Organizations

Youth Outreach Services

Youth Outreach Services promotes the strengths and abilities of youth and families by providing community-based services that empower and enrich each to face life’s challenges with confidence, competence and dignity.

Youth Guidance

At Youth Guidance, we believe that no matter what challenges a young person faces, they are more likely to succeed when they have many caring adults in their lives. Our highly trained staff works directly with schools, parents and families to meet kids where they are—physically within schools, socially and emotionally—and help them break cycles of violence, overcome life and academic obstacles, make positive choices, and remain on the right path towards life success. Youth Guidance serves more than 12,000 students in Chicago’s schools. More than 95% of our students are African-American and Hispanic/Latino. Most reside in low income communities.

Yoga Gardens

Yoga Gardens NFP is a women founded not-for -profit organization which began in Chicago. Our goal is to aid and uplift communities in impoverished Chicago neighborhoods by teaching & practicing peace, and by making healthy and nutritious foods available. Through yoga, meditation, healthier food options, and beautifying the neighborhood, we relieve stress and disease in areas where these difficulties are most prevalent. We revitalize vacant lots in developing residential areas, which often accumulate garbage, attract criminal activity, and ultimately become a burden on the residents. Yoga Gardens transforms each lot into a thriving yoga & gardening community space.

Westside Health Authority

Westside Health Authority serves the Austin neighborhood and the greater Westside of Chicago. WHA’s mission is to use the capacity of local residents to improve the health and well-being of the community. For WHA, health is defined broadly to include the social and physical environment which contributes to the mental, physical and spiritual well-being of a person. It also includes relationships with family, friends and neighbors, and the ability to find stable employment. Though focused on serving the West Side, WHA serves communities throughout Chicago.

United for Better Living

Located within the West Garfield Park community on Chicago’s west side, UBL has provided services to Westside residents for slightly over thirty years, including families, seniors and youth. United for Better Living seeks to be a leading organization that strengthens and empowers individuals and families living in West Garfield Park (WGP) and its surrounding communities with relevant human service programs.

UCAN Chicago

UCAN strives to build strong youth and families through compassionate healing, education and empowerment. UCAN operates under the cornerstones of a consistent presence, meaningful programming and unrivaled diversity. UCAN serves over 13,000 at-risk children, youth and families across Illinois through more than 30 programs that create a healing process for youth who have experienced trauma and provide a continuum of care.

Teamwork Englewood

Teamwork Englewood’s mission is to unite the many organizations serving Englewood residents and work toward the common goal of building a thriving community through the Englewood Quality of Life Plan, which focuses on housing/public spaces, public safety/crime, health/wellness, education/youth, and jobs/economic development.

TARGET Area Development Corporation

TARGET is a regional grassroots social justice organization with offices in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and South Africa building power in communities to solve stubborn problems using Research, Organizing, Mobilization, and Education (ROME).

South Austin Neighborhood Association

The South Austin Neighborhood Association’s mission is to engage Chicago’s South Austin residents to join together and collectively preserve and improve the quality of life by addressing concerns and issues that are important to all. With community teamwork and cooperation of the proper authorities, we can achieve our goals of a safe, productive, and beautiful neighborhood. By establishing communication between neighbors, supporting block clubs, and encouraging local businesses to have good business practices, we can enhance a positive sense of pride in our community.

Safer Foundation

Safer Foundation is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit providers of services designed exclusively for people with criminal records. We focus on helping our clients secure and maintain jobs because we understand that employment offers the best chance at successful re-entry. Safer Foundation’s evidence-based programs are geared toward addressing barriers to employment and providing services that support our clients’ re-entry efforts. Safer has pioneered innovative programs designed specifically for youth and adults with criminal records based on their learning styles, current education levels and past education experiences. Safer also offers intensive case management and prevention education. That includes help recognizing abusive behavior; problem-solving assistance; supportive services; and other ancillary services.

http://www.saferfoundation.org/How-You-Can-Help

http://www.saferfoundation.org/How-You-Can-Help/Hire-a-Safer-Client

http://www.saferfoundation.org/How-You-Can-Help/Join-Our-Team

Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago

In the spirit of volunteerism and community partnership, Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago improves the homes and neighborhoods of people in need so they may continue to live in warmth, safety and comfort. Programs focus on the west and southwest sides, but there are programs outside of those focus areas. Feel free to call the office with questions. Direct link to donation page: CLICK HERE.

