Peace Makers elevate their voices

At the beginning of June, CYC youth participated in Bright Promises Foundation’s Elevating Youth Voices Fair, a free community event designed to amplify the voices of youth leaders across Chicago.

The children, from CYC-Sidney Epstein Youth Center in North Lawndale, presented on their club, “The Peace Makers.”

Marissa, a CYC student, explains the Peace makers’ mission to an attendee at the Fair.

The Peace Makers use technology from the CYC Maker Lab and STEAM principles to spread messages of peace. For them, this might mean recording podcasts and creating stickers or even using a community garden to share healthy foods.

The Peace makers pose for a photo.

The youth are particularly inspired by superheroes who use technology to create change. At the Fair, the children were able to share their mission and objectives with more than 20 other Chicago organizations and community members. The event gave the children, who were among the younger presenters there, an opportunity to practice their public speaking skills and gain interviewing experience.

“The event gave them a chance to see how other kids just like them, or a little older, are making differences in their community,” said Chelsea Smith, a CYC staff member at the event.

We are so grateful to the Bright Promises Foundation for supporting Chicago Youth Centers as a grantee, and for providing these special chances for CYC kids to personally share their messages of non-violence and peace.