keeping the gang-bangers away, she said, and there have been incidents. “But we’ve seen progress. We’re pulling the teens in because now they know there’s a whole group of people working to keep them safe.”

The Division Street boundary is artificial—but very real in the lives of Cabrini-area young people.

John McCarron

Later that day at the park, during a practice break, instructor Sasha Rashidee, once a flag team member at the University of Illinois, explained what it is that the Near North kids really need.

“They crave personal instruction, personal attention,” she said while untangling the hair of 16-year-old Ikayla Gregory. “So we break it down, make it easy. One, two, three, four on the gok block,” a small red plastic box struck with a drumstick.

Ikayla said she was scared to try out for her high school’s flag team last year. But this fall, after a summer a Seward Park, she may give it a try. “I think I’m good enough now,” she said.

More information: Stanley Merriwether (312) 504-4706 or smerriwether@gmail.com

Hoops in the Hood:
Profile of Volunteer Coach Darren Tillis

11/12/2011, 5:34 PM

Friday, November 11, 2011

Community volunteers are an integral part of all successful neighborhood efforts – including Hoops in the Hood, a partnership of LISC/Chicago and organizations in 11 neighborhoods to offer summer sports programs focused on building youth engagement, leadership and community safety strategies.

In North Lawndale, one of those volunteers is State Farm insurance agent Darren Tillis, who opened his insurance office in North Lawndale in 2001 but brings a commitment to the community that goes back much further. He was born and raised in the neighborhood, and he’s joined with dozens of residents to carry on one of the community’s great traditions of supporting local civic and cultural life. For Tillis, Hoops in the Hood has become a central part of that volunteerism.

Neighborhood volunteers like North Lawndale coach and State Farm agent Darren Tillis are the backbone of Hoops in the Hood efforts to foster youth engagement and community safety.

GORDON WALEK

“Since I was 11, basketball has played a major role in my social and academic development,” says Tillis. “I grew up on a block where my childhood role model was Mickey Johnson, a professional NBA basketball player who lived down the street. He encouraged us to get involved in athletics while also stressing the importance of academics, and my parents always stressed that my academic performance dictated my participation.

"Today, 30 years later, I still maintain relationships with people I met playing team basketball as a kid – and I still hold on to those life lessons and do my best to pass them along.”

When Tillis found out that LISC/Chicago and State Farm Insurance had partnered to bring the Hoops in the Hood program to North Lawndale, he jumped at the chance to work with the staff at Lawndale Christian Development Corporation (LISC’s lead agency in the community). Today, he coaches one of the teams playing in LCDC’s Hoops program.

“I attribute my life today to the lessons, skills and mentoring I got participating in youth basketball,” says Tillis. “As a coach, it’s my hope that we can provide our youth with the same kind of experience. Hoops is an opportunity for kids to develop socially by interacting with business professionals and positive role models through a shared value – sportsmanship.”

Darren’s experience with youth athletic programs and his work with Hoops help him see first-hand how community involvement can have a lasting effect on participants and how they view their community.

“Young people begin to understand community-building and their role in helping the community move forward,” he says. “The youth feel safe and become advocates for keeping their communities safe. In 20 years, today’s participants can look back on Hoops in the Hood and the positive effect it had on their personal and professional development – and as our future community, business and political leaders, pass those positive insights and experiences onto the next generation.

“Young people begin to understand community-building and their role in helping the community move forward,” Tillis says. “The youth feel safe and become advocates for keeping their communities safe."

GORDON WALEK

"Leaders across the world attribute their problem-solving skills, conflict resolution skills, community building skills and leadership qualities to their involvement in sports," Tillis adds. "These are the same qualities that children learn by participating in programs like Hoops in the Hood.”

But Tillis’s neighborhood involvement extends beyond sports. The Illinois State University alumnus serves on the boards of North Lawndale Neighborhood Housing Services and the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative facilitated by the Better Boys Foundation. He also offers college readiness talks to young people at North Lawndale’s Chicago Youth Center.

Tillis will be among the speakers at LISC/Chicago’s Hoops in the Hood cross-city tournament on Sept. 10 sponsored by State Farm, where he’ll be cheering for the team he coaches as well as promoting the broader initiative, including the many interlocking programs and community groups that inform the larger initiative.

“This program and the dozens of community projects that make it possible give the whole community – not just in North Lawndale but in all Hoops communities – a chance to come together,” he says. “’Hoops puts families and whole blocks on the streets in a positive, shared experience of teen endeavor. It gives everyone a tremendously constructive experience of what it means to be a community. And it helps kids and adults see that ‘community’ is bigger than one block or one neighborhood – it’s as big as the whole city, and by extension, the whole world.

"That’s a lesson to carry forward well beyond the end of the summer Hoops season – that’s a lesson for life.”

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2011 issue of Working Capital, LISC/Chicago's quarterly e-newsletter.

Hoops Takes to the Streets in North Lawndale

9/2/2010, 12:03 PM

Friday, August 20, 2010

Cristobal Martinez

The Chicago Police Department’s 10^th District police station on Ogden Avenue usually hosts plenty of negative action in the North Lawndale community.

But on a recent Thursday night, the action was quite the opposite. The smell of grilled hot dogs and energetic tunes from a DJ drew residents out of their houses and into the station’s parking lot, where youngsters shooting hoops took center stage.

More than 100 youth participated some weeks, and they kept coming back for more.

Ivan Villafuerte

It was a striking counterpoint to the predictable references to youth violence, and a tribute to NCP lead agency Lawndale Christian Development Corporation’s (LCDC) elegant solution to late summer teen angst — a basketball and a set of portable hoops.

For the previous four years, LCDC hosted its basketball program, “Summer Slam,” indoors at Lawndale Christian Health Center. But this summer, NCP director Tracie Worthy thought it was the right time to show the neighborhood in a more public way that positive activities can keep the youth in the area out of harm’s way.

Worthy, along with NCP organizer Tameeka Christian, mapped out five different locations for a five-week outdoor B-Ball on the Block showcase, part of the citywide “Hoops in the Hood” program sponsored by LISC/Chicago that will hold its citywide championship Saturday (Aug. 21).

In a neighborhood accustomed to shootings and sirens, the basketball competition, for several evenings this summer, transformed part of North Lawndale into an inviting area where everyone was welcome to show off their talents.

“There is tremendous family support at these games,” said Tracie Worthy, NCP director at Lawndale Christian Development Corp.

Ivan Villafuerte

“We wanted to avoid inconveniencing our neighbors by shutting down streets as much as possible,” said Christian, “so we decided to congregate at parks and schoolyards for a couple of the weeks.”

The strategy worked. North Lawndale residents welcomed the basketball games with open arms, showing their support by following the portable basketball hoops from week to week.