R.A.G.E. (Resident Association of Greater Englewood)

R.A.G.E. members are homeowners, stakeholders, business owners, professionals, students, parents and grandparents fighting to transform and empower Greater Englewood. This resident-funded and resident-led association consists of members who reside in all 5 wards of the Greater Englewood area with a mission of mobilizing people and resources to force a change in the community by breaking down barriers in communication and promoting positivity through solution-based approaches. Areas of focus: economic development, education and youth development, civic engagement.

Primo Center for Women and Children

For nearly 40 years, the mission of the Primo Center has been to empower families to become productive, responsible and independent members of their community. Holding true to the values of the Primo Center’s founder, the late Bishop Quintin Primo Jr., the agency’s goal is to create innovative programming for some of Chicago’s most vulnerable residents, homeless women and children. The Primo Center invests in resources that are key to addressing homelessness—housing, which includes 184 units of shelter and 90 units of permanent housing; trauma-informed wraparound mental health services; early childhood services; a violence prevention program for at-risk youth in schools and community centers; and integrated health care, which matches physical health with behavioral health care homes.

Open Books

Open Books’ mission is to transform lives through reading, writing, and the GIVING power of used books.

Each year, Open Books and our corps of volunteers bring joyful experiences to 6,000 children through our literacy programs, which are designed to boost confidence, help students see themselves as readers and writers, and provide them with access to books.

Every writing program also provides students with an opportunity to become published authors. Through our book granting programs, we donate more than 150,000 books to children, families, and under-resourced communities across Chicagoland.

Off the Street Club

Off The Street Club is a place where kids living in West Garfield Park have a safe place to learn, laugh and play without worry.

New Life Centers of Chicagoland

With centers in Little Village and Humboldt Park, New Life Centers of Chicagoland connect youth and young adults with Christ and Community through mentoring, education, and sports. Many children in the neighborhood encounter language barriers, gang pressure and a poor educational system. New Life Centers hopes to provide a safe place for them to learn and grow holistically, where confidence can be built, and where opportunity can be given.

Mothers and Men Against Senseless Killings (MASK)

MASK’s history/mission: MASK was established in 2015 as a way to put eyes on the streets, interrupt violence and crime, and teach children to grow up as friends rather than enemies. A group of caring individuals in the community began to simply hang out on the block, cook food, and emanate love. Our presence was felt. People began to notice neighbors were watching out for each other, and it was contagious. Now this method of injecting good vibes in troubled areas is catching on in more communities. Our primary mission is to build stronger communities through a focus on violence prevention, food insecurity, and housing. Additionally, MASK partners to ensure that community members have access to necessary city services, opportunities for education & professional skills growth, and economic development. If you wish to donate money, please know we are a 501(c)3, EIN: 81-3209025, and donations are tax deductible. Your gift will be used directly in support of feeding our communities, summer programming, back to school drives, holiday events, and the Lot in Englewood, Chicago. MASK is currently working in the following Chicago neighborhoods: Englewood/Hyde Park/Lawndale.

Lawndale Christian Legal Center

LCLC serves youth involved with the criminal justice system, age 24 and younger, in North Lawndale. We provide youth with a unique integration of legal and social services to empower them to develop self-reliance. We come alongside youth who have been accused of an act of delinquency in the Cook County Juvenile Justice Division or who have been accused of a crime in the Cook County Criminal Justice Division (adult court). We call our approach “holistic legal services”, and we offer legal representation, social services, mentoring, and advocacy to walk youth through – and away from – the criminal justice system. We serve youth throughout the full duration of their involvement with the criminal justice system. Our services begin while our youth have a case pending in juvenile or adult criminal court, but continue after the case is over during their period of supervision, probation, incarceration, or parole, or for six months if they are found not guilty. On average, we work with our youth for three years until they are completely free of the criminal justice system.

KLEO Community Family Life Center

KLEO offers a dependable, caring environment and diverse positive outlets for adolescent’s and teens whose life have been impacted by poverty, teen pregnancy, gangs and other challenges. The program is designed to provide children with a warm, supportive environment where they have an opportunity to enjoy activities, make choices, develop responsibilities, build character and stimulate their curiosity.

Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization

KOCO’s organizing agenda is directly informed by its constituency, the low-income and working families within the North Kenwood, Oakland, and its adjacent communities. KOCO’s organizing approach engages residents in identifying the issues that they want to see addressed, and facilitating the planning, strategizing and training opportunities to aid residents in addressing issues. KOCO is a membership-driven organization. Through the sustained engagement of low-income and working families, KOCO develops multi-generational leaders who impact decision-making processes and public policies, improving the quality of life in local communities.

Healthcare Alternative Systems

Healthcare Alternative Systems (HAS) provides a continuum of multicultural and bilingual (English/Spanish) behavioral care and social services that empower individuals, families and communities. Healthcare Alternative Systems (HAS) seeks to implement sustainable programs that benefit society by improving the well-being and recovery efforts of those individuals, families, and communities impacted by behavioral health problems.  If you would like to restrict your gift to Chicago programs, call the office to make arrangements.

Greater Chicago Food Depository

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is Chicago’s food bank. We provide food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community. We do this in partnership with 700 agencies and programs including pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and responses for children, older adults and veterans. This network distributes food where it is needed most throughout Cook County. Since 1979, the Food Depository has made a daily impact on hunger across Cook County. Last year, the Food Depository distributed nearly 72 million pounds of food, 37% of which was fresh produce. Every day we distribute the equivalent of 164,000 meals. Our impact adds up and we have been recognized as one of the leading charities in Chicago.

Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation

The Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC) works to foster and promote revitalization of the low-to-moderate income communities that we serve using comprehensive community development strategies. Since 2001, the GAGDC has worked in all, or parts of, Ashburn, Auburn Gresham, Englewood, Greater Grand Crossing, Washington Heights, West Englewood, and West Chatham.

Garfield Park Community Council

The GPCC is a community-building organization of dedicated residents and allies working together to develop leaders and create opportunities and programs that build a vital Garfield Park community. The GPCC’s goals focus on renewing the community’s commercial corridors, spurring new housing investment, addressing public safety and wellness, and building connections between neighbors. Programs integrate resident leadership and advocacy to ensure that community members lead neighborhood planning and renewal efforts.

Family Focus

The mission of Family Focus is to promote the well-being of children from birth by supporting and strengthening families in and with their communities. We help parents gain confidence and competence as the primary caregivers and educators of their children. We provide parents and their children with critical resources and learning opportunities to encourage healthy development in their communities. When donating, if you choose to restrict your donation to Chicago, you may select Englewood or Lawndale or Hermosa.

Enlace

Enlace Chicago is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of Little Village residents by fostering a safe and healthy environment and by championing opportunities for educational advancement and economic development.

Cure Violence Chicago

Cure Violence stops the spread of violence by using the methods and strategies associated with disease control – detecting and interrupting conflicts, identifying and treating the highest risk individuals, and changing social norms – resulting reductions in violence of up to 70%.  Currently, in partnership with local community based organizations, Cure Violence operates in West Englewood, Grand Crossing, South Shore, Auburn Gresham, Roseland, North Lawndale, Humboldt Park, South Chicago, Rogers Park, Uptown, Little Village, Southwest, and Grand Blvd. as well as in four major trauma centers in Chicago – Advocate Christ Medical Center, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Stroger Hospital of Cook County, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital.  Cure Violence is an evidence-based approach to preventing violence with multiple independent studies demonstrating effectiveness, including several in Chicago. (Tax exempt status under the University of Illinois Foundation.)

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Cook County

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Cook County trains volunteers to advocate on behalf of children ages 0-21 involved in Cook County’s Child Protection Court and serve as their CASA child’s voice in court, helping ensure that child’s voice is heard. CASA Advocates are connected with one child/sibling group to help ensure that their CASA child’s social, emotional, developmental, and cognitive needs are met and that the child’s best interests remain at the forefront of their child protection team members’ priorities as the team makes decisions on the child’s behalf about their health and well-being, living situation, school environment, connections with family members, and long-term court goals.

City Year Chicago

Founded in 1994, City Year Chicago is an education-based nonprofit that provides full time tutoring and mentoring to students in in multiple Chicago Public Schools. City Year partners with high-need schools to help bridge the gap between what their students need and what schools are designed to provide.

Chicago Youth Centers

For hundreds of children and families, CYC is the place where possibility lives. CYC’s early childhood, after-school, and summer programs help children and teens grow socially and emotionally and build skills for the 21st century. By providing opportunities for enrichment and helping them form meaningful relationships, they grow to be caring, successful adults who build bright futures for themselves and their families. CYC serves children and families through six Centers located in Altgeld Gardens, Bridgeport, Bronzeville, Humboldt Park, North Lawndale, and South Shore.

