Summer is around the corner for Chicago Public Schools students. Organizations across the city are preparing for youth programming through sports and artistic and academic support.
Unfortunately, summer also comes with the challenges of keeping young people engaged and safe amid the rise of summer violence in Chicago.
According to UChicago Urban Labs, there are about twice as many shootings on days with a temperature of more than 85 degrees than there are on days with a reading of less than 50 degrees. Meanwhile, investment in youth in communities with high crime has proven effective in helping combat that violence.
On Monday, with summer quickly approaching, WTTW News reporter Joanna Hernandez moderated the latest edition of our “Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices” community conversation about investments being made in young people by local organizations, while also touching on communities calling on more outside resources and investment in their area.
Hernandez was joined by Mayra Martinez, youth organizer supervisor for youth programs with Increase The Peace; Dr. Elias Alonzo, principal for the Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy of Instituto del Progreso Latino; and Pablo Ramirez, co-founder and board president of the Pilsen Arts Community House.
Upcoming Event
Our next “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices” community conversation, hosted by Brandis Friedman, is set for noon on Monday, June 27. This virtual event is in conjunction with “Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness,” a new four-hour documentary by executive producer Ken Burns, co-directed by Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers. Visit wttw.com/events to RSVP.
