Our Mission

The Southwest Youth Collaborative has touched the lives of many people in different ways; from helping a young person get to college, to developing the creative and artistic skills of 6 year olds commissioned to work on a community mural. Cultivating critical minds and nurturing the creativity of our young people is of the utmost importance. Our mission is to unleash the potential of youth from diverse racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds to become actively contributing members of society through initiatives that focus on positive youth development.

Our programs work to build self-esteem, personal and social growth, cooperation, leadership, cross-cultural understanding, and community awareness. Our Leadership Development efforts work to build youth and community power in decision-making processes that affect children, youth and families.

Programs We Offer

Scholarshop

is a comprehensive educational services program that encourages and assist young people to complete high school or alternative education and advance to college or other meaningful post-secondary options. Scholarshop, which is comprised of Educational Talent Search (ETS) and 21st Century Community Learning Center, uses self-discovery, life skills workshops, career exploration, resume writing, college preparation activities, and college tours to help participants focus on their options and ambitions. Scholarshop incorporates alternative education programming at our own sites and school-based educational services at various local middle and high schools through our Educational Talent Search, and 21st CCLC Programs.

Contact: Camille Williamson

Educational Talent Search (ETS)

provides case management and various support services to students working towards college entrance, who are the first in their family to seek post-secondary education. ACT prep classes for select juniors, as well as college visits and special events are also offered. The school-based Career and College Resource Center is open to students, and features college information and computers for completing applications.

Contact: Camille Williamson

Greater Lawn Community Youth Network (GLCYN) Summer Camp and After School Program

offers a comprehensive summer camp, and after school educational enhancement services for 100 youth aged 5 - 13. Both programs focus on social and academic skills-building through literacy, multicultural education and recreational activities.

Contact: Sandra Sosa

Ferdinand Peck Elementary Community in Schools Initiative

programming includes weekly sessions in Dance (breakdance, salsa and meringue), Sports (martial arts, swimming, soccer and skateboarding) for youth in 5th and 8th grade (Programs subject to change). English as a Second language (ESL) and Mural Arts are also available for adults.

Contact: Norma Leal

G.E.D Preparation Program

provides ongoing classes to prepare youth for the GED exam with classroom instruction, test-taking skills and practice exams.

Contact: James Hollins

Urban Options

works intensively with older youth to prepare them for entry into the workforce, and develop marketable skills. Participants receive job readiness training, job placements, referrals to local employers, as well as case management and mentoring. Urban Options develops life-skills including money management, self-sustainability, and problem solving. Guest speakers, college preparation, and internship opportunities are other aspects of the Urban Options program that give young people marketable skills for a future career.

Contact: James Hollins

Community Organizing Initiative (COI)

aims through youth and adult activism and grassroots organizing, to increase the voice and power of those directly affected by oppression and bring them into a movement for racial and economic justice and gender equality. Generation Y, recognized as a leader among youth organizing projects in Chicago, has demonstrated the power for positive change that young people can be. COI also coordinates adult organizing through Families Organized for Real Change and Empowerment (FORCE), and advocacy efforts for the Community Justice Project.

Contact: Charity Tolliver

The Southwest Athletic Club

uses organized sports leagues as a vehicle to help youth and families access resources in their community, including Health Care, Housing, Financial Services, Food Banks, Immigration/Citizenship, Legal Aid, Workforce development, and Education. Based on the United Nations Sport for Development and Peace Initiative which uses sports as a catalyst to target issues, create awareness, and bring diverse populations together around peace, hunger, poverty, health and development, sport-based partnerships create a structured environment allowing for coordination, knowledge and expertise sharing and cost-effectiveness. By implementing organized sports, our community wide network is able to dramatically reach a greater number of families far beyond our current system of delivery.

Contact: Regi Ratliff

Coaching Club

is a Sports-Based leadership Development Program, which engages participants in a structured mix of physical, personal and social development activities focusing on five levels of responsibility: self-control, cooperation, decision-making, leadership, and application of these responsibilities. Participants are able to coach and evaluate each other during activities which include: basketball, soccer, yoga, and karate.

Contact: James Hollins

University of Hip-Hop

combines art and the urban landscape through dance, poetry, music, mural arts and gardening in an environment that promotes respect for all cultures and the world around us. Working with professional artist, participants learn the histories, philosophies, and methods of urban art forms with particular emphasis on the values of the Youth Liberation Movement. Community service is a central component of this program and typically involves replacing graffiti vandalism with professional-quality murals, breakdancing or DJ�ing for special events, and hosting open mic nights for the community.

Contact: Trinidad Castillo

YouthReady Chicago Community Council

is a three-year initiative that engages community members, youth-serving organizations, and the City Department of Family and Support Services in developing a coordinated regional and citywide network of programs, services, and resources available to youth during out of school time throughout Chicago. SWYC is the lead coordinating organization for Region 5. Boundaries for Region 5 include: Harlem Avenue to the west, Lake Michigan to the east, 83rd Street to the south, and 55th Street to the north.

Contact: Qaid Hassan

Recurrent Dreams Art Therapy

uses creative writing, visual art, vocal articulation and movement expression (poetry, mural/graffiti art, spoken word, break dancing, and foot work dancing) within an interactive, experiential therapeutic process that help youth gain a deeper understanding of self and increase feelings of mastery over their own emotions, thoughts and behavioral processes. Expressive Therapy interventions (Drama, Art, Psychodrama, Poetry, Dance, Spoken Word, and Music therapies) are employed.

Contact: Granite Amit

Contact List

Executive

Camille Odeh, Executive Director
Florence Johnson Development Director
Lynda Baran Finance Director
Sonia Diaz-Rangel Associate Director
Khadijah Miah Executive Administrative Assistant

Education

Camille Williamson Program Director- Educational Talent Search College Preparation Program
Sandra Sosa Program Director- After School and Summer Day Camp Program
Norma Leal Program Coordinator- Community Schools Program (Ferdinand Peck Elementary School)

Job Readiness

James Hollins Program Director- Urban Option Program
Yirser Ra Hotep Case Manager- Urban Options Program
Amy Condic Case Manager- Urban Options Program
Dwayne Selmon Case Manager- Urban Options Program
Hivan Chiquito Jobs Coach- Urban Options Program

Sports

Regi Ratliff Coordinator- Southwest Athletic Club

Arts

Trinadad Castillo Program Coordinator- Cultural Arts Program
Keith Redmond Program Coordinator- Voices of the Old/New School Program

Community Organizing

Charity Tolliver Community Organizing Initiative Director
Brisia Gomez Lead Organizer- Education Rights Coalition
Chris Bufford Lead Organizer- Black Youth Leadership and development (BYLD)
Vanessa Redmond Lead Organizer- Generation Y
Sade Richman Lead Organizer- Young Women's Outreach Program

Special Initiatives

Anthony Joplin Program Coordinator� Restorative Community Service Project
Qaid Hassan Program Coordinator� Region 5 Youth Ready Chicago Community Council
Ingrid Carillo Project Assistant� Region 5 Youth Ready Chicago Community Council

The Southwest Youth Collaborative