One week, more than 100 neighborhood youth participated, with plenty of them asking when and where the next game would be. The faces in the crowd became familiar as each week passed, and new ones picked up on the trend.

“There is tremendous family support at these games,” said Worthy about the response from North Lawndale residents to B-Ball on the Block. “It’s especially good to see 18- to 25-year-old young men out here. Whether they help out with coaching or getting everything set up for the day’s games, it allows the younger children to view them as positive role models. In this neighborhood, that will do wonders for their future.”

“It’s especially good to see 18- to 25-year-old young men out here," Worthy said. "Whether they help out with coaching or getting everything set up for the day’s games, it allows the younger children to view them as positive role models. In this neighborhood, that will do wonders for their future.”

Ivan Villafuerte

One of those most deeply involved is referee Andre Bryant. He officiated all of the games and was happy to participate. He called the games fairly and gave youngsters useful tips and techniques so they would be encouraged to continue pursuing the game of basketball.

“I enjoy seeing all of these young boys and girls out here,” said Bryant. “It shows they not only need a program like this in their neighborhood, but that they want it here. We targeted the 8- to 14-year-olds for a few reasons; the main one is the lack of city-sponsored programs for this particular age group, especially in this neighborhood.”

Another encouraging sight was the presence of the Chicago Police Department’s community policing program, C.A.P.S., whose representatives attended every game. In addition to coaching teams for the league, Officer John Reynolds played an even more important role by being a positive influence for the youth as well as the older participants. He was the symbol of the CPD wanting to change the relationship between the police and the neighborhood.

“My hope is that I’m viewed as an equal and not someone who wants to impose on everyone,” he said. “I’m a member of this community, as well, and I want things to change also. If something as simple as basketball can keep trouble off of the streets, there is no telling what the positive relationship the police can have with the residents can do for the area.”

The B-Ball events, part of LISC/Chicago's citywide Hoops in the Hood program, include arts activities, health screenings and a police presence.

Ivan Villafuerte

The intersection of 19^thStreet and Drake was chosen to kick off this summer’s B-Ball on the Block because a shooting occurred during the weeks leading up to the first game. Tameeka Christian and other volunteers went door-to-door to spread the word and invite all of the residents to take back their neighborhood.

“Our hope was that when these five weeks are finished the same parks and lots where we held games would continue to attract the neighborhood youth rather than the all-too-common neighborhood violence,” she said about the basketball program’s goal for the summer. Many of the residents can say they surely will continue to work to accomplish that.

'Hoops in the Hood' About More than Hoops

9/2/2010, 11:19 AM

Thursday, September 2, 2010

As the jubilant members of the East Garfield Park basketball team celebrated, straining to touch the trophy they had just claimed, it was clear they had won more than a basketball game and a gold statue.

The 2010 Hoops in the Hood Cross-City Tournament winners for the major division also had won a victory for their neighborhood and the spirit of teamwork, sportsmanship and safe streets that’s a hallmark of the Hoops in the Hood program.

Older teens tip off during one of the games in the tournament, held Aug. 21 in Seward Park near Cabrini-Green.

Ivan Villafuerte

The fourth annual tournament, on August 21 at Seward Park, featured 250 players from teams in 10 Chicago neighborhoods, competing in three divisions: major (15 to 19 years old), minor (11 to 14) and pee-wee (8 to 10). East Garfield Park took home the major division title, Little Village won the minor division, and the pee-wee champs hailed from North Lawndale.

But winning wasn’t the only triumph on a hot Saturday afternoon. Just being at the tournament, which was the culmination of summer-long basketball leagues where athletes, parents and community members reclaimed the streets of their neighborhoods, was a significant achievement.

“Programs like Hoops in the Hood bring communities together, which is so important when many people worry about violence in our streets,” said Keri Blackwell, senior program officer for LISC/Chicago, which organizes and supports Hoops in the Hood. “There are so many young people in Chicago looking for safe and fun activities, but often they have to overcome large obstacles to participate in them.”

The tournament for kids ages 8 to 18 capped a summer of competition in 10 neighborhoods sponsored by LISC/Chicago and its local partners.

Ivan Villafuerte

Teams from Auburn Gresham, Back of the Yards, East Garfield Park, Englewood, Humboldt Park, Little Village, West Haven, North Lawndale, Pilsen and the Near North Side competed in the event, which was sponsored by State Farm.

Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) welcomed the players, coaches and families to the tournament, which drew onlookers from the neighborhood. He praised the players’ dedication to teamwork, sportsmanship and nonviolence.

“This is more than just basketball,” Burnett said to the crowd. “It’s a positive, competitive outlet for youth.”

Hoops in the Hood is instrumental in bringing different neighborhoods together. Players said they appreciated the opportunity to interact with kids from different parts of the city.

In addition to basketball, Hoops features arts activities, health screenings, a police presence to keep the peace — and some tasty barbecue.

Ivan Villafuerte

“We’ve seen Hoops in the Hood consistently bring communities together to take a stand against violence,” Blackwell said. “The positive message sent by these athletes strengthens not only the community, but the entire city, as well.”

Hoops in the Hood is the keystone event of Neighborhood Sports Chicago, which also runs softball leagues that bring healthy, structured competition to struggling neighborhoods; programs such as Chicago Run, which seek to combat pediatric obesity among Chicago Public Schools students; and programs such as Open Streets and Project Play, which allow residents of neighborhoods prone to violence to reclaim their streets for recreation, and social and civic engagement.

Spring Into Sports 2010: The Beat Goes On

4/15/2010, 6:45 PM

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Oji Eggleston

A year ago, hundreds of Chicago youth from neighborhoods all over the city converged on Crane High School for the Spring Into Sports finals. That competition, in basketball, volleyball, fencing and a variety of other sports, was the culmination of an unusual week-long series of events at which 1,500 kids competed at four Chicago high schools kept open during the traditional spring break.

Basketball is a Spring Into Sports crowd-pleaser.

Photos by Alex Fledderjohn

So successful was Spring Into Sports that the Near West Side Community Development Corporation decided to keep the spirit alive this year by opening Crane’s doors once again to kids who used their spring break time to hone athletic skills, make new friends, and enjoy competing in an organized, safe environment.

Though smaller in scale than the previous year, Spring Into Sports 2010 was a big hit. During the three-day event, more than 220 youth from eight Chicago Housing Authority sites competed in both tournament play and clinics where they were introduced and trained in selected sports, including archery, baseball, boxing, swimming, track and field, and baseball. Wii tournaments, Jeopardy, double dutch, modern dance clinics and mentoring sessions were also on the agenda. And the youngsters also registered for Youth Ready Chicago summer employment positions.

