When you enter an Early Learning classroom at CYC, there’s a good chance you’ll find children playing! What you may not see at first glance is that every classroom is intentionally designed so that children are building important skills through play. Research shows that young children are actually learning more while they are actively engaged in play and making discoveries for themselves!
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With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we want to share a special moment of gratitude for CYC Staff. Our team spends five days a week, 48 weeks a year in programming, providing holistic support for CYC children, families, and communities. Outside of program time, team members are diligently planning lessons, coordinating partnerships, investing time in professional development, and working behind the scenes to empower success! Mentors like those at CYC lay the foundation for confidence, skill building, and academic excitement.
Most notably, CYC Staff members build meaningful, lasting connections. Many of which last for lifetimes and carry on through generations. At almost every CYC location, there are parents who are also program alumni! The main reason they, and most parents, continue to come back to our Centers? The care, compassion, and support of the staff.
Below, CYC parents and children have shared their thoughts with us on the impact of CYC Staff in their lives!
To our incredible CYC staff—thank you for everything you do at every Center and location. These are just a few of the many amazing things we hear from families and children. You all are the reason our organization is full of possibilities for every child, family member, and neighbor who walks through our doors.
“CYC is changing lives one day at a time.” - Patricia Matheney, CYC Parent
It’s time to spotlight afterschool fun! CYC is celebrating Lights on Afterschool at all 11 of our Out-of-School Time (OST) program locations. From spooky season costume parties, to park clean ups and cool arts and crafts, we invite CYC children and families to have a blast while recognizing the important role afterschool programs play in our communities.
Lights on Afterschool is a national holiday created by the Afterschool Alliance to highlight the importance of continued enrichment and safety after the school bell rings. Across the US, organizations and schools, including CYC, host events that showcase the activities, creativity, and positive impact of afterschool programs.
Whether children attend a CYC Centers or participate in a CYC on Campus program at their school, they are stepping into a setting that holistically supports them and their families. Time and again, families say that OST programming like CYC’s makes a big difference, every day.
Did you know?
88% of Illinois parents agree that afterschool programs positively impact working families’ overall well-being. (Illinois After 3pm, 2025.) Seeing these benefits firsthand inspires CYC to design each part of our programming with intention, ensuring that children feel safe and cared for, and parents have peace of mind.
CYC programs offer:
Safe Passage, where CYC Staff members pick children up directly from school to be transported to Centers
Healthy snacks every day, with meals provided for full-day programming
Homework help and mentoring
Engaging, dynamic activities that encourage youth to explore and imagine the possibilities
As Anjel Williams, Director of Youth Development, shares: “By joining this nationwide celebration of Lights on Afterschool, CYC highlights the unique offerings at its sites—such as STEM, arts, wellness, leadership, and family engagement activities—while showing the community how OST programming empowers youth to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.”
So, how did CYC celebrate the benefits of afterschool programming? Take a look at how each OST location welcomes children and families to a fall-themed evening!
A huge thank you to our OST Staff for your dedication, creativity, and for shining a light on the importance of afterschool programs!
Looking for Out-of-School Time options for your child? Join us as we turn ordinary afternoons into extraordinary adventures! Click here to learn more about CYC programs and our OST locations!
You may know about our programs that run out of Centers, but did you know we also operate at eight school-based sites across the city? This extension of CYC Center-based programming, launched in 2007, was recently rebranded as CYC on Campus: After School Enrichment.
Through these powerful school partnerships, CYC on Campus reaches children right where they are, providing academic support, exciting enrichment experiences, and opportunities for social-emotional growth.
Each partnership allows our staff to bring the quality and care of our Center-based programs into the school environment, just steps away from children’s classrooms. CYC Site Coordinators collaborate with teachers and school staff to design engaging programming for both the school year and summer, turning everyday lessons into fun-filled hands-on learning.
As we kick off the new school year, we are thrilled to welcome several new school partners to the CYC family:
A. Phillip Randolph Elementary School in Englewood
Alexander Graham Elementary School in Canaryville
Minnie Miñoso Academy in Bridgeport
Woodlawn Community Elementary School in Woodlawn
CYC on Campus also allows us to continue serving neighborhoods where we have deep roots. For example, the former CYC-Fellowship House was a beloved part of the Bridgeport community. Many alumni still stay connected with CYC because of the lasting impact of their experiences there. When Fellowship House needed to close its doors, many neighbors weren’t ready to say goodbye, and neither were we. Thanks to our school-based model, we continue serving Bridgeport this year through CYC on Campus at Minnie Miñoso Academy!
Bringing more fun, discovery, mentorship, and care into our local schools is a special and essential extension of our work at CYC. It affords us the opportunity to offer safe spaces for more children to explore and grow while also giving parents peace of mind knowing their children are supported.
