What We Do
We invest in youth in underserved Chicago neighborhoods to help them discover and realize their full potential--from early childhood education to and through college.
HERE'S WHY ... Young people are most at risk for delinquent behaviors during the after-school hours of 2:00 to 6:00 pm. This is compounded in neighborhoods where poverty, drugs, violence, and under-performing schools are the norm. The good news is that these underserved children experience the greatest gains in academic performance and social and life skills development when they participate in after-school programs that are fully implemented and they attend regularly. That's why we're here--and have been for more than half a century.
HERE'S HOW ... CYC welcomes at-risk, low-income youth ages 3-18 into eight neighborhood-based centers and a residential camp where they receive one-on-one and small group guidance from well-trained, caring adults. Our centers and unique camp are oases of encouragement and support for these children.
Three core programs reinforce their strengths, support academic success, and help them envision a positive future:
- Head Start and Early Childhood Development, ages 3 to 5
- Out of School Time, ages 5 to 12
- Teen Leadership Development, ages 13 to 19
CYC also offers College and Career Readiness, Mentoring Children of Prisoners, Environmental Education, Educational Support for Wards of the State, and Crisis Intervention.
EMPHASIZING THE POSITIVE ... Five content areas are reinforced through a Positive Youth Development model:
Academic Achievement -- College and Career Readiness
Life Skills -- Health and Wellness -- Arts and Culture
Join CYC's Charity Race Team! Registration for the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon opens February 1, 2012. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is the pinnacle for elite athletes and every day runners alike. Runners from all 50 states and over 100 countries will set out to accomplish a personal goal. This years' Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 7:30 am. You can participate in this celebrated event and invest in under-served Chicago youth by joining CYC's Charity Race Team! Chicago Youth Centers does not charge a registration fee to participate as a charity runner. The minimum requested fundraising amount is $1,000. CYC will pay for your training program and will support your fundraising efforts! Not a runner?
For more information, please contact Melanie Sillas, CYC's Manager of Programs & Resource Development at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . CYC Partners With Operation Warm
Chicago Youth Centers and Operation Warm, a charitable organization focused on providing new coats to children, have joined together to provide new winter coats to Chicago youth in-need. Thanks to Operation Warm, CYC will be providing much needed winter coats to over 150 youth at CYC centers including ABC Polk Bros., Crown Center, Fellowship House and Centro Nuestro. For more information about this partnership, contact Melanie Sillas, Manager of Programs & Resource Development at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
CYC College Fair a success
CYC hosted its 4th Annual College Fair, on Friday, October 28 at the ICE Lawndale Theaters in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood, an event that attracted more than 250 youth and recruiters! A joint effort with organizations such as Youth Ready Chicago, Family Focus-Lawndale and Better Boys Foundation, CYC’s ABC Polk Bros. Youth Center hosted more than 40 universities and colleges from around the country; as well as Chicago-area college preparatory high schools in the only College and College Prep HS Fair hosted in the North Lawndale neighborhood. Information tables and workshops allowed students and their parents to ask questions, receive information, meet admission representatives, and learn about local college readiness programs in the communities. Click here to view our facebook page for photos from the event! The annual College and College Prep fair is a part of CYC’s College and Career Readiness(CCR) program. The CCR Program serves as a hub for college preparation for students and parents. This program is an Illinois Steps Ahead GEAR Up program and is generously supported by the Hearst Foundations. |