As in Spring Into Sports a year ago, kids competed against one another for gold, silver and bronze medals. But this year, youth also completed a ‘Play Passport’ (a post card with four squares that youth were able to get stamped to receive an additional medal) designed to ensure that everyone in attendance tried at least four activities. Overall,

150 youth attended the boxing clinics
220 youth tried archery (crowd favorite!); 22 youth hit ‘bulls eyes’
212 youth participated in the basketball tournament and clinics
100 youth played Jeopardy
60 youth played in the Wii tournament or individual games
22 youth exercised with Robert Morris University fitness interns
More than 100 youth swam daily
256 medals were issued

Participants were re-energized after their hard work with fresh healthy lunch and fruit. Near West hired

Archery is hugely popular among the SIS crowd.

student interns to help with a variety of assignments. But the unspoken success of Spring Into Sports was the fact that for three days 220 youth from eight different communities came together, interacted and competed against one another without a single incident. Meanwhile, youth established new friendships despite invisible, yet real, neighborhood borders making the city potentially smaller and thus safer. One participant, while leaving the final day, posed a question that was on everyone’s mind – “Why did you only do three days? Next year you all should do seven.”

The Alternate Route - 8K Run for Youth

4/7/2010, 12:11 PM

race@alternativesyouth.org | http://alternativesyouth.org/8k2010.html

Alternatives, Inc. will host its third annual 8K race on Sunday, May 23, 2010 at Montrose Harbor starting at 8:00 AM.

Funds generated from the race will go to support Alternatives, Inc.’s programs and services. Founded in 1971, Alternatives, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization committed to providing innovative and quality programs to underserved youth living primarily in Chicago’s northeast communities.

Each year, the organization works with more than 3,000 youth, helping them build on their strengths, acquire new skills, and work toward becoming productive and successful adult citizens.

The Run for Youth course has been USATF certified.

Online registration is available here.

Event information:

Date: Sunday, May 23, 2010
Start time: 8:00 AM
Location: Montrose Harbor
Distance: 8K and a 5K option
Fee: $30 before April 15; $35 between April 16 - May 22; $40 on race day (May 23)

For additional information, go to http://alternativesyouth.org/8k2010.html by clicking here.

Volunteers Reach Out Into Community of Englewood

2/10/2010, 4:01 PM

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Joseph White / Photos courtesy of COV

On a picture-perfect, sunny afternoon, Chicago Police Officer Veronica Wingard looks out at Hamilton Park, located in the middle of her patrol area in Englewood. A group of 10 teenage boys is stretching for a game of touch football while another group, comprised mostly of girls, is picking out tennis rackets.

“Monday through Friday, I’m always here,” Wingard says. “A lot of people don’t even know this park exists, which is a shame, because the facilities are wonderful.”

As the boys begin their game of two-hand touch and the others walk northwest to the shade of the trees and the tennis courts, Wingard becomes reflective. “I think it is great that Mr. Lumu is doing this,” she says. “Most of the funding is gone, and these kids need something to do.”

Wingard is referring to Tonny Lumu, the CEO of Community Outreach Volunteers, NFP. Founded in 2006, the organization is an athletic and academic mentoring program for youth in economically-disadvantaged communities on Chicago’s Southside.

“When I arrived in Chicago, I saw there was a need for volunteers, but there weren’t any consistent volunteers,” says Lumu, who emigrated from Uganda in 2005. “I knew having consistent volunteers would help us better connect to the community.”

In just over three years, Community Outreach Volunteers has increased its enrollment from 10 students to well over 50. The program operates year-round, offering seasonal instruction in tennis, soccer, basketball and football as well as scholastic mentoring, job training programs and cultural enrichment activities. The overall goal is to provide opportunities to Englewood youth that, despite the existence of excellent park district facilities, they might not otherwise be able to find.

“The [Hamilton Park] tennis courts, the field, they don’t get a lot of use,” Lumu says. “The Chicago Park District has provided access to equipment and facilities that [COV] does not have. We want to use the facilities the way they were intended.”

For the other phases of the program, Lumu recruited his wife, Lucindy, for the educational side, and Dr. Robert A. Shaw was brought in to direct the health and wellness aspects. Along with several youth counselors, Lumu handles most of the sporting activities himself.

“We are working on building a team mentality,” Lumu says of the athletics program. “Our goal is to raise these young people up to become players.”

Counselor Silas Junious echoes Lumu’s ambition: “Hopefully by the end of the year we can pick some of these kids and give them a chance to try out for their high school teams.”

Junious, who has been with COV since 2008 and also volunteers at the YMCA, assists with the football and soccer programs. With football, the emphasis is on organization, teamwork and repetition.

“Many of these kids have a lot of potential,” Junious says, “but it can be difficult to get them fully in tune. They just need more of an opportunity to play together.”

Although tennis is an individual sport, COV uses it to create a sense of togetherness. Because of this – and despite the fact that her high school doesn’t have a tennis team – 16-year-old Sharonda Smalls likes to play on the courts at Hamilton Park.

“It’s a great way to exercise side-by-side with my friends,” Smalls says. “Being involved with Teamwork Englewood and COV gives me things to do and keeps me occupied.”

Lumu combines these athletic activities with academic mentoring in a manner that reflects his holistic approach to community organizing.

“I think there are a number of young people who have benefited, both athletically and with their grades,” Lumu says. “Some of the kids come for sports and stay around to be mentored.”

Lumu believes the annual enrollment increase will continue; he is hoping to have 100 or more Chicago youth involved by this summer. And while he acknowledges that more participants will require a larger staff and increased funding, he believes that the bigger the program, the greater its potential impact.

“We are trying to mobilize this community and utilize its resources,” he says. “We want to engage the parents, so they want to bring their kids to Community Outreach Volunteers.”

Teamwork Creates a Safe Haven for Englewood's Youth

1/15/2010, 9:20 AM

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Joseph White / Photos by Joseph White

At 6:30 on a Friday evening in late August at a Southside Salvation Army, coach Daryl Bell is sitting in the bleachers of the large gymnasium as a hotly-contested game between teenage boys in its final minutes is playing out on the floor. Bell calls timeout and substitutes three new players onto the court.

“Josh there just graduated from high school,” Bell says, pointing to one of the players subbing in. “They said he wasn’t going to graduate, but he did. I know this program helped.”

Bell is referring to Teamwork Englewood’s weekly basketball games and track meets, part of a community initiative aimed at reducing gang activity in Englewood through free, structured athletics. About to enter its third year, the program regularly draws more than 60 teens – and about 50 spectators – to the Salvation Army on 945 W. 69th Street. The program’s architect, Rev. Rodney Walker, sees the weekly athletic happenings as a safe haven where local boys and girls aged 11 to 18 can come participate in healthy activities, be exposed to positive role models, and socialize with other kids. And do so free from the influence of gangs.

