
As Chicago Youth Programs approaches 35 years of service to the children and families of our remarkable, albeit tarnished city, we reflect on the journey that we travelled to get here. The road has been paved with the unrelenting promise of what is now two generations of youth served who, against the backdrop of Cabrini Green’s turbulent past, have become nurses, architects, chefs, entrepreneurs, and physicians. The view has changed. The low-income high rises have given way to townhomes and condominiums; but the needs of the youth and families who once called Cabrini Green home remain intact, and so does their stubborn resolve to overcome.
Established by volunteers in 1995, Washington Park became our second service area and is now our largest community program, serving youth and families from Washington Park, Woodlawn, Chatham, Englewood, and Greater Grand Crossing. We hear a great deal about these areas on the nightly news as they are positioned as the least desirable, most dispensable of the city’s 77 neighborhoods because of their inability to keep residents safe and provide well performing schools. We do not often learn of the hundreds of children who annually: Receive well child visits and immunizations in CYP’s free pediatric clinic; have a safe summer full of wonderment and exploration because of their enrollment in CYP’s free summer camp; and are able to read and succeed in kindergarten and beyond because of the early literacy program that at age three begins their formal CYP journey. So, while those on the outside looking in might draw a different conclusion; the children of CYP’s Southside communities respectfully refuse to give up on their Chicago neighborhood.
Now celebrating its 20th year, Uptown sprung up three years after Washington Park and is now our fastest growing community program, serving youth and families from Uptown, Edgewater, and Rogers Park. More economically and culturally diverse than CYP’s other community areas, the families who consume our programs from these communities bring an unrelenting zealousness to their participation.
Since its inception in 2014, North Lawndale has had a challenging start as a CYP service area. With the closure of the partner school less than a year after programs began, we have now gone back to the starting block. It is no secret that the need in North Lawndale and surrounding Westside neighborhoods is great and we have a renewed focus on creating the long-term partnerships that will help to bring CYP’s comprehensive model to these communities.
Chicago Youth Programs has faced head on the consequences of the city’s struggle to stem street violence, having had two young lives cut short and two others forever changed by the grave injuries that a bullet causes. Yet, challenges have given way to growth, and despair has birthed tremendous hope.
Our hope lies in every smiley faced four year-old who reads their first sentence; and every twelve year-old boy who chooses their education over the neighborhood gang; and every one of the 50 current kids in college who will soon step into a career that was once only a far off dream.
What’s on the horizon for CYP enthuses and propels us forward: A long-term study of the impact of our comprehensive program efforts. Our rededication to service on the city’s Westside. The build-out of our staff and program delivery structures to prepare to scale up. An intuitive database that contains every enrolled student in our history and tracks their individual outcome. The list is long, and exemplifies our sheer will to serve as many as we can for as long as they need.
Please enjoy this brief glimpse into our work and join us as we move ONWARD & UPWARD!
Warmest thanks,
Cinaiya Stubbs
Executive Director
Hundreds of CYP children from Southside communities
Receive well child visits and immunizations in CYP’s free pediatric clinic
Have a safe summer full of wonderment and exploration because of their enrollment in CYP’s free summer camp
Are able to read and succeed in kindergarten and beyond because of the early literacy program that at age three begins their formal CYP journey
Serving Cabrini Green Since
Serving Washington Park Since
Serving Uptown Since
Serving North Lawndale Since

Spotlight on EARLY LITERACY:
For minority children growing up in poverty achieving literacy goals is further complicated by under-resourced schools, lack of learning tools in the home, and the instability of life in violent communities. In high-need neighborhoods, literacy challenges are among the greatest contributors to the low graduation rates that usually accompany poverty. By eighth grade, the problem is more pronounced: 79% of the Chicago Public Schools 8th graders are not grade-level proficient in reading according to the U.S. Department of Education (2012).
At CYP’s targeted communities/schools, literacy levels are even more concerning. Per Great Schools Data 2016, only 8% of students at Burke Elementary, a school in CYP’s southside community, met literacy standards. At Dulles Elementary, another school in CYP’s community area, the rate was only 2%. It is no surprise that the inadequate development of early educational skills contributes to weak long-term achievement and keeps economically disadvantaged youth in a cycle of poverty. To counter these challenges, CYP provides targeted literacy interventions for kids from age three through third grade.
