• Among homicide victims ages 10 to 24 years old in 2010, 82.8% were killed with a firearm.
• Each year, youth homicides and assault-related injuries result in an estimated $16 billion in combined medical and work loss costs.
A Joint Solution
Play…
The AAHH! FEST, which will be held September 20-21, 2014, will feature an all-star line-up of talent from across the country. The proceeds from the festival will support the Common Ground Foundation, Donda’s House, Inc., arts education programs in Chicago Public Schools, and the Chicago Youth Jobs Collaborative. Additionally, the fest will also feature a job-shadowing program, which will allow youth to learn about the many operations associated with producing high-level outdoor events.
“Our goal is to give youth the platform they need to express themselves, said Donnie Smith, Executive Director of Donda’s House. “This festival allows us to shine a light on the talent that exists and to push back against the negative narrative about our city’s youth.”
And work…
The Chicago Youth Jobs Collaborative will launch in the fall of 2014, and will see to provide a minimum of 1,000 young people with jobs, with the intent to increase this number by a thousand each year, over the next four years. The goal: 15,000 young people positively impacted over the next five years.
“In addition to providing financial resources and a strong work ethic, jobs keep youth out of harm’s way,” said Andrea Zopp. “We issue a call to action to the public, private and non-profit sectors. Summer jobs provide tremendous opportunities, but we often hear strong pleas from young people for year-round jobs.”
For more information about the AAHH! FEST, click here.
For more information about the Chicago Youth Jobs Collaborative, click here.
Common Announces The Chicago Youth Jobs Initiative was originally published on elev8.com