“The idea evolved out of our health and fitness strategies,” Walker says. “We started with basketball then began running track as well, and also recruiting people that grew up in the neighborhood and are now in college to come in and be peer leaders. Our goals are to get 100 families involved, bring in more college kids and pair them up one-on-one with the kids as peer leaders, and expand to four other gyms in Englewood.”

Walker’s hopes for expansion parallel the growing community support for the program. Friday nights at the Salvation Army have developed into something of a neighborhood event, with more and more kids taking part in the sports while their families increasingly fill the gymnasium.

“The community is embracing it.” Bell says. “Every Friday you see the same parents coming here to watch their kids.”
Bell believes much of the program’s success is a result of limited options. For many of Englewood’s young residents, the alternatives to a night playing basketball or running track are much less positive and much more dangerous. Bell knows that by providing a safe place to meet on Friday nights, he has the opportunity to positively influence the lives of the neighborhood’s youth.

“I’m more of a coach/mentor,” Bell said. “A lot of these kids are lacking father figures, and they come to me with non-sports problems all the time. They know I will listen and try to help.”

Second-year peer leader Ryan Harris, 20, got involved because “Englewood is a neighborhood without access. We’re trying to expand (the participants’) horizons and show them how to carry themselves.”

While Harris doesn’t see himself as a role model, it’s clear many of the program’s teens look up to him for advice and leadership.

“I encourage the kids to stay in shape, to be themselves, and to steer clear of the wrong crowd,” he says. “I was here last summer, and next summer I’ll be back to do it again.”

The message of positive involvement has also reached many of the program’s young athletes. “I want to go to Syracuse,” says Nayshawn Edwards, 16, “but when I come back in the summer I want to be a peer leader and help tutor.” He adds that Walker and Bell are “keeping a lot of people off the streets and getting them involved in active situations.”

“It is a symbol to be positive,” says Trey, a 16-year-old basketball player who declined to give his last name. “People around the neighborhood have been talking about it because it is keeping people off the streets.

“I’ve been participating all summer. And if it happens every summer, I’ll be there.”

Fun Run helps families take many steps in the right direction

11/19/2009, 9:54 PM

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Cristobal Martinez

The thousands of people gathered at Chicago’s Washington Park on November 7th observed an athletic spectacle. No, it was not the Olympic opening ceremonies that Chicago had hoped for, but it certainly had an Olympic spirit. Over 6,000 Chicago Public School children and their families took part in Chicago Run’s One Mile Fun Run/Walk.

Kids from thirty Chicago Public Schools streamed into the park from yellow school busses, ready to show the progress they had made since they began training at the start of the school year. Students from schools such as CICS Bucktown, Columbia Explorers Academy and Jordan Elementary all had competitive looks in their eyes and were eager to hear which schools had run the most miles throughout the fall season.

Students sprang out of the gate at Chicago Run's Fun Run on November 7th in Washington Park.

Cristobal Martinez

But before the students were able to add one more mile to their totals, Chicago Run’s Executive Director Alicia Gonzalez led a stretch exercise to loosen up everybody’s muscles. Gonzalez wasn’t the only one involved in the stretching; Chicago Park District Commissioner Bob Pickens Bill Scherr were on hand doing their part to promote healthy living. Pickens wrestled in the 1964 Olympics and Scherr was a bronze medalist in the 1988 Olympics. Scherr understands that Chicago Run is teaching students about more than just running. “Sure, running is the main focus of this event, but what Alicia and her team are teaching the youngsters are good habits. Developing good habits like eating healthy and keeping active are important—especially at a young age.” Commissioner Pickens agrees that forming healthy habits in youth will pay dividends. “Starting out young and carrying out healthy living to your later life will ultimately have positive results when you’re older, so why not encourage the students to be active!”

The C.E.O. of Chicago Public Schools, Ron Huberman, also came out to support the students. He sounded the horn to kick off the race and congratulated runners and walkers at the finish line. Huberman also spoke to the students and their families, stressing that the involvement by relatives is key to keeping children healthy and out of trouble. “Chicago Run’s program positively engages young people. Anytime you can engage youth with something positive, they’re more likely to stay out of harm’s way and lead positive lives.”

Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman encourages the crowd to build healthy habits, like participating in Chicago Run.

Cristobal Martinez

Since their start in 2007, Chicago Run has always served communities where violence was a threat, and Huberman has noticed their impact. “With the ridiculous amount of violence that has plagued our students in the past few years; having a program like Chicago Run come into underserved communities is certainly a step in the right direction in keeping our children safe.”

Chicago Run engages students throughout the school year, but the Fun Run allowed whole families to connect with their mission. Allen Dent, Jr., uncle of CPS student Jamiah Richardson, was impressed. “Before showing up to Washington Park, I did not realize how organized and how huge this event was. What shocked me even more was how prepared all of the participants were. Many of the students, including my niece, showed me how to properly prepare for a quick jog!”

Chicago Run’s goal was to make the Fun Run feel like a real race for the students; it also helped everyone reach closer their goal of running 26.2 miles—the distance of a marathon—before winter break. Chicago does not have to wait until 2016 for something memorable to happen in Washington Park—it already has.

To get around town, go west young men and women

11/19/2009, 9:39 PM

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Cristobal Martinez

Riding a bicycle is something we never forget how to do, but as we get older a few of us tend to give up our bikes and hop into cars to travel around the city. Ciclo Urbano, an urban bike shop on Paseo Boricua in Humboldt Park, hopes that through their “West Town Bikes” program, Chicago residents will ditch their gas-guzzlers for an environment friendly bicycle. It may be tough for some to give up the convenience of a car, but West Town Bikes can make it easier.

Ciclo Urbano sells new and used bikes that have been donated by nearby residents; they also provide parts and accessories to anyone who needs to spruce up their bicycle. The shop along with their workshops rely on donations from the neighborhood as well as the little bit of earnings the shop brings in to fund their community program West Town Bikes. Al Schorsch, service manager at Ciclo Urbano, wants the neighborhood to take advantage of the service they are providing to the community. “Our goal is to get the residents take control of the shop. We want them to know they are welcome to learn from us, and possibly teach us a few things about bicycles we may not be aware of.”

Cristobal Martinez

One thing shop employees have learned about from Humboldt Park residents is the construction and maintenance of “low-rider” bikes. Low-riders are common throughout Humboldt Park; many of the residents take special care of them, as they are no ordinary bicycle. Similar to classic Schwinn bikes, low-riders utilize banana seats and sit very low to the ground. Custom paint and shiny chrome complete the unique look of low-rider bicycles.

