READI Chicago Senior Director Eddie Bocanegra testified on a panel in front of a House of Representatives subcommittee as part of the hearing on Community Responses to Gun Violence in our Cities. Through his testimony, he gave a firsthand, on-the-ground perspective of ongoing community violence and the wide ripple effects of everyday violence.

During the testimony, he emphasized the complicated and wide-ranging factors that contribute to gun violence in Chicago and similar cities, focusing on limited access in impoverished communities to everything from employment to safe housing to mental health services. While mass shootings in recent months have received an array of media coverage, it was important to draw attention to the people and families in our communities who are impacted by gun violence every single day, as well as to Chicago’s sustained collaborative effort since 2016 to combat violence.

“After spending much of my time in prison contemplating how my future would have meaning, my goal is clear—to use my experiences as a former gang member and inmate, as well as my formal education, to save lives, and to help others with backgrounds like mine find and achieve their own dreams for a safer and better future,” Eddie said.

Rep. William Lacy Clay of Missouri and Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois comprised the first panel of the hearing, while Eddie spoke on the second panel and was joined by Reggie Moore of the City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention, Amber Goodwin of the Community Justice Action Fund & Community Justice Reform Coalition, and Maj Toure of Black Guns Matter.

In the lead-up to Labor Day weekend, staff from across the READI Chicago initiative gathered for games and food at a celebratory cookout.

 

The READI Chicago family reflected on the evolution of the program in its first two years and on the importance of cognitive behavioral therapy and jobs. Staff shared a moment of silence and released balloons in recognition of all those who were a part of the journey, pledging to honor them by creating lasting, sustainable change.

In observance of Labor Day, staff considered the value and necessity of work, both to READI Chicago staff and to participants.

“I feel like work dignifies the human being, and our participants need to experience that,” Englewood Outreach Director Tony Salaam said. “They need to experience dignity, pride, self-respect, and the ability to provide for themselves and their families. Getting a paycheck is new for a lot of them.”

Since Mayor Lori Lightfoot launched the vacant lot beautification pilot Grounds for Peace nearly two months ago, READI Chicago work crews have made progress on about 20 previously vacant lots.

Work crews from all five READI Chicago communities have worked with supervisors from Urban Growers Collective (UGC) to beautify lots on the South and West sides, and UGC supervisor Edwardo Bey said the READI Chicago participants working on the lots love the project, in part because they are learning skills they can convert to unsubsidized employment opportunities.

“It’s been really great to see community members engaging with Grounds for Peace and getting excited for the projects in their communities,” said UGC’s Candace Clark, who supervises the READI Chicago work crews. “Many folks have visited the gardening sites to shake hands and thank the team. The participants are really starting to realize the impact they’re having on their communities.”

When the pilot program was announced in July, Marlon Chamberlain, Greater Englewood community project manager for READI Chicago, stressed the importance of employer partners believing in READI Chicago participants, as well as the value that meaningful work brings to participants, allowing them to build up their communities from the inside out.

“Violence can only be solved with the help of employers like Urban Growers Collective, who are committed and invested in this population, to remove obstacles for people who were formerly incarcerated,” Chamberlain said. “This collaboration really represents a model to the city of what violence solutions can look like.”

For READI Chicago participants in Stage 3 of their transitional job and those who have completed their 18 months of subsidized employment, Revolution Workshop offers a continuation of the safe, comfortable environment that READI Chicago strives to create for participants to practice cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills.

The 10-12-week Revolution Workshop (RW) program trains people in carpentry, electric, and plumbing skills with the aim of connecting them with entry-level construction positions upon program completion. According to RW Business Services Manager Jackie Gallo, about 90 percent of RW graduates secure construction jobs shortly after completing the program.

For Stage 3 participants like Austin READI Chicago participant Omar, RW is an opportunity to transition into sustainable, unsubsidized employment before reaching the 18-month mark in READI Chicago. Omar has had multiple interviews with construction companies since he completed the training program on June 26, and RW was so impressed with his work ethic that they hired him to help with office work and training programs in the meantime.

“This program is one of the best experiences I’ve had in READI — it’s going to change my life,” Omar said. “I don’t want my kids to go through the trials and tribulations I went through in the streets. That’s why I’m doing this.”

Omar, who joined READI Chicago in June 2018 after being released from prison, said CBT has been instrumental in helping him mature and thrive at RW.

“CBT has helped me a lot,” Omar said. “It helped me observe certain situations instead of reacting out of impulse. It’s easier to think about things instead of reacting — it’s good to weigh your options.”

Jackie said that when she first began interviewing READI Chicago participants for the training program, she heard about CBT constantly.

“They would always say, ‘READI isn’t a program, it’s a mindset,'” Jackie said. “Sometimes READI staff will come in and do CBT here, even. I think it’s helpful that we can mutually reinforce things.”‘

This is crucial for participants like Jerimiah, a North Lawndale READI Chicago participant who recently completed his 18 months of subsidized employment with READI Chicago. Jerimiah began training at RW one week before his 18 months ended, and receiving supports at RW has helped ease the anxiety that many participants feel as they transition out of subsidized employment.

“The staff care a lot, and they make sure we’re okay every day,” Jerimiah said. “They talk to us one-on-one about everything we need. They’re just there if you need someone to talk to.”

While in jail, Jerimiah was part of the Sheriff’s Anti-Violence Effort, and that’s how he heard about READI Chicago.

“I liked READI Chicago when I first started because it was something new, something fresh,” Jerimiah said. “Then I really started thinking about stuff I wanted to do. READI gave me that push I needed to go for my goals.”

Jerimiah said CBT has been instrumental in learning to control his anger and impulse control, and he doesn’t know where he would be today if not for READI Chicago.

“My life has changed since I got into READI Chicago,” Jerimiah said. “I met a lot of new people, and I got a lot of opportunities. I’ve never had an opportunity like this at RW before. I didn’t think I could do something like this.”

Jackie said men and women like Omar and Jerimiah are exactly who RW looks for to fill their training cohorts. Not only does RW welcome people with criminal records, but they also work with employers that support people who have been incarcerated and urge other companies to consider relaxing their hiring barriers around incarceration.

“We meet so many people who have not been given opportunity and they have certain barriers, like a record, keeping them from that opportunity,” Jackie said. “We want to get more people with records into the trades and help employers understand that most criminal records are nonviolent.”