From makeshift studios on the South Side to the bright lights of Downtown runways, young entrepreneurs are redefining fashion as a movement rooted in community, vision, and empowerment.
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Youth Summer Opportunities
After Pandemic Sent Their Schooling Online, Young Chicagoans Are Creating Their Own Community Spaces
With mental health at the forefront, young people are finding new ways to gather and find community, with or without help from older adults.
From after-hours recreation to mental health care, youth programs remain a lifeline to children and families in vulnerable neighborhoods. But shifts, threats and cuts to grant programs risk endangering critical support.
Beyond seasonal employment programs, community organizations across Chicago are building year-round, comprehensive youth development.
Muralist Ahmed Burson reflected on his journey into Chicago’s mural scene and his hopes for using art as a tool for connection, visibility and youth empowerment.
Brave Space Alliance's Jahiem Jones discusses the power of holistic support and safe spaces to set young people up for success.
Young people don’t always feel safe in parks by themselves, especially ones where violent crime is more common. But group outings such as those with Chicago Run offer a sense of security, they said.
In search of opportunity, some young South and West siders are turning hobbies into side hustles, building skills for possible careers and leveraging personal connections.