North Lawndale
ABC Polk Bros. Center (North Lawndale)One of the original three centers to form Chicago Youth Centers (CYC) in 1956, ABC Polk Bros. in North Lawndale offers a Continuum of Caring. Well-trained youth-development specialists give individual attention to youth to help them with academic achievement and social and life skills development. Following the Positive Youth Development model, the goal is to give members the tools, support, and guidance they need to reach their full potential through the following age-specific programs.
Volunteer: Join a dedicated group of enthusiastic community volunteers and help our kids achieve a more successful future. You can learn more at our Volunteers & Mentors page. You can make a positive and lasting difference in these kids' lives kids simply by making a gift of any size online. CYC-ABC Polk Bros. Youth Center |
Early Childhood Education:half-day and full-day Head Start and State Pre-Kindergarten programs for children ages 3 through 5 provide a solid academic, social, physical/nutritional, and emotional foundation for entry into kindergarten 2011 READING STARS: Summer Reading Program at ABC Polk Bros. Youth CenterAbout a year ago, the Northern Board began an initiative to provide tutoring support to the children in CYC’s School Age Program. After consultation with Program and Center Staff, they decided to test the idea at ABC Polk Bros.Youth Center in North Lawndale. School-Age After-School Program:For children ages 5 through 12, every day after school and all day on school holidays. Experienced and caring youth workers offer activities that include: tutoring and homework help, computer training, CYC’s Visual and Performing Arts Program, sports and recreation, life skills development, community service work and parent involvement opportunities. The Big Bike GiveawayAstellas Pharma has an impressive community outreach program—and this year it reached all the way to the Regency Hotel by O’Hare Airport, where a group of associates were told by their CEO that their next assignment was to put together 50 bikes to be given to CYC members. While they were assembling the bikes, they were unaware that in a nearby room sat a group of youth from the ABC Polk Bros. Youth Center, having snacks and wondering what kind of surprise would take them all the way out to the airport. After the volunteers made a few quality assurance test runs in the hall, the two groups were brought together and the bikes were matched to the kids. The expressions on the faces both young and not so young confirmed the project was a phenomenal success.
Teen Leadership Development After-School Program:Young people ages 13 through 19 participate in activities that include: tutoring, life skills development, violence prevention, pregnancy prevention, cooking and nutrition, service learning, leadership development, computer training, CYC’s Visual and Performing Arts Program, sports. and fitness. Thank you Mitch PutlackThank you Mitchell Putlack Interiors
Mitch’s renovation at Chicago Youth Centers’ ABC Polk Bros. Youth Center is truly impressive: he took a dark and daunting space and transformed it into a warm, inviting place perfect for the various functions it serves. Throughout the process he took time to learn about who would be using the space and for what purpose, showing exceptional insight into the needs and wants of the children and teens the center serves. We especially appreciated the way he had a story that illustrated each design idea he presented.
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