Generation Now

Generation Now

May 12, 2015

COMMUNITY COMMITMENT

CHANDLER WEST/Contributor

Youth head to lunch after a morning of meetings at By The Hand Club for Kids.

AUSTIN’S YOUTH ARE GREAT ASSETS PAGE 3 | BEING THE CHANGE PAGE 4 | SOWING SEEDS IN AUSTIN PAGE 5 A BOLD PLAN FOR AUSTIN’S YOUTH PAGE 7

Austin Coming Together

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Austin Weekly News, May 13, 2015

GENERATION NOW

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GENERATION NOW IN T RODU CT ION

Welcome to Austin

F

rom their early teens through their early twenties, young people experience enormous change - physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. These are exciting years, full of learning and growth, as youth develop independence, learn to take responsibility for their actions, and take on new roles in their families and communities. They can also be perilous years, as young people must navigate a host of temptations and dangers. More than ever, youth need the support of their entire community if they are to grow into healthy and productive adults.

Supporting young people means much more than simply “giving them something to do.” Strong support includes mentoring, teaching, and modeling constructive behaviors; it also involves giving youth increasing voice and ownership in decisions, while still providing them with guidance and support.

Throughout Austin, people of all ages are coming together to address some of the community’s most challenging issues. Harnessing the energy and creativity of youth, the skills and training of adult mentors, and the wisdom and experience of older adults, this group is working to build a community-wide system of supports for Austin’s youth.

The following stories profile a few of the leaders who are driving change in Austin. I hope you will join them in their efforts to build a bright future for our young people.

Andrew Born Director of Programs and Development Austin Coming Together

Austin Weekly News, May 13, 2015

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Austin’s Youth Are Great Assets

by Deb Quantock McCarey Sometimes, when we see a glass as being half-empty, we’re missing the point. Given the often negative and sensationalized media coverage about Austin, and especially about its youth, it’s not surprising that public perception focuses on the problems faced by Austin’s young people and not on the strengths, creativity, and energy they bring to the table.

It’s the aim of Austin Coming Together (ACT), a collaborative of nonprofits, businesses and community stakeholders, to leverage the community’s talents and resources to change those perceptions by producing a collective impact that will fill the proverbial glass all the way to the top. In order to do this, individuals and organizations throughout the community are coming together to break down some long-standing barriers.

“We live in a very age-segregated society, where older people are separate from younger adults and youth and children, and everybody is in their own silos,” says Corita Brown, the Training Director of the Intergenerational Center at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. “The fact is that we all live in communities together, and have a lot of shared values and shared interests. What ACT is really looking to do is build leadership of people of all generations to create a community that is good at all stages of life.”

In the trenches with Austin-area youth is Josephine H. Robinson, the Engagement Officer at World Vision, a non-profit and ACT member. As a 60-year-old youth advocate, Robinson is interested in empowering “Generation Now” to make their voices heard in the next wave of economic and community renewal.

“At World Vision, we exist to improve the well-being of children, and we do believe that young people should have a voice in terms of looking at issues in our communities,” she said.

Describing the youth of Austin as “pure gold,” Brown adds, “If you love and respect [young people], they will love and respect you

CHANDLER WEST/Contributor

Students talk about creating a long term community plan for youth success at By the Hand Club for Kids. back. It’s great, when we have groups such as ACT, and organizations such as World Vision, who are dedicated to connecting young people with positive older people, because the more we connect with each other in community engagement opportunities, the better it will be for Austin as a whole.”

Researcher Kristin Bodiford, a visiting professor at Dominican University in River Forest, says that her work in conjunction with Temple University and ACT focuses on “building a multi-generational leadership in urban neighborhoods, which is exactly what Austin is doing.” For example, an all-ages leadership group is currently being formed, which will tackle such issues as finding alternatives to youth incarceration, reducing teen dating violence and teen pregnancy, and improving educational and employment opportunities for Austin’s young people.

These issues are the responsibility not

only of youth, but of all Austin residents, argues Sharif Walker, the Central Region Director of After School Matters and ACT’s board chair.

“The question is, where are [youth] receiving their messages, who is mentoring them, who is role modeling for them, how do policies play a part in paving the future for young people, and how can schools better shape themselves to serve young people?” he asks.

For Robinson, too, this intergenerational initiative is about empowering Austin’s youth, working-age adults, and older adults to share ownership of the process of deciding the future of the Austin community.