West Town Bikes hosts daily workshops at Ciclo Urbano, where shop employees serve as instructors to assist anyone who needs to come in and work on their bikes. Bike stands are provided, along with any tool necessary, so bikes can be fixed up quickly and easily. “Tinker Town Tuesday’s” are open shop nights, during which anyone with bike problems can stop by. Cyclists can use the shop’s tools to keep their bikes safe.

“Everyone is welcome to get their hands dirty at the shop.” says Francisco Moya, assistant shop manager at Ciclo Urbano, who is an instructor for the Build a Bike workshop, “It’s nice to see everyone who comes in here leave knowing they are capable of fixing their bikes so they may use it every day and not forget about it when the tires go flat or the chain falls off.”

Cristobal Martinez

Ciclo Urbano also hosts a “Women’s Night”; where women of all ages can enjoy a comfortable environment while they fix the necessary components on their bikes. The women-only workshop has been received well, with women from as far north as Evanston coming in to learn how to maintain their bikes.

West Town Bikes hosts other workshops as well. “Build a Bike” is an eight-week course that teaches an in depth overview of bicycle mechanics. The course covers every inch of a bicycle, from repairing flat tires to adjusting brakes.

“D.I.Y. Tune-Up” is a six-week workshop that teaches participants how to keep their bikes tuned up. Replacing brake pads, cables, and adjusting shifters are a few of the basic maintenance operations covered. “Keeping a bicycle tuned up will reduce the risk of an injury while riding around it also makes for a smoother ride,” explains Moya.

Eighth-grader Shanta Brown, who attends D.I.Y. Tune-Up, has enjoyed the learning process, “I learned how to install brake pads and brake wires—I had no clue that those things could be fixed! It was pretty hard at first, but Al and Francisco showed me how to fix the brakes the right way.”

“I feel that we are instilling a little bit of independence into every person that learns how to fix their bike from our shop.” Schorsch also added, “The fact that all the participants are riding bikes proves they are staying away from the stigma of once you earn your driver’s license you have to drive a car.”

Chicago Run trains CPS students for November 7th Fun Run

10/22/2009, 11:22 PM

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Cristobal Martinez

Over 6,000 Chicago Public School students are anticipating Chicago Run’s “Fall Fun Run”, scheduled for Saturday, November 7^th at Washington Park on Chicago’s South Side. A one-mile “Fun Run/Walk” is open to all students, while a one-mile “Elite Run” will be held for students who show running excellence during the fall semester. Ron Huberman, CEO of Chicago Public Schools, will be in attendance to show his support for the students participating.

Boys and girls have been preparing for the Fun Run since the start of the school year in each of the 30 schools Chicago Run serves. At Walsh Math and Science Academy in Pilsen, students poured into the school’s courtyard to welcome Chicago Run back for another year. To show their commitment to living healthier lives, every student walked two laps around the school’s campus holding colorful posters advertising their intentions such as, “Room 205 is On The Run!” and “Room 207 is Ready to Run!” Walsh students ran a combined total of 13,000 miles last year, second highest among the schools participating, and they are eager to improve on that number this year.

Cristobal Martinez

Chicago Run formed in 2007, challenges students to combat pediatric obesity by ditching their junk food and adopting more active lifestyles. Concentrating on underserved parts of Chicago, Chicago Run seeks to keep kids active by asking them to run fifteen minutes per day at least three days out of the week. “Chicago Run has grown significantly from its original twelve schools with 2,300 boys and girls. We now serve 30 schools of 6,000 students in eight NCP neighborhoods.” says Alicia Gonzalez, Executive Director of Chicago Run. “As we continue to grow, the addition of each school really shows the impact we are having in these underserved neighborhoods.”

As a way to keep the students interested throughout the year, Chicago Run added an interactive database that tracks their mileage allowing students to virtually run a marathon around Chicago. Along the way, students learn about the many diverse neighborhoods and historical landmarks the city is comprised of as they connect both learning and fitness. Incentives are also given for every goal students achieve, running ten to 20 miles before the Thanksgiving holiday will earn them wristbands, lanyards and water bottles.

When students return from winter break, more incentives can be earned. Hats are given out when a student runs 75 miles and a trophy is awarded to the first student to reach 100 miles. “The incentives really keep the kids running.” says John Neal, Physical Education teacher at Walsh and site coordinator for Chicago Run. “It allows them to constantly want to succeed–to reach that goal of 100 miles and show off their trophy.”

Cristobal Martinez

Chicago Run’s program is begins with students, but parents and siblings are welcome to join in on neighborhood runs. Walsh Principal Krish Mohip notices that parents stick around to run well after the school day is over, noting that he, “regularly sees parents running with their children after school. Their involvement is important in keeping their kids healthy.” Hosting events like the Fun Run allows Chicago Run to impact not only individual students, but entire families.

Yanitza Roman’s mother is a teacher at Walsh, where she joins in with the other runners. “I really enjoy running,” she says. “I know that by walking or running that extra mile I will be healthier.” Washington Park may not be visited by Olympic athletes in 2016, but it will showcase some fine runners this November.

Pilgrim Baptist Church Campers Spring Into New Sports

10/22/2009, 9:22 AM

Monday, October 19, 2009

Joseph White / Photos by Joseph White

Sometimes, one good thing does lead to another.

When Reverend Leotis Johnson sat down to plan out Pilgrim Baptist Church’s annual Southside youth summer camp, he decided this year’s program needed a new theme. Thinking back to some of his volunteer efforts, he drew inspiration from Spring Into Sports, the youth-athletics-based initiative that attracted 1,500 kids from around Chicago in March of this year.

“I saw the excitement the children had during Spring into Sports and I thought it was a very good thing,” Johnson said. “I thought, Why not do more of it, introduce the Pilgrim Baptist camp members to new sports that maybe they haven’t played before and try to teach them some fundamental skills?”

Johnson mapped out eight weeks of athletic activities. While the camp would still have basketball, Johnson also decided to introduce volleyball, soccer, and tennis in an attempt to inspire his campers to pursue these less-familiar sports in the future. “The idea was to give them this opportunity, hoping they would say, ‘Hey, I like this. I want to learn more about this sport.’”

By and large, Johnson feels this approach was a success. The campers, who ranged in age from 5 to 16, practiced their skills every day in Bessemer Park. After focusing on the basics of a given sport, the instructors and counselors divided up their 32 campers by age and let them engage in open competition.

“The vibe was more one of camaraderie, although with volleyball we did get competitive,” Johnson said. “The girls really wanted to beat the boys at volleyball.”

Since everyone at the camp was relatively new to volleyball, the girls had high hopes of winning a decisive victory in the war of the genders. To augment their chances, they enlisted the help of junior counselor Kristina Hudson.