DYNAMIC INDICATORS IN BASIC EARLY LITERACY SKILLS (D.I.B.E.L.S)
Kindergarten Literacy
- High Risk-Lowest Score
- Some Risk
- Lowest Risk - Highest Score
Oral Reading Fluency
- Deficit - Lowest Score
- Emerging
- Established - Highest Score
Of those tested, none of our Kindergarten or 1st grade youth were found to be in the high risk category, meaning they are least likely to fall behind in their long-term literacy gains. In second grade, 15% tested in the high risk range, while 77% tested in the highest scoring category.
Spotlight on Middle School:
Chicago Youth Programs focuses on the middle school years intently because they are the most challenging when it comes to retaining youth in the program. Why? The transition from elementary school at about age 11, to middle school, is notoriously hard, and researchers have documented that kids suffer academically, from which they don’t recover for years. Adolescence is in full swing, social anxiety and bullying spike, and social media appears to more often than not, amplify the period’s unpleasantness.
This natural phenomenon, coupled with the environmental challenges of growing up in poverty; exposure to gangs and crime, or the need to have middle schoolers in the home to care for younger siblings, contribute to the middle school years being the time when program retention is most challenging. However, CYP has developed best practices to develop new strategies and programs to help keep middle school youth engaged in programs through these often turbulent years. The belief is simple: We cannot help them achieve a long-term, sustainable life change if we cannot keep them engaged long-term.

RETENTION OF EARLY TEENS
Rising 7th – 10th graders
- All Youth Who Attended
- Excellent Attendance Only
Spotlight on Teens:
Our Teen Career programs address the obstacles that hinder economically disadvantaged youth as they try to achieve the higher education degree necessary to escape poverty. Those factors include poor educational preparedness, lack of family knowledge/experience with higher education processes, lack of counseling on education/career development, few financial resources, culture shock in higher education, and unhealthy alternatives to education. The Teen Career Program counters each of these factors, providing the comprehensive support needed to prepare and place youth into higher education, which is the critical step in the journey out of poverty. Regular activities include:
- Weekly one-on-one tutoring with a young adult mentor;
- College and trade school research;
- Panels led by CYP participants who are currently enrolled in higher education;
- Career exploration through field trips to various workplaces, career search surveys, and presentations by professionals in diverse fields; and
- Career readiness activities include soft skill lessons, workplace internships, interview skills development, resume writing, and budgeting.



Spotlight on College:
Marian Wright Edelman, an African-American activist for children’s education, famously mused, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” In many communities served by CYP, less than 10% of the population 25 and older has attained bachelor’s degrees, therefore, youth have few models of higher education attainment in their communities. Consequently, they are mired with questions of how to succeed in higher education: how to develop good study skills, apply for college, access financial aid, find work-study jobs, obtain internships, create a resume, interview for jobs, pay off school loans, and more. While CYP participants have a deep desire to succeed in their educational endeavors, they need extensive support to help them navigate the complex world of higher education.
CYP comes alongside youth in their Pre-K learning years to provide education assistance. As the child grows, so do the CYP supports and programming opportunities. By the time youth enter high school, they can participate in CYP programming six days per week, including extensive academic supports and mentoring to prepare for college.
CYP higher education programs do not only impact the participants: the entire family and community are transformed as well. When a child obtains a college degree and earns a corresponding salary, the economic status of the family improves.
CYP Alumni
I am CYP

CYP has developed an amazing Boys Mentoring Program with the support of the City of Chicago’s Male Mentoring Initiative (MMI). Led by the program coordinator and with a team of Lead Mentors, we provide a wide range of services, support, information, and opportunities for our middle school and high school boys.
We serve multiple communities throughout the city of Chicago and provide up to 12 hours of intense mentoring every week. Each session begins with a social-emotional learning PIES check-in that allows for each boy to practice public speaking, develop trust and comradery amongst other students, have a voice and identify who and where he is by self-reflection.