“I think it is important to look at what young people do have,” she says. “When you give youth the opportunity to share their perspectives and ideas, and simultaneously provide adults with the chance to mentor them, there are endless possibilities.”

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Austin Weekly News, May 13, 2015

GENERATION NOW

Being the Change

I

by Deb Quantock McCarey

n late March, 18-year-old Chris Stewart, a core member of Westside Health Authority’s Youth Council, joined the front line of local labor reform. He and other members of the Youth Council were among a sizeable group of protesters of all ages lobbying Ferrara Candy Company, Inc. in Forest Park, and Mercury Plastics, Inc. in Chicago to bring more summer employment to both youth and adult residents of Chicago’s West Side.

“At Ferrara, the Council has been going out to the company and meeting with the management and the bosses to encourage the start of a future negotiation with them,” says Stewart, a graduate of Michele Clark High School who will enter college this Fall. “But, we had to really work to get in those doors. We had to stage a protest.”

Victor Ochieng, a lead mentor with the Westside Health Authority’s Youth Development proKeyera Williams gram, says that acFrederick Douglass tions advocating for Academy senior the rights of youth around employment and police brutality, plus engaging young people in local beautification activities, fundraising walks, and voter registration are a few of the ways WHA helps young people, ages 16 to 24, take control of the direction of their lives.

Stewart, a life-long resident of Austin, is one of those people. “I didn’t want to be part of [street life],” he says. “I have never been to jail, or anything like that. Through my lead-

“When I started going to this progam, I found myself being useful in the community, rather than being a problem.”

File photos

Labor reformers picket Ferrara Candy Company, calling for more jobs for West Side residents. ership and example in doing this, I hope other friends will follow in my footsteps. I want to be a role model and mentor for all of them.”

The young people involved in WHA’s programming can participate in a range of activities, including civic engagement, leadership training, development of job skills and communication skills, building financial literacy, and exploring their cultural heritage.

In keeping with WHA’s philosophy that the people of the community know best what the community needs, many of the youth are ultimately drawn to take on leadership roles; and many develop a passion for giving back to their community.

Keyera Williams, 17, a senior at Frederick

Douglass Academy, says it was a school flyer promoting job-readiness training for youth that drew her in, but the community-building activities of the Youth Council keep her coming back. Her friend Michelle Cage, 19, also a senior at Frederick Douglass Academy, agrees. The two were key organizers of the Youth Council’s recent “Walk to Cure Lupus” fundraiser; both have also engaged in community beautification activities “that keep you active and off the streets,” Cage said.

“Before I came here, I used to fight and get in trouble at school. Then, when I started going to this program, I found myself being useful in the community, rather than being a problem,” says Cage.

Ochieng says the aim of WHA’s Youth Development program is simply to draw more young people in to experience the full range of programming available.

“All young people have to do is show up at [the WHA office at] 5437 W. Division,” says Ochieng. “We will listen to you, try to guide you, and any services that youth need, we can provide.”

The Austin Community Resource Center offers a variety of programs and activities for the residents of Austin and the surrounding communities: Open Gym After School Programs Recovery/Re-entry Fitness Center/ Zumba Seasoned Citizens (Seniors Health and Wellness Summer Camps Mentoring Youth Vet-Net For more information, call the Austin Community Resource Center Telephone: (773)379-1774 Fax: 773-379-1744 Email: austincommunityresourcecenter@gmail.com 501 N. Central Avenue Chicago, IL 60644 • Enter on Race | Hours of Operation: 8:30-10:00pm

Austin Weekly News, May 13, 2015

GENERATION NOW

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Sowing Seeds in Austin

W

by Deb Quantock McCarey

hen Mary Peery, 89, founder of the Austin Green Team, first met with 18-year-old Deshaun Lamb, co-founder of the Austin Peace Builders, in hopes of fielding some younger volunteers to work in her community gardens, she laid out three hard and fast rules: No profanity, no drooping drawers, and work days would begin promptly at 9 AM. “Yeah, Ms. Peery really hates to see when boys’ pants are down hanging,” Lamb laughs. “At Laramie and Maypole [Peace in the Valley Garden], initially it was all bricks, no dirt. But we got it all cleaned out, chopped down and pulled up trees – all that stuff, and that is part of how we got it looking like it does today.”

The youth-driven grass roots initiative, he says, was born out of an intergenerational community peace circle at which he and co-founder Larry Davis, 21, were encouraged to take the lead, under the tutelage of Raquel Rocha, a graduate student in social work at Dominican University and an intern at Austin Coming Together.