“They brought me in as a ringer,” Hudson said, laughing. “I played volleyball all four years in high school and I don’t like to let the ball touch the floor, so I’m all over the court.”

Unfortunately for the girls, Hudson was unable to tip the scales in their favor. While the defeat was tough for them to swallow, it also gave Johnson an opportunity to promote sportsmanship.

“The Reverend likes to teach them everything about the sport, not just the good but how to act when you lose,” said Hudson.

Among the kids, volleyball and tennis were the most popular activities, with both beating out perennial-favorite basketball. The campers expressed various opinions why volleyball and tennis were their favorites, the most common being that these two sports were new and unknown and therefore exciting.

“I could see myself playing tennis is high school,” said 12-year-old Marcus Bradley. “I didn’t know how to play, but they taught me how and now I like it a lot.”

Janet Freeman, also 12, agreed. “I like the power and the force of hitting the ball. Tennis was new, but definitely my favorite.”

Pilgrim Baptist Church member Ken Pickett was among many adults to volunteer his time, serving as a tennis instructor. While surveying the Bessemer Park courts, he expressed his pleasure in seeing the campers playing and learning a sport that is not prevalent on the Southside. He began playing tennis in his mid-20s and wishes he’d had a similar opportunity when he was younger..

“The instruction they are getting this summer is very valuable to them,” he said. “I hope to see a lot of these kids on the tennis circuit someday.”

The success of the camp was most evident though the campers themselves. According to Damari Owens, 11, the simple pleasures offered by athletics made this summer his favorite in memory.

“My dad works at the church, so I come to the camp every summer,” he said. “This year was the best because it was the most active.”

This summer’s sports template was so well received that Johnson, who has been organizing and conducting the camp for six years, feels confident there will be a seventh.

“It’s a challenge with the kids today, but I keep coming back for more,” he said. “Many of these kids aren’t being exposed to these kinds of activities, because their parents either don’t have the time or the means. We need to give them this opportunity.”

The Dream Lives On

10/7/2009, 6:00 PM

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

LISC/Chicago

The 2016 Olympics represented an opportunity for Chicago to place itself squarely on the world stage, and perhaps tilt the economic dynamics of the city towards many of the neighborhoods in which LISC and our partners live and work.

The Olympics gave the city a sense of direction and purpose. That is the vacuum we now face as many are left asking, Where do we go from here? We at LISC are committed to playing a role in answering this question. Fortunately, even as LISC and our neighborhood partners crafted an Olympic agenda last summer, we were mindful that our goals could and should be carried out, with or without the Games. Now we know we will have to accomplish them without.

It is particularly important that we maintain the youth sports programming that really blossomed under the Olympic umbrella. That programming is more necessary, and more relevant, than ever.

The Olympic bid represented an ambition, and it is with the same ambition that we must move on, for the city, for our neighborhoods, and for ourselves. We must work on Chicago’s future together, with great fervor and renewed dedication. The Olympic motto is Faster. Higher. Stronger. With the help of LISC and its partners, the youth of Chicago’s neighborhoods can still be all three.

Advantages of Home Court Clear in East Garfield Park

9/30/2009, 2:31 PM

Monday, August 31, 2009

Joseph White / Photos by Joseph White

The spirit of conquest is alive and well in East Garfield Park, where Breakthrough Urban Ministries partnered with Ceasefire Chicago and other community organizations to reclaim the St. Louis Playlot, located at the corner of North St. Louis and West Carroll Avenues.

Previously associated with gang activity, the park came alive every Friday night this summer to host Home Court, a 4-on-4 basketball tournament for area youth ages 8 to 18. Breakthrough Urban Ministries transformed the park into a community gathering place, with picnic meals and drinks, hip-hop music with positive, non-violent messages, and arts and crafts activities. And, of course, lots of basketball.

“Not everything that used to go on here at the playlot was bad,” Breakthrough Sports Coordinator Rusty Funk said, “but it was bad enough to warrant concern. Now families know that every Friday night we are here, the playlot is a safe and secure place to have positive experiences.”

Breakthrough hoped that by structuring the event as an ongoing tournament with weekly competitions, their enrollment and attendance would soar. The theory paid off, as more than 150 young athletes registered their newly-formed teams, and the tournament drew an average of 350 spectators per day.

“It’s been a great turnout, very consistent,” said Robin Rankin, Breakthrough’s Community Health/Fitness Coordinator. “The kids really love playing on this court because it’s home for them. Even in our last week (August 15th), we still have kids wandering up to the playlot, asking if they can play.”

The players, whether they were warming up or in the final seconds of a close game, always appeared to be thoroughly enjoying themselves, due in part to their familiarity with their surroundings. Which is why “Home Court” was such an apt name for the program.

“We all live by each other,” 13-year-old Terrance Jones said of his Fulton Superstars team. “We play on this court all the time.”

The Superstars took first place in the 11-14 age division, and Terrance was one of many dynamic talents that the tournament attracted. The level of play was generally advanced, and most teams favored a running offense that mixed the threat of outside shots with high-octane fast breaks.

“These kids are playing at their own level,” said Rankin, a confessed basketball devotee. “They come out here to compete, but they’re just doing what they do every day.”

Still, the organized nature of Home Court meant its participants had to do more than just work on their one-on-one moves.

“If we want to win here,” Terrance said, “we have to play together”

According to several of the young athletes involved in the program, families in the neighborhood were thrilled by the way the program transformed a troubled park into a place of celebration.

“My daddy is really excited about it,” said 10-year-old Emmanuel Allison. “There used to be a lot of fights here, but that stuff has stopped now because of all the adults.”

Minister Timothy White Sr., a member of Ceasefire and coordinator for the security personnel, described Home Court as “the kind of program I wish I’d had access to when I was growing up.”

Of course, those too old to participate in the tournament were still crucial to its success.

“This really is a great way to reach the community,” Rankin said. “Every weekend we have so many people coming out. I wish I could say what my favorite moment was, but there were too many great games to pick just one.”

Support for the program was wide-ranging, as Breakthrough successfully recruited a multitude of different community groups as partners, including the Carol Care Center, Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, and Missionary Baptist Church. Each week, volunteers from the different organizations came to work the event, cooking and serving the food provided by the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Because of a history of gang activity at the playlot, Breakthrough brought in Ceasefire Chicago, an anti-violence organization which works citywide, to provide security.

“Ceasefire was here to prevent fights from starting on or off the court, but we’ve had very few problems,” said Bill Curry, a volunteer referee and husband of Marcie Curry, Breakthrough’s Director of Youth & Family Services.