Preventative healthcare is a major priority for CYP, and as we’ve developed our Boys Mentoring Program with the support of MMI, we’re making sure preventative healthcare is a priority for our young men as well. To that end, we have a major sports training and physical health focus in our program – from running drills, to practicing jump shots, developing muscle, and improving daily diets, we do it all.
We also teach music and studio recording, and develop drum lines and studio engineers who are able to mix and record music electronically with professional studio equipment. We believe exposure is a key tool for all of our boys to grow beyond their current environments, so we have 1 or 2 trips each week that expose the boys to new attractions around the city, different communities, and different cultures and ethnicities. Lastly, we have an instructional period during each session where we focus on key information that the boys do not receive in school, but is vital to their development as young men. These instructional periods focus on:
Manhood
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Morals
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Current
Events |
Careers &
Entrepreneurship |
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Our goal is to provide a comprehensive boys mentoring program that creates a positive environment and provides essential tools for their development as they grow into manhood.
Our university partners are foundational to CYP’s program model. Throughout the week, these universities open their doors to Chicago’s inner-city youth and welcome them to their campuses in an effort to help them thrive academically. Every 2nd thru 12th grader is matched 1:1 with a tutor/mentor who works exclusively with their student throughout the year, working on the english and math concepts that they need strengthened.
During high school, these sessions also involve college essay writing, scholarship applications, and any other assistance the teens need to prepare for the journey to higher education. The involvement and dedication of these volunteers is essential to our students’ academic development, and has been a mainstay for CYP since we began.
2016
- DONATED FACILITY & SERVICES
- INDIVIDUALS
- CORPORATE & FOUNDATION
- EVENTS (NET OF EXPENSES)
- GOVERNMENT
- INVESTMENT
- DONATED FACILITY & SERVICES
- INDIVIDUALS
- CORPORATE & FOUNDATION
- EVENTS (NET OF EXPENSES)
- GOVERNMENT
- INVESTMENT
TOTAL REVENUE: $1,656,652
2017
- DONATED FACILITY & SERVICES
- INDIVIDUALS
- CORPORATE & FOUNDATION
- EVENTS (NET OF EXPENSES)
- GOVERNMENT
- INVESTMENT
- DONATED FACILITY & SERVICES
- INDIVIDUALS
- CORPORATE & FOUNDATION
- EVENTS (NET OF EXPENSES)
- GOVERNMENT
- INVESTMENT
TOTAL REVENUE: $1,772,293
Foundation
* Member of Board of Directors
* Member of Board of Directors
Andrew Greene* |
David Mahoney |
Eric A. Hoffman* |
Kenneth J. Martin |
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago |
BMO Harris Bank |
Campout For Kids |
CBRE |
Circle Of Service Foundation |
Jackson National Community Fund |
Joseph & Helen Komarek Foundation |
Kirkland & Ellis LLP |
The Susan Krause Charitable Lead Annuity Trust |
Leopardo |
Northwestern Memorial Foundation |
Piper Jaffray Community Relations |
Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP |
The Chicago Community Trust |
World Sport Chicago, Inc. |
* Member of Board of Directors
Adam Ryan |
Adam Sokol |
Anne B. McGivern |
Anthony Balestrieri |
Debra Kenning |
Gregory Doerr |
James E. Martin |
Karen Sheehan* |
Kevin K. Kenning* |
Louis Berg |
Mary K. Daly* |
Nathan Root |
Paul Duggan |
Paul Katz |
Phil Sandler |
Robert Kaplan |
Thomas Fiske* |
ABM Janitorial services |
American Endowment Foundation |
Amsted Industries Foundation |
Anchor Mechanical Inc. |
Auburn Corporation |
Bear Construction |
Cabworks Custom Elevators |
Core Twelve |
Corporate Concierge Services, Inc. |
Door Service, Inc. |
Eastlake Studio |
Faber Coe & Gregg Inc. |
Gehrett Plumbing, Inc. |
