Walking into the Summer Months

As the July heat settles into Woodlawn and Washington Park, summer is in full swing across the community. While this season brings vibrant energy, it also introduces unique challenges for the families we serve. To help navigate these months, we hosted our annual Youth and Family Summit on Saturday, May 30, a collaborative effort to offer holistic support before the school year ended.

Our summit began with a representative from the Chicago Police Department sharing essential summer safety guidelines, followed by conversations that demystified mental health and therapy, led by our community partners at Secure Roots.

But the summit didn't end with valuable insights from experienced professionals. It continued with practical, holistic support. A therapist joined us for private, one-on-one sessions, giving parents and youth practical tools for wellness. A physical fitness trainer spoke with attendees about accessible workouts and staying fit, while other partners led art therapy and nutrition sessions. Lastly, our neighbors engaged with a panel of dedicated community leaders, and several of our youth shared their hopes, desires, and concerns about growing up in our neighborhood today.

While it is too early to measure the lasting fruit of these efforts, that early groundwork is already beautifully fueling our current seasonal programs. Our Youth Outreach summer day camp is serving 60 students and will conclude at the end of July. Our young adults, ages 18-26, just wrapped up a 15-member WorkLife cohort. Our Familyhood program has also maintained steady momentum, recently hosting a wonderful Father's Day celebration, with family day trips and an overnight experience planned for the coming weeks.

Thanks to everyone who partnered with us to make this year's summer efforts a success! You helped connect families with vital local resources they needed. The summer is long, and the challenges our families face are complex, but the relationships built in May and throughout the past several months have provided a vital foundation for the busy weeks we are now experiencing. Thank you for standing with us and making this work possible as we continue to walk alongside our neighbors.