Chicago youth ambassadors ensure dozens of struggling households have what they want for holidays

The odor of popcorn, the promise of a Santa sighting, and baggage of free groceries greeted dozens of households who ventured out to West City Academy on Dec. 17. The vacation giveaway supplied garments, toys, $100 present playing cards and sources for individuals who need assistance with hire and utility payments.

Hosted by the Various Faculty Community (ASN), the West Aspect web site was one in all two that sought to assist households through the vacation season. The opposite was on the Progressive Management Academy on the South Aspect.

Amid the West Aspect festivities had been neighborhood youth ambassadors, ages 16 to 24, from ASN’s member faculties — West City Academy, Pedro Albizu Campos, Progressive Management, Latino Youth Excessive Faculty and Aspira Antonia Pantoja — ensuring households felt supported.

The ambassadorship is a yearlong scholar management program designed by ASN’s neighborhood youth employment program, a part of a joint initiative with the Crucial Well being Community and Chicago Division of Household and Help Providers’ Group Youth Service Corps.

“The children needed to make sure that the households would have a superb vacation attributable to so many issues happening,” stated Jessica Taylor, program director of the Crucial Well being Community, fashioned to supply emergency help to the town’s hardest hit communities within the pandemic.

Every youth ambassador helps as much as six households within the Belmont-Cragin, Englewood, Pilsen, Little Village, Humboldt Park and Hermosa neighborhoods. Ninety youth ambassadors from the 5 faculties test in with neighborhood households on a day by day or weekly foundation to ensure their meals and shelter wants are met by providing groceries on a biweekly foundation, hire help, utility help and well being care companies. Ambassadors spend 40 hours a month serving to neighborhood members and are compensated by the Youth Service Corps, Taylor stated.

“They began in 2021, seeing there was such a necessity and continues to be a necessity, they proceed to press by,” Taylor stated. “The vacation occasions took place because of the scholars themselves; they noticed a necessity and advocated for his or her purchasers.”

Taylor stated the scholars did every little thing for the occasions, from organizing and selling to inviting households, securing the giveaways and serving to run the occasions. Yvette Hernandez, 21, a mom of two and a brand new graduate from Latino Youth Excessive Faculty, was available to assist households as a result of she is aware of “how the battle is.”

“I do know there are laborious instances on the subject of the vacations. And this yr, it’s been a tough yr for everyone,” Hernandez stated. “One minute they’re OK and the following minute, they’re in a downfall the place they don’t don’t have anything to run to. They both misplaced a member of the family or misplaced their job as a result of they received sick and so they couldn’t work no extra.”

Hernandez joined the ambassador program a couple of months in the past as a result of she likes to assist others, put a smile on their face, assist folks heat their hearts and make youngsters completely happy. “Those that received youngsters, they name and inform me thanks for one more plate or lights on of their place.”

Taylor stated ASN college students have endured struggles themselves, together with housing insecurity and teenage parenting, which result in larger college dropout charges. She stated it’s not unusual that youths who’re re-enrolled in ASN faculties have frolicked on the streets.

Laquaja Lafayette, 21, spent her later teen years sleeping on couches and in automobiles when she misplaced her mom to breast most cancers in 2018. The 2020 West City Academy graduate has been a neighborhood youth ambassador for the reason that program was created. And she or he plans on staying with it till she turns 24. Together with her first little one due in March, she’s prepared to maneuver into her personal place on the West Aspect this month along with her little one’s father. Lafayette believes her expertise makes her extra of an asset to the households she works with.

“I do know what it feels prefer to go days with out consuming, and being homeless and sleeping from home to accommodate,” she stated. “Having went by that, I really feel like they will connect with me higher as a result of I’ve expertise.”

The neighborhood youth ambassadors helped greater than 480 households of coloration with the vacation giveaways. At Thanksgiving, households acquired meals with a turkey or a ham and all of the fixings with the help of Mariano’s, Walmart and DoorDash, with funding from the town of Chicago’s Division of Household and Help Providers’ Chicago Youth Service Corps.

Whereas college students are getting diplomas and constructing their management, communication, advocacy, downside fixing, and battle decision abilities with this system, ASN is hoping the combo is offering them the chance to transition into the workforce, faculty or trades.

Hernandez admits her mindset shifted from cash to books when she selected to assist neighborhood members, a mindset that brings her hope. Hernandez, a Again of the Yards resident, stated everyone wants any individual to speak to and a shoulder to lean on.

“Hold your head up,” she tells different Chicagoans. “If anyone wants assist, I’m greater than (keen) to assist as a lot as I can.” Together with her highschool diploma, Hernandez is wanting ahead to enrolling in Malcolm X School to pursue a legislation or nursing diploma.

Lafayette is concerned with a profession as a social employee.

“I’ve a distinct perspective on life,” she stated. “I really feel like on daily basis I reside I’m turning into an increasing number of like my mama. As a result of every little thing that she needed to try this she didn’t get an opportunity to, I really feel that I’m doing it.”

drockett@chicagotribune.com