Community organizations are on a mission to empower Chicago’s youth through anti-violence programs in neighborhoods across the city.

Whether through violence intervention and prevention programs, or college and career services, organizations like UCAN are providing resources to help young people choose a path of nonviolence toward a better future.

“A big part of that portfolio is working with the Department of Children and Family Services,” said UCAN president and CEO Christa Hamilton. “We do foster care programs, residential programs and transitional living programs. But from that we’ve spun out to all of these other supportive services. So, our work force development, our violence prevention, our youth development programs: All create an equal system in what we call our ‘continuum of care.’ It starts with those kids who are in the care of the state of Illinois, but it has grown into so much more through the years.”

BUILD (Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development) has been operating for more than 50 years and offers initiatives to children and young adults between the ages of 6 and 24, with an emphasis on gang prevention.

“Working with young people where we started in 1969: Young people who were on the streets, gang-involved. So these were young adults and older teens,” BUILD chief community officer Bradly Johnson said. “But what we learned was, they didn’t start there and that you had to start to reach them earlier. You had to connect with them sooner before they went down a path. So we work in a lot of schools, in elementary schools. Working with our kids, working with families, making sure that our kids have access and exposure to opportunity.”

Johnson says violence needs to be looked at as a symptom.

“A symptom of a lack of access to opportunity, a lack of exposure and the ability to make good decisions,” he said. “But you have options to do that, and so for the younger ages: Getting those ideas in their heads and exposure.”

When violent crimes happen in Chicago, many organizations like UCAN and BUILD join forces and support each other in canvassing the affected communities. This includes the death of 9-year-old Ariana Molina, who was killed by a gunshot wound to the head on April 13 in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. A community where the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago operates.

“From the moment we received the email and CPD call from the district, everyone was hands on,” said Samuel Castro, who serves as director of community violence intervention at the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago. “Not only our staff that works Back of the Yards, but our staff that were on call in West Garfield Park, and also Austin was on it. And I’m also grateful and humbled that I have partners throughout the city that came … We’re now walking the family through their traumatic experiences. And the love thing about being in a partnership is everybody came, right? … And I think about the kids … It was a blessing to be in a collaborative effort.”

A Safer City is supported, in part, by the Sue Ling Gin Foundation Initiative for Reducing Violence in Chicago.