Unfortunately, the program could not curb all the violence in East Garfield Park. Away from the playlot, there was a shooting in the neighborhood that injured some of Home Court’s youths, leaving them unable to compete with their respective teams. This only served to highlight the importance of the program to stem the violence, and all of the organizations that participated are say they will return next summer to light up the St. Louis Playlot and again draw crowds of local residents in the hundreds.

“I think it is important the residents see us as like minded,” Curry said. “The partners from the all the organizations were great. I think this is just the beginning of these groups working together.”

Team M3 Runs Past the Impossible

9/28/2009, 9:29 AM

Friday, September 25, 2009

Dan Stark / Photos courtesy of MGR Foundation

Most people that run marathons train for several years during adulthood before tackling their first 26.2-mile race.

The members of MGR Foundation's Team M3 are not most people.

Nor are they adults, for that matter.

Allow program director Cathy Braund to explain by describing one of her recruiting visits: "When I go in a high school, I ask, 'What are you going to put on a college application that's really going to set you apart? Put on your college application that you've run a marathon — less than 1% of the population ever does it, high school kids never do it — and it will set you apart. People know what it takes to run a marathon, and they will be impressed.'"

According to its website, the MGR Foundation is a non-profit "committed to overcoming social and economic barriers and creating innovative programs that positively impact" communities, and its Team M3 will have 84 high-school aged students (and 81 mentors) running in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 11. The program had 135 students complete the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon on August 2nd, but M3's younger participants — the 14 and 15 year olds — generally will not run the full marathon.

A large contingent from Team M3 after the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon on August 2.

One person who will be running, however, is Edson Andrade, 18, who spent three years as a student member of Team M3 and is now in his first season as a mentor.

"I was on the track and cross country team, but I wasn't very good," the three-time Chicago Marathon finisher said of his experience before joing Team M3. "This group is not about making you run as an elite runner, but mostly so you see that running is just like life."

That is a notion around which Braund and MGR Foundation executive director Vesna Stelcer have built the program.

"It's all about completion," Braund said. "You don't have to be a runner; you can be completely inexperienced and yet you can still be successful.

"We stress that this is all about setting a goal and achieving it. So we really try to teach them that you can do anything if you take a very large goal — like running 26 miles — and you break it down into very small doable steps. And if you have somebody who believes in you, who is willing to guide you and get you to the end, that anything is possible."

Areli Cervantes can attest to that. When the 18-year-old inexperienced runner started the program earlier this summer, she could barely complete her initial 3-mile test run.

"I was running and I was like, 'Wow, this is harder than I thought,'" she admitted. "But the people, even though they barely know you, they still encourage you to keep coming back.

"It felt so good to do the half marathon (only a few months later) because I noticed how much I improved. ... I feel like now, if I really put my mind to it, I can accomplish what I want. If I just keep on going, I can do anything."

Mentor Anne Jensen sees the boost in self-esteem so many kids in the program receive, how it really can help change their lives.

Three team M3 members near the finish line at the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon.

"It inspires them to be able to achieve things that either people tell them they couldn't achieve or they never thought possible," Jensen said.

Danny Durazno, 18, is a recent high school graduate and longtime soccer player who is preparing to run in his third marathon.

"When I started, three miles was a lot for me," he said. "My first day, I was like, 'What did I get myself into? A marathon, 26 miles?' Because in soccer two miles is a lot.

"Being on Team M3 changed my outlook. It made me more confident about myself. I didn't think I could run a marathon, and now that I have it's like I can do anything if I just keep on working on it."

Braund and the mentors hope that a positive and more self-assured mindset will have an impact on M3 team members' academic success.

"We would like to see them take this back into the classroom, and say, 'If I study for a test, I'll be successful,'" she said. "There are steps that have to be taken to be successful in all areas of life. This helps teach them how."

The entire team meets every Saturday morning on the lakefront for runs in which they are grouped together by their pace, but during the school year Braund relies on coaches to lead programs — and twice-a-week practices — within individual schools. The MGR Foundation currently has Team M3 in nine high schools, with the greatest participation at Foreman.

"We'd like to eventually grow it to every high school in Chicago," Braund said. "Every student that would like to be a participant, we would like to offer that opportunity."

Team M3 members pose with their medals.

Of course, the mere logistics of pulling that off present a sizeable obstacle.

"It's a very expensive program," Braund said. "Busing is a huge cost, but race entry fees have exceeded busing. Right now, we pay entries for every student to every race we do. The marathon is $125 per person. Getting the marathon or Bank of America — and we have really made inroads — to really see what we're doing and say, 'There's such a benefit, we're not going to charge you that 125 per student. For every student that wants to run, we're going to make sure there's a spot,' that would be great for us."

Although it might be tough sledding with marathon sponsors, Team M3 is making substantial progress at local schools, where Braund's sales pitch really seems to be working.

"Cathy came to my school, and she explained to all the gym classes what it was about," said Karla Rosas, 17 and now in her second year with Team M3. "I was really interested, because I'd never heard of a person my age doing a marathon, so I just wanted to try it."

Karla, a swimmer and softball player, has seen improvement in both sports since joining the program. But she realizes that the true impact of Team M3 has been far greater.

"Before, when I didn't like something, I would either quit or just fall back. But the program taught me to not give up and to finish what I start. When you're ready to give up, there's always people there to support you." she said.

Karla added that she'd recommend Team M3 to any high schooler, regardless of athletic ability or their interest level.

"It's a challenge and I think everybody should go for it," she said. "It not only helps you physically but also mentally, and not a lot of people are mentally strong.

In addition to making you mentally strong, the Team M3 experience apparently makes you mentally adroit, as so many of the teenage runners seem wise beyond their years.

"The running is just a metaphor for life," Andrade said. "Whenever you're running, you cannot just quit because you're tired. You have to know how to say, 'No, I've got to keep going, I can't give up that easily.' You've got to keep going if you want to be successful."

Jesus Martinez eyes future through a viewfinder

9/1/2009, 9:21 PM

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Brent Michel

When you enter the home of Jesus Martinez, the first thing you see is the computer and audiovisual setup straight across the room. A large computer monitor, a Mac, speakers, video editing books, manuals…and the dining room table. Such is life turning a home into an editing suite.

Jesus, his twin brother Oscar, and their father all play a part in running Twin Films, a video production business they recently started primarily serving the Little Village neighborhood in Chicago.

“My brother did some video work through After School Matters, and I had a few assignments through LISC. When my dad saw that we were both into it, we all thought, ‘Why not start a business?’ We talked to our church and got a job filming Holy Week activities. At the time, we had to borrow a camera and the editing software, but people liked what we came up with.”

Jesus Martinez considers his next project during the media workshop he attended last Spring.

