Community Impact 2023
As we reflect on another successful summer, along with extended programming after Labor Day, we would like to take time to recognize the growth of the young adults in our program. We know that hands-on learning, consistent and sustained relationship building, along with mentorship can transform a young person’s life. The participants in One For One have complex and often dangerous circumstances to navigate on a daily basis. Our Keeping Grounded Summer Internship Program provides positive opportunities and critical touchpoints for our students, and this summer was no different.
Here are some of the highlights from summer 2023:
30 students participated in our summer program
All students opened a Wintrust student banking account
100% of interns completed our summer program
90% attendance rate amongst all participants
Our interns built a West Side garden site from the ground-up
2 former interns took on manager roles in summer program
Multiple interns secured employment after the summer program ended
Garden program taught STEM science skills in soil, weed, crop, entomology and landscape design
Provided Social and Emotional Learning and Conflict Resolution support
Had high recruitment of younger generation of teens wanting to participate and enter the workforce
Partnered with established West Side organizations to build community partnerships
Career exposure: Interns took weekly field trips for career development
We will NEVER get used to gun violence.
As we celebrate the highs, we also need to acknowledge the lows. Prior to the start of the summer program, we tragically lost one of our students to gun violence. Timothy, just 14 years old, was gunned down in broad daylight on the West Side of Chicago. This horrifying incident had a profound impact on the young individuals in our program, many of whom knew Timothy closely. Despite their pain, trauma and daily burden of fear from this incident and countless other, the kids in our program were so resilient and kept coming to work in the garden all summer.
“So many of us are fighting battles that we don’t speak about, and this program provides the support that we need to keep moving on.”
We know our services are working and we must continue to provide critical support and career paths for our young people to thrive.