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BACK TO SCHOOL FESTS

REACH LOCAL STUDENTS AND FAMILIES

The South Chicago Chamber has been sponsoring its annual South Chicago Back to School Fest for over 25 years.  Countless numbers of youths have been provided with free bags of school supplies, school physicals and shots and have been encouraged to go to school daily. This year, due to a downturn in the economy, several local organizations decided to consolidate their efforts and co-sponsor such an event rather than doing so independently. The traditional fest occurred at Chicago Family Health Center on the 91st Block of South Exchange in front of the center on August 4th.   Over 400 youth participated with their parents.  They enjoyed the entertainment, free health screenings and physical/shots, the bags of school supplies as well as healthy refreshments.  Local and citywide agencies also participated in a resource fair at the event as well. Later in August on the 26th, the Chicago Department of Health conducted their annual health fair and fest around their facility at 89th Exchange.  An estimated 350 youth also participated in this event that provided the same kind of resources as the previous fest. To top it off, the Chicago Public Schools and 10 Ward Alderman Pope sponsored another such fest in Calumet Park that attracted over an estimated 1,000 youth and their families.  That event was one of four that was held around the city by CPS and their respective aldermen. The local events are made possible by the generosity of the Chamber members, the Special Service Area #5 Commission the Chicago Family Health Center and the Board of Health.

A special note of thanks to all of those who participated and helped plan these fests!

SAFETY OF STUDENTS BEING ADDRESSED

BY LOCAL LEADERS

The Chamber hosted a meeting of both the public and private school principals in the immediate area as well as police, school security, CTA and park district administrators in an effort to map out a safety plan for local students. With the thousands of students going to and from school in the area, the leaders wanted to identify safe passages, hot-spots and safe havens for those students. This preventative measure proved to be helpful in identifying hot-spots where criminal and nuisance activity occurs and impacts negatively on the overall quality of life for the residents and immediate area. A recent rise in gang activity and violence is of a concern in spite of the overall decline in crimes in the district and city. An effort will be made to step up the enforcement of Safe School Zone designations with signage.  That would add another punch in the prosecution of any individual committing gang, weapon and other crimes around the school campuses.  The zero tolerance enforcement is in high gear to deter students becoming part of the victimization and fatalities that estimated close to 100 CPS students last year.  The cohesive group of principals and other governmental and civic leaders also provided success stories on their individual efforts that may be appropriate to replicate elsewhere.

QUARTERS FOR A CAUSE…….MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

   Last year was the first Quarters for a Cause event held here in southeast Chicago.  There were 23 participating schools, organizations and businesses.  They raised a combined $2,300 that went to help fund identified local food pantries and social service feeding programs. One principal who raised over $200 in her school called the effort “painless”.  She said that the quarter collection the day before Halloween was successful and that even her youngest kindergarten students were able to contribute a quarter that they would normally buy snacks with. The holidays are a particularly difficult time for the providers. The demand seems to increase as poorer families spend money on heating their homes,  small gifts for the holiday or trying to provide a decent holiday meal for their family. The recent depression or recession economy mode has left social service and human service agencies with tremendous funding slashes as well as a drying up of many traditional funding supporters.  To make things worse, the needs have risen, and now more and more families are finding themselves on the other side, reaching out to receive the services they once supported themselves, when conditions were not so deteriorated. This year, the collection will be held on October 30th throughout the southeast side.  The participating groups are now being solicited. If you have such a group that would like to be involved in such a great cause, call the Chamber office and let us know.  We will provide the signage and canisters for the collection location. The overall goal is to surpass the $2,300 and collect over $2,500.

Are we up to this challenge southeast side?