Our visionTo place young people at the center of our community by supporting youth-led initiatives and fostering constructive relationships between teenagers and other community stakeholders.
1. A place for young people at the center of our community life and in the heart of Hyde Park’s business district.
2. Supporting youth development by advocating for meaningful and engaging activities for teenagers on 53rd Street.
3. Constructive relationships between teens and other community stakeholders, including adult residents, local businesses, and police.
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Our vision of Teen Halloween is a teen-led, adult-supported street festival. To get there, we need broad based collaboration and investment.
Imagine strolling up and down 53rd Street next Halloween. Instead of flashing blue police lights, at Kimbark Plaza you see students from Dyett High putting on a dance performance. King College Prep has a fashion show in Nichols Park across from Target. Hyde Park Academy students have a stage with an open mic in Harper Court. The Teen Arts Council from UChicago Arts + Public Life is curating a pop-up teen gallery show across from Harper Theater. The Youth Art Board of Hyde Park Art Center is leading a hands on experiential workshop. Students from Kenwood High are throwing an outdoor DJ dance party in their football field. Teen Ambassadors from all over the south side are helping out at participating retailers, who are offering discounts and samples to kids with high school IDs. Adults in Orange mingle with the crowds, hand out candy, chat and laugh with young people they never met before. Now imagine that all year long, teens and adults in our community are engaged in activities, workshops, open mics, conflict resolution training, and collective creative imagining to get us there. |