Photo: Brent Michel

Martinez, who graduated from Curie High School last Spring, was introduced to video editing through a workshop that Beyond the Ball was conducting at Lawndale Little Village High School this past Spring. LISC shared the vision of the workshop—giving neighborhood youth the ability to create quality video that would enable them to tell their own stories—and stepped in to provide funding for equipment and expertise. Four sets of video cameras, tripods and hard drives were purchased, and the freelancing team of Sarahmaria Gomez and Alex Fledderjohn from Tumultimedia was brought in to teach the course.

Rob Castaneda, Executive Director of Beyond the Ball, has known Martinez since he was in grammar school and Castaneda was his basketball coach. “When we first started, Jesus was pretty reserved,” said Rob Castaneda, Executive Director of Beyond the Ball. “But when we talked about how it could become a real business, his interest was piqued. I knew if Jesus committed to participating in the class, he would see it through and do a good job.”

Martinez did just that, which included creating a video about the Lincoln Park Regatta this summer in which the Chicago Training Center participated (see video below).

Chicago Training Center at the Lincoln Park Regatta from Brent Michel on Vimeo.

Previously, Martinez had helped his brother with shooting some video, but through the LISC-sponsored course and subsequent projects, he became proficient in other aspects of production and improved his eye. “I’ve learned to look for creative angles—fresh, not boring, but with good lighting.”

Oscar Martinez, who was into video long before Jesus, has seen how Jesus’ abilities have grown. “Before, he could help record, but now he knows how to edit well, coordinating video with music. He can do some things with lighting that I still don’t know.”

His projects have also pushed Martinez out of his comfort zone. “I’m naturally shy, so this has helped me improve my communication skills. I have learned how to approach people, to speak clearly, and make them feel comfortable in preparation for an interview on camera.”

Those skills should help him as he prepares for his next phase of life: college. Martinez plans to attend the University of Illinois at Chicago in the fall, while his brother attends the University of Chicago.

“We were planning on staying around for college, but the business has strengthened our desire to stay connected. We’ll just have to get as much done as possible on the weekends. I think we can. Since we do so much of our work in short time periods, we have learned the importance of time management, contacting clients, and being responsible…professional.”

Their primary business consists of weddings and baptisms, but Martinez hopes to produce more complex material. He hopes to put together documentaries with the goal of entering them into film festivals.

Castaneda is proud of how far Martinez has come. “I think learning the practical nuts and bolts of making a video was important for him, but it was even more important for him to be able to take the knowledge that he gained during the class and use it to make some money. He learned what I think is an important part of being successful in life, that the product of his creative process is valuable.”

Twin Films now owns two cameras, has a full setup in their home office, and has work lined up most weekends. Martinez plans to continue honing his craft while in college, joining a film club at UIC.

Major documentaries are sure to come in the future, perhaps produced in a fancy editing suite. For now, Twin Films will continue supplying their neighborhood residents with a service they need, right from their own dining room.

CTC brings a whole new crew

8/31/2009, 12:53 PM

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Joseph White

When most people think about inner city youth sports programs, they generally think of basketball or football, or perhaps even boxing. But Montana Butsch of the Chicago Training Center has something different in mind. He wants to fatten that list a bit, with football and basketball sliding over to make room for rowing.

Wait. Rowing?

While rowing is hardly a mainstream sport in America – let alone in urban areas like Chicago – Butsch has been pushing hard to change that. Since it’s inception in 2007, the Chicago Training Center has nearly tripled its roster of inner-city crew athletes, growing from fifteen rowers to well over forty. On July 11th and 12th, Butsch brought his team of athletes from high schools all over the city to compete in the Lincoln Park Boat Club’s Chicago Sprints Regatta for the third year in a row.

The skyline provides the perfect backdrop during the Chicago Sprint Regatta.

And compete they did, as competition is one of the main draws for kids on the Chicago Training Center team. “I’m probably the most competitive person I know,” Eileen Harris, 17, said. “And I don’t know life without crew.”

Lucas Gonzalez, 15, enjoys the unique thrills the sport provides. “I like the competition. I like going fast. I think that’s the fun part.” A member of a four-man crew, Gonzalez helped propel his team into the semifinals on Sunday, pressing hard down the kilometer-long course.

The athletes are also quick to acknowledge the importance of teamwork in rowing. “If even one person is screwing around or doesn’t want to work hard, you can’t win a race,” said 17-year-old Connor Skelding.

The sport is undoubtedly an exercise in timing and consistency. In a four- or eight- or even two-person boat crew, if everyone isn’t in sync, everything can go to pieces very quickly.

And that is where the training comes in. The Chicago Training Center has three weekly practices on open water, as well as introductory training in swimming and basic rowing mechanics. New athletes train on a rowing machine called an erg, and once proficient in technique, they hit the open water in a long boat. But mechanics aside, the real secret to the sport is teamwork.

Program members help one another with their training.

“We use rowing as a vehicle,” Butsch said. “We are a youth service provider, focusing on the mind body and soul. Rowing forces teamwork. It forces goals. It forces the kids to organize their priorities.”

In addition to on-water training, Butsch has incorporated a mentoring and tutoring program into the Training Center. “Montana is helping us think more about our future,” said Yvonne Villanueva, 17.

“Crew has taught me I can accomplish more with the help of a team,” Harris added. “I don’t have to do everything on my own.”

Butsch has been building his team steadily since 2007, visiting high schools and community events in order to recruit students, and forming a partnership with St. Ignatius College Prep. “My goal is for this program to become an institution for inner city kids,” he said. “For it to become as well known as the Jesse White Tumbling Team.”

Butsch has actually gone directly to the source for some guidance, consulting White – now the Illinois Secretary of State – about how to best build a successful youth sports program. Butsch said of his motivation: “I asked myself, ‘How can I learn from him and what he has done before?’”

The Chicago Training Center seems to have found a niche for kids seeking an alternative to traditional urban sports like football and basketball. “I wanted a sport that not many other people were attracted to,” said 17-year-old Marya Correa.

Angel Lopez, also 17, chose rowing because it is relatively unknown. “There aren’t that many people in the sport so you can compete at any level,” she said.

Executive Director Montana Butsch addresses the members of the Chicago Training Center.

In time, Butsch envisions the program growing large enough to field teams in competitions around the region. “I hope to max out at around 300 athletes as well as form a partnership with the park district and LISC, and begin talks with the Olympic committee.”

Beyond competition, the Chicago Training Center team members welcome the sense of community and friendship that is fostered through the program. “We always have group meetings before and after every race,” Gonzalez said. “We’re all friends.”

Butsch feels that perhaps the reason rowing appeals to these kids is the way the sport negates the advantages of physical gifts.

“Unlike other sports where natural talent and athleticism can give an unbalanced advantage, rowing is about work ethic,” he said. “What you get at the end of the day is what you deserve.”

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