This month, READI Chicago participated in Thrive Chicago’s Opportunity for Youth Summit, along with other community organizations and more than 75 youth leaders, after being featured in Thrive’s annual impact report as a promising solution to the city’s violence.
Thrive Chicago is a nonprofit dedicated to connecting and strengthening organizations serving Chicago’s young people, and the event, hosted in collaboration with the Obama Foundation, focused on how the city is collaboratively improving outcomes for young people not engaged in school or work.
Lawndale Christian Legal Center Outreach Supervisor Maurice Harris and a READI Chicago participant spoke on a youth representatives panel, discussing their experiences in the program and sharing opinions on how to better support opportunity youth.
“To be your brother’s keeper, you just have to stay committed and consistent with the youth we serve,” Maurice said.
Later in the morning, another READI Chicago participant spoke on a youth voices panel, allowing the audience to hear directly from opportunity youth about the issues that affect them most. The READI Chicago participant used the opportunity to urge employers to reform background checks and hiring barriers.
“Just take off some of the limitations and let us try to reach our goals,” he said.