Chicago Urban League

The Chicago Urban League works for economic, educational and social progress for African Americans and promotes strong, sustainable communities through advocacy, collaboration and innovation. Advocacy focuses on policies and programs that ensure equal participation by African Americans in the economic and social mainstream.

By the Hand

We nourish Chicago kids in the most under-resourced neighborhoods – mind, body, and soul – to someday become the agents of change in our city and beyond.

We believe that the solution to violence in Chicago is raising up a new generation of healthy, knowledgeable, and purpose-driven children within the very neighborhoods where the violence occurs. By The Hand literally takes kids by the hand, starting in kindergarten, and walks with them all the way through college. Our program gives kids a safe learning environment during the most dangerous time of day – the after-school hours – and cares for them holistically with tutoring, nutritious meals, eye and dental care, counseling, spiritual development, and enriching activities like basketball and art.

Join us in developing Chicago’s new generation of changemakers: bythehand.org/give or bythehand.org/volunteer

BUILD

Broader Urban Involvement & Leadership Development (BUILD)

BUILD’s mission is to engage at-risk youth in the schools and on the streets, so they can realize their educational and career potential and contribute to the stability, safety and well being of our communities. Since 1969, BUILD (Broader Urban Involvement & Leadership Development) has been a pioneer and innovator in youth development, now serving neighborhoods on Chicago’s West (Austin, Humboldt Park, Hermosa, West Town) and South (Fuller Park, Bronzeville) Sides. Through three primary program areas — Prevention, Intervention, and BUILDing Futures — BUILD partners with an array of stakeholders to offer a spectrum of services designed to build lives and futures. Whether by providing a school-based curriculum, youth leadership opportunities, positive out-of school activities or intensive, individualized mentoring, all of BUILD’s programs share the same objectives: to reduce negative behaviors, school expulsions and withdrawals, recidivism rates, and court and gang involvement; and to increase pro-social behaviors, school readiness and success, college access, and opportunities for happy, productive futures.

Brighton Park Neighborhood Council

BPNC’s mission is to create a safer community, improve the learning environment at public schools, preserve affordable housing, provide a voice for youth, protect immigrant rights, promote gender equality, and end all forms of violence. Other advocacy efforts include financial and economic justice, as well as health care.

BBF Family Services

The mission of BBF Family Services is to improve the quality of life for North Lawndale youth and their families by providing safe, stable, and nurturing experiences that enhance social, emotional, academic, and career development. BBF Family Services envisions a thriving, self-sustaining community where empowered children and families have access to all opportunities. In pursuit of this vision, we provide coordinated programs and services that combat poverty, low educational attainment, chronic disease, criminal activity, and trauma in all age groups. BBF Family Services offers six program and service areas: Community Engagement, Education, Employment Services, Family Services, Health & Wellness, and Youth Services.

Austin Coming Together (A.C.T.)

A.C.T.’s mission is to increase the collective impact of member organizations’ efforts to improve education and economic development outcomes for the Austin community. Their impact goals are Quality Early Learning, Living Wage Careers, Safe Neighborhoods, and Stable Housing Markets.

Alternatives, Inc.

Alternatives, Inc. supports and empowers Chicago youth to build safer and more vibrant communities through a combination of youth development programs and behavioral health services. Alternatives is a comprehensive, multi-cultural youth development organization that operates as a support system for more than 4,000 of Chicago’s young people and their families each year. Our mission is to facilitate personal development, strengthen family relationships, and enhance the community’s well-being. Alternatives’ programs and services use an asset-based model that focuses on enriching young people’s lives by building upon individual strengths within the context of their family and community. Alternatives serves youth between the ages of 10 and 24 and their families citywide through various Chicago public schools, our Uptown Youth Center, and our interim South Side office. We are currently coordinating with existing agencies to open a permanent South Side center. Our participants reflect the city’s rich diversity and they live in 70 different Chicago communities – 48% on the south and west sides of the City.

After School Matters

After School Matters is a nonprofit that provides Chicago high school teens with high quality, after-school and summer opportunities to explore and develop their talents while gaining critical skills for work, college and beyond. Since 1991, more than 200,000 teens have participated in our hands-on, project-based after-school and summer programs in the arts, communications and leadership, sports and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Programs take place at locations throughout the city including Chicago public high schools, Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Library locations, community organizations, downtown at the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts and in Belmont Cragin at our new Michael and Karyn Lutz Center for After School Matters.