Gould & Ratner LLP |
Grant Thronton LLP |
Hard Surface Finishers Inc. |
Illinois J. Livingston Co. |
Kent Consulting Engineers |
KSA Lighting & Controls |
Office Revolution, LLC |
Phoenix Systems & Service, Inc. |
Port Capital LLC |
PPM America, Inc. |
Proterra |
Northwestern University |
Reed Construction |
Ryan Specialty Group, LLC |
Schindler Elevator Corporation |
Securitas Security Services USA, Inc |
Solomon Cordwell Buenz |
Telos Group, LLC |
The Galter Foundation |
The Geraghty-A Venue Of Possibilities |
The Jerry Rich Foundation |
The Lagunitas Brewing Co. |
The William & Mildred Kaplan Foundation |
The Yardi Foundation |
US Datacomm, Inc. |
Walter E. Heller Foundation |
Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe |
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates |
Worsek & Vihon LLP |
|
* Member of Board of Directors
Aaron D. Cohen* |
Austin Krumpfes |
Bryan Oyster* |
Cindy Krajewski |
Craig Close |
Craig Smith |
Dana Ziebel |
Elizabeth Powell |
Genie Roosevelt |
James Breslo |
Jennifer Trainor |
Karen C. Martin |
Kenneth Parch |
Lisa Schoedel |
Lori Shelnitz |
Lou Dore |
Lynette Martin |
Mark Borrelli* |
Matthew Tullio |
Michael Glascott* |
Michael Meagher |
Mr. & Mrs. Mark A. Blaser |
Nelson Zamora |
Peter Knott |
Richard Moore |
Robert Graham |
Sabrina Derrington |
Sam Fusco |
Sandy Sanguino* |
Stacey Zolt-Hara* |
Steve Robinson |
Thomas Deem* |
William Barta* |
Alps Construction |
Antares Capital LP |
Ascent |
Flossmoor Community Church |
Greater Kansas City Community Foundation |
Grosvenor Holdings LLC |
Kleban Family Foundation |
Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants |
Northwestern Memorial Hospital |
Northwestern University |
Philip M. Friedman Family Charitable Trust |
T. William Lester Charitable Fund |
Tavern On The Park |
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation |
|
* Member of Board of Directors
Carlins*
* Member of Board of Directors
Foundation
Community Fund
Foundation
Foundation
Foundation
* Member of Board of Directors
Davidson*
Barta*
Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Komarek Foundation
Services, LLC
University
* Member of Board of Directors
Debra Kenning |
Kevin Kenning* |
Mark Borrelli* |
Nathan Root |
Thomas Fiske* |
ABM Janitorial Services |
Amsted Industries Foundation |
Anonymous Individual |
Bear Construction |
BMO Harris Bank |
Door Service, Inc. |
Hard Surface Finishers |
Illinois J. Livingston Co. |
Kent Consulting Engineers |
Phoenix Systems & Service, Inc. |
Ryan Specialty Group |
Securitas Security Services USA |
Telos Group |
Walter E. Heller Foundation |
* Member of Board of Directors
Adam Ryan |
Andrew Greene* |
Austin Krumpfes |
Elizabeth Powell |
Genie Roosevelt |
James Breslo |
Jennifer Trainor |
John Riley* |
Karen Sheehan* |
Kenneth Parch |
Lori Shelnitz |
Lou Dore |
Lynette Martin |
Mary Kate Daly* |
Maureen Grove* |
Paul Duggan |
Peter Knott |
Sabrina Derrington |
Thomas Deem* |
Grosvenor Holdings, LLC |
Kleban Family Foundation |
PPM America |
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation |
Wiss, Janney, Elstner & Associates |
* Member of Board of Directors

Officers
President
Arshonsky
Treasurer
Borrelli
Secretary
Daly
Vice President
Board Members
Bill BartaPresident, Rider Dickerson |
Dave CarlinsPresident, Magellan Development Group LTD |
Lucien CarterAttorney, Private Practice |
Aaron CohenManaging Director, GTCR |
Andrew DavidsonExecutive Vice President & Managing Director, MB Real Estate Services, LLC |
Thomas DeemRegional Manager, Gap Inc. |
Joseph DiCara, MD, MPHFounder & Volunteer CEO, Chicago Youth Programs; Physician, Northwestern Memorial Hospital |
Katie FairbankRegional Executive Director, Presence Health Foundation |
Tom FiskePartner, Ernst & Young |
Michael GlascottManaging Director, Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets |
Andrew GreenePartner, A&G Law LLC |
Eric HoffmanSenior Director Facility Services, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago |
