Joining Forces with the U.S. Human Rights Network

On December 9th, the U.S. Human Rights Network hosted SWYC youth for the 2007 Human Rights Conference at the Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, Illinois.

They experienced human rights training workshops, guest speakers from around the country and networked with national, regional, and local grassroots organizations that are utilizing the human rights framework in their day to day work. The conference's cultural opening was held at SWYC's Amandla Center the night before, where attendees shared their artistic talents, music, and energy with a unique group of youth and activists in town for the conference. Read More

Town Hall Meeting

On December 8th, SWYC youth played a vital role in uniting with various Chicago groups to discuss issues facing today's African American men. Calling on social change agents, members of faith-based communities, entrepreneurs, community based organizations, educators, elected officials, and others concerned about the future of Black people, the BMBI Town Hall meeting was an inspiring chance for people to come together and discuss our quality of life in the 21st Century.

Reconnecting to Hip Hop Roots

Students from SWYC's University of Hip Hop helped organize the 2007 Hip Hop & Youth Empowerment Summit on November 29, 2007.

Hip Hop after school programs, organizers, political action committees, and various allies convened at Depaul University for an evening of speak out sessions, panel discussions, performances, art, information distribution, and speeches. The evening served to reconnect to the roots of Hip Hop, educate youth on the different actions being taken in the name of social justice, and inspire positive lifestyles. Read More

Nine SWYC Youth travel to Oakland, California

Billed as Harry Belafonte's Gathering for Justice, the world renowned humanitarian called a national conference of youth to gather in Oakland for the weekend of November 19 to address their pressing issues and spark their consciousness to continue the work of his generation and those before him on the train of justice. Youth came to Oakland from Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., Brooklyn, Boston, Chicago and Detroit, as well as California.

While nine SWYC Youth were afforded the opportunity to participate in this unique national conference, dozens more attended the regional Chicago Gathering for Justice, held a few weeks earlier on November 3rd at the Gary Comer Youth Center. At the Chicago Gathering, local community based and social justice organizations, networks, and coalitions, including civil, human political rights groups, came to an understanding that collective actions are necessary to stop the criminalization and incarceration of whole generations of low income children, and took crucial steps towards learning from each other and planning those actions.

Teaching for Social Justice Resources

On November 10, SWYC participated in the Teaching for Social Justice Curriculum Fair in Pilsen, Chicago.

The Teaching for Social Justice Curriculum Fair, organized by Teachers for Social Justice of Chicago, is like a Science or History Fair, except volunteer educators and youth "present" and share ideas for bringing topics of social justice into the classroom. SWYC shared our Know Your Rights resources, youth-produced media, and youth research on zero tolerance policies and the Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Track with fellow Chicago teachers and students.

Humane Conditions Now for Juvenile Detention Center

Concerned Youth are confronting the city on the neglect of Residents at County Temporary Juvenile Detention Center, which are between 11 and 20 years old.

On July 31st, youth from around Chicago held a press conference and rally demanding that Cook County Board President Todd Stroger respect the dignity of Children residing at the Cook County Temporary Juvenile Detention Center (Audy Home).

Federal courts have since appointed a new Temporary Administrator to the Detention Center, and on October 29th at Marquette Community School, SWYC Youth worked again with city groups to hold a teach-in and rally about the current state of conditions. With Earl Dunlap, the new Detention Center Administrator, in attendance, students spoke out for immediate humane conditions, a restorative, community-based alternative to the Detention Center, and a re-direction of city funds into schools, employment, and youth services. Read More

Greater Lawn Celebrates Dia De Los Muertos

After the initial fear and fright of Halloween sets in, our days simmer down to a more solemn and spiritual mood as we enter the days to come remembering our loved ones and celebrating their lives with prayer, poetry, music, song, dance, food, flowers, and the recantation of stories in their honor. This year on November 1st, the Greater Lawn Community Youth Network celebrated the wonderful tradition of Dia de los Muertos to honor those who have entered Mictlan (the Spirit World). Those attending enjoyed Tamales and Mexican hot chocolate, while sharing pictures and stories of loved ones.

Graffiti Revolution on Chicago's Southwest Side

On Sunday, October 7th, the SWYC family celebrated the unveiling of a beautiful new mural — a symbolic expression of local struggles against the criminalization of youth, and an examination of the community's vision for youth liberation in Chicago and beyond.

Commemorating the 15-year anniversary of the incorporation of the SWYC, the mural contains symbols and images identified through a community process with youth and staff of the AAAN, IMAN, Generation Y, and other youth program-focused organizations from the surrounding area.

Among the powerful images portrayed in the mural are busts of Harold Washington, the first black mayor of Chicago, who passed away in 1987, and nationally renowned Palestinian community organizer Samir Odeh, who died of a heart attack in Jerusalem in 1994 and was one of the founders of both the Arab Community Center and the AAAN in Chicago. Also highlighted in the mural are composite sketches of African American, Latino, Native, Arab, and other female and male youth—representative of the multi-national character of the southwest side of Chicago and the long and positive history of youth development work in the area. Read More

Project YES Heads East For College Tour

In May, a large group of Hubbard students, parent chaperones and SWYC staff left for a week-long tour of colleges along the East Coast as a part of SWYC's Project Yes program.

They visited the cities of Baltimore, Washington D.C. and New York and experienced Coppin State University, Morgan State University, Howard University and Columbia University. While in Washington, the group also be met Congressman Bobby Rush and visited the White House, Washington Monument, The National Mall and the Smithsonian Museum. After visiting Columbia University and sightseeing in New York City, they were warmly welcomed back to SWYC and the Windy City.