We are grateful to our new and long-standing school partners for supporting our programs to be successful. Whether children are at a Center or on Campus, possibility lives at CYC!
Get Involved with CYC on Campus!
Whether you are a consultant interested in teaching a class, inspired to join the Local Advisory Board (LAB), or are moved to support our programs with a donation – click the links below to get involved!
Every summer, many families ask the same big question: “What will my child do this summer while I’m at work?” CYC families don’t have to worry! For eight weeks, five days a week, CYC offers full-day programming for all ages — packed with learning, laughter, and adventure. Summer isn't just a break from school — it's a critical time for growth. Let's take a look at why summer matters, and how CYC helps kids thrive all season long!
When children are not involved in enriching activities over the summer, it can affect their performance when they return to school. Children who do not have access to enriching summer experiences may lose up to two months of reading proficiency over the summer, highlighting just how important continued learning is during the break from school. CYC's Summer Fun program makes sure to incorporate cognitive, academic, and social emotional development in every activity we offer. Whether it’s turning everyday lessons like spelling tests into team games that support children to strengthen their reading and writing skills, or gaining confidence through peer-led learning — our mentors focus on social-emotional growth, helping kids build friendships and self-esteem.
We also believe learning happens everywhere.
This summer, we took 82 field trips to places like the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Museum of Science and Industry. Summer Fun offers new, hands-on experiences. CYC takes weekly summer field trips, allowing children to explore their city safely and connect classroom lessons to the real world and discover new interests along the way.
In total, CYC delivered 2,760 hours of summer programming. That’s 2,760 hours of children being safe, engaged and inspired!
And it matters. According to a recent segment from PBS NewsHour, Chicago has seen a 40% drop in violent crime earlier this summer. Experts point to increased investment in youth and community programs — like those offered by CYC — as a key factor in this positive trend.
These hours of programming aren’t just numbers — they represent direct, positive impact on Chicago communities. Programs like ours create endless possibilities to connect with children, families, and communities all year long.
As the school year begins, more families are turning to CYC for after-school care and enrichment. With your support, we can continue offering these opportunities year-round. Help CYC make our Back to School season just as exciting as summer! Click below to donate today.
Since opening our first center in 1956, there have been thousands of families that have their own unique CYC experiences. We reached out to a handful of families to share their stories and offer a glimpse of what CYC means to them. We are excited to kick off this series with the Mabon family!
About 8 years ago, the Mabon family moved into their new home in the South Shore neighborhood. At the time, Christine and her husband were both working full-time, and their two children were six and seven years old. One day, while chatting with a friend, Christine mentioned that she had begun her search for an out-of-school time program for her children. Her friend recommended visiting CYC-Rebecca K. Crown to learn more.
The Mabon’s remember being blown away by CYC’s program offerings. As working parents, they especially appreciated the benefits like CYC’s Safe Passage program, where staff pick up children directly from school in CYC vans and bring them to our Centers for program. They were so impressed that they signed up that very same day!
There was one experience that still stands out to Christine, even after all these years. Shortly after her children were enrolled in CYC programming, her daughter, India, joined the Violin Club. “She would bring her violin home and practice Mary had a Little Lamb all the time – it took a while for her to learn.”
To support children’s growth, Crown Staff partnered with a professional music school to offer each Violin Club member an additional weekly lesson. Christine and her family didn’t hesitate to take advantage of this opportunity! Over the next few months, India continued to practice hard, learning and rehearsing her songs as often as she could.
The culmination of all that hard work came when the Violin Club performed on stage at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra! “I never thought in a million years that my daughter would be playing at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra – it was a big deal! I saw all of the CYC kids on stage playing Mary had a Little Lamb. They had been practicing so hard for that moment, and I was so proud. That day is when I knew we were in the right place.”
Sometimes it only takes one moment to spark a sense of joy and confidence. These moments – big or small – can inspire children to try something new or to learn more about who they are. Christine’s children have gone on to try nearly everything CYC has to offer, discovering interests they have become incredibly passionate about. They’ve gained experience in subjects like culinary arts, mentored younger children, and built skills in basketball and robotics. These passions have turned into real-world experiences that help them feel more confident as they begin thinking about their career paths.
Moments and stories like these happen every day at CYC – and they continue to ground us in our mission. Our programs provide comfort to entire families by creating a nurturing environment that encourages holistic exploration and growth.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and partners, CYC is able to offer enriching experiences – five days a week, 48 weeks a year. If you would like to help create more of these meaningful moments, follow the link below to show your support!
218 South Wabash Avenue, Suite 510, Chicago, IL 60604 | info@chicagoyouthcenters.org | 312-913-1700
Chicago Youth Centers (CYC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All gifts are tax-deductible.
