This month, READI Chicago’s North Lawndale community hosted representatives of the Chicago Bears, including Chairman George McCaskey and running back Tarik Cohen, for a site visit and press conference.
Cohen and McCaskey had a chance to see the program in action before meeting with Senior Director Eddie Bocanegra, READI Chicago staff from UCAN and the North Lawndale Employment Network, and two program participants who shared their personal experiences before and throughout the program.
“To tell a room full of people, half of them you’ve never seen before in your lives, about some [pretty personal details] of your life takes a lot of courage,” McCaskey, who supports READI Chicago through the Chicago Sports Alliance, told the Chicago Tribune. “You see how the program seems to have given them a foothold, something to hold on to. There have to be a lot of pressures on the street, from their so-called friends and neighbors, telling them perhaps on a daily basis to give it up, and they’re sticking to it. It’s admirable.”
Both Cohen and Kyle, one of the READI Chicago participants who shared his personal story with the Bears, lost people close to them at the beginning of this year. Kyle shared that his younger brother was shot and killed in January, while Cohen shared that the death of his childhood friend one month later was part of the reason he chose to visit READI Chicago.
“It’s the exact same violence that’s going on in Chicago,” Cohen told the Tribune. “It might be on a smaller scale where I’m from, but it’s gun violence. So if I can reach someone, maybe I can prevent that from happening in someone else’s life.”
Following the discussion portion of the Bears’ visit, READI Chicago staff and participants stood alongside Cohen in front of media as McCaskey announced a new Bears program committing $1 million to 10 charities nominated by fans, in recognition of the franchise’s 100th season.
“For [George McCaskey] to hear the story of our participants adds not only credibility with the young people we’re working with, but I also think it’s a good exchange,” Eddie said. “Now he knows. He can never say he doesn’t know about this community or these people who are affected by those issues.”