“Ms. Peery and the others were talking about how they needed help in their gardens, and how sometimes older people were afraid, or unable, to garden by themselves,” said Lamb, who has been drawn to change Austin for the better since his brother became Chicago’s first fatality from gun violence in 2013.

“Me and Larry, we were at the snack table [at the peace circle event], and Kristin [Bodiford, a Visiting Professor at Dominican University in River Forest] came up to us and said, ‘Do you guys want to write an AARP [American As-

WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer

Deshaun Lamb, Raquel Rocha, Truman Der and Larry Davis stand in front of Rose’s Peace in the Valley Garden in Austin on May 2, 2015. The group Austin Peace Builders, has been having workdays to expand and install new plants in the garden. (Bottom) A view of Rose’s Peace in the Valley Garden in Austin. sociation of Retired Persons] grant?’ We looked at her like, ‘who are you…are you crazy?’ ” But Professor Bodiford persisted, and the young men prevailed, winning a $1,000 AARP grant based on their resolve to “come together with older adults in our neighborhood to help them maintain their community gardens,” Lamb explained.

In addition to working with the Green Team, the Austin Peace Builders are part of the Austin Coalition for Youth Justice (ACYJ), an organization formed by New Birth Christian Center to transform the former Austin YMCA building at 501 N. Central into a Restorative Justice Hub, a safe gathering space for people of all ages. They have also hosted sev-

eral peace circles in Austin, giving community members the chance to share feelings and experiences with each other at a deep level.

“I joined Austin Peace Builders because I felt bad for youth and teenagers in the Austin area,” says Sherrif Polk, a selfdescribed former gang member who at age 16 left that lifestyle and eventually became a facilitator with Circles and Ciphers, a leadership development program for young men who are court- or gang-involved or in prison. “I want them to have an opportunity to speak about their personal experiences, and doing circles is the best way to do that.”

Mary Peery says she is simply planting seeds for the future.

“What I am trying to do with the Peace Builders is grow a few leaders,” said Peery, a 55-year Austin resident who formed the Green Team in 1992 to de-trash and then beautify her neighborhood. “But I have found that you have to have patience, and patience and patience. I just hope they will learn something from me.”

Lamb says working with Ms. Peery has been transformative for him.

“It has taught me about patience, willingness to work, and how to listen to older people. Now I can sit and have a full conversation with an old person, and if they repeat themselves, or are telling a boring story, I will still be engaged,” Lamb jokes. “Because, every time I work with an older adult, or even someone younger than me, I always learn something new.”

Who are the Austin Peace Builders?

The Austin Peace Builders works to strengthen the community by engaging youth to work in partnership with adults to create community based activities that empower both adults and youth.

What do we do?

Join us in our bi-monthly community gardening efforts! The Austin Peace Builders team up with The Austin Green Team two times a month to work in the Peace in the Valley garden at 168 N Laramie (Laramie and Maypole)

Our next work date will be May 23rd at 9am-12pm Future dates will be June 6th and June 20th 9am-12pm Does your organization serve 14-21 year olds? Are you a Youth looking to be a leader and make a difference in your community?

The Austin Peace Builders are looking for new members to join us and expand our community partnerships!

Want to join or collaborate with the Austin Peace Builders?

Find us on Facebook.com/austinpeacebuilders • Call us at 773-295-7832 • Email at austinpeacebuilders@gmail.com

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Austin Weekly News, May 13, 2015

GENERATION NOW

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“Thank You” from Austin Coming Together Bradly Johnson, St. Joseph Services

Marshawn Feltus, ACT Yoga

Josephine Robinson, World Vision

Tina Chenault, Victor Ochieng, David Wise, and Russell Coleman, Westside Health Authority

Mary Peery, Vera Watson, Irma Ferba, Austin Green Team Lynn Morton, KL Morton Enterprises Elce Redmond, South Austin Coalition Community Council Rev. Randall Harris, Westside Federation Morris Reed, Westside Health Authority Pastor Cathy Palmer and Pastor Leonard Palmer, Global Network CDC

Pastor Larry Mitchell and Deborah Mitchell, Lord of Hosts Apostle Robbie Wilkerson, Lady Tasha Wilkerson, Cornelius Coe, New Birth Christian Center DeShaun Lamb, Sherrif Polk Larry Davis, Austin Peace Builders Sarah Layden and Clariza St. George Rape Victims Advocates

Deborah Williams and Lisa Walker, Bethel New Life Bernadette Ballenger and Miguel Rodriguez, By the Hand Club Corita Brown and Nancy Henkin, Temple University, Intergenerational Center Kristin Bodiford, Graduate School of Social Work Dominican University Shelby Sloan and Joceyln Kressler, Adler University

AWC Supporters New Birth Christian Center Temple University, Intergenerational Center Graduate School of Social Work Dominican University UCAN By the Hand Club BUILD Austin Coalition for Youth Justice

Austin Weekly News, May 13, 2015

GENERATION NOW

E

by Deb Quantock McCarey

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A Bold Plan for Austin’s Youth

veryone has a dream – and can lend a voice -- in generating ideas to forge a brighter future for Austin, a neighborhood that spans four zip codes on the West Side of Chicago.

That was the take-away for attendees at the recent Austin Coming Together [ACT] sponsored Spring Break Intergenerational Leadership Summit at By the Hand Club, 415 N. Laramie.

Fifty-seven youth leaders and twenty adults came together to participate in intergenerational “talking circles.”

Such circles are popular tools for facilitating community-based brainstorming sessions, says ACT’s Director of Programs & Development, Andrew Born.

In a small room Born led a circle of fourteen people, ranging in age from 15 to 72, through the process of getting to know each other well enough to speak with candor in a group setting. Simultaneously, other such circles were in play in other rooms.

When asked for creative ways to improve the community of Austin, a 17-year-old participant asserted that the installation of more public mural art could beautify stark

CHANDLER WEST/Contributor

Austin resident Vinelle A. Sims talks about the importance of building community.

(Bottom left) A poster developed at one group’s brainstorming session. (Bottom right) A participant hands out a catalog of opportunities for recreation.

CTA el embankments; a 60 year-old shared her interest in socializing and dancing, suggesting that Austin should have more intergenerational cafes and public dance spaces.

Echoing a common sentiment, Vinelle Simms, 19, declared, “I want to see gangs gone … and more community activities in Austin where people can gather and get to know each other better.”

Other participants contributed a broad range of suggestions: creating safe places for youth to spend free time, making schools more supportive and fair, helping people of all ages learn to respect and care for one another, and providing mentors, job skills training, and employment for young people.

Adam Alonso, Executive Director of BUILD [Broader Urban Involvement & Leadership Development], pointed out that the power to forge positive change in the lives of Austin’s young people lies within those youth, in collaboration with adult mentors.

“[In gatherings such as this one] where the youth outnumber the adults, you can have those ebullient conversations and learning back and forth,” Alonso said, “because people of all ages are there to listen

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to, and learn from, each other.”

Tasha Richardson, 27, agreed. “Young people should have a major role in the decision-making; they have a lot to contribute to building a better Austin.”

Following the Leadership Summit, the next step will be to form an inclusive, intergenerational Steering Committee that will pull together all the ideas generated at the Summit into a coherent plan of action. “Ultimately, we will develop a bold 10-year plan for building a coordinated system of supports for young people throughout Austin,” said Amy Voege, ACT’s Program Manager.

She added that Austin’s youth will be well represented on this Steering Committee, as will working-age and older adults. “ACT is committed to catalyzing an intergenerational movement that will work to make Austin a better place, not only for its youth, but for all its residents,” Voege said.

The Steering Committee is forming now and will be introduced at a community-wide open meeting at the end of May. “Bringing people of all ages together like this is key to community building,” added Darnell Shields, ACT’s Director of Operations, “because like a family, together, we can all lend a hand, and we can also learn how to help ourselves.”

For more information contact Amy Voege, ACT Program Manager, at 773-417-8601.

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Austin Weekly News, May 13, 2015

CeleBrATing

5

GENERATION NOW CONNECTING THE PIECES

Years of proACTive Community Building Years of proACTive Community Building

SAVe THe DATe SAVE THE DATE JUNE 26, 2015 JUne 26, 2015 | 11am – 1pm

Celebrating 5 Years of proACTive Community Building

el Palais Bu-Sché Banquet Hall 4628 W. Washington, Chicago

Austin Eastbound to Loop

$40 buffet style lunch Awards will be issued to key community agents in the 4 ACT areas (Youth, Early Childhood, Built Environment and Work-force Development).

Keynote Speaker reverend reginald l. Bachus

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Sponsorship opportunities are available For more information: Call (773) 417-8612 or email admin@austincomingtogether.org

Our Intergenerational Community Building activities are made possible through the generous support of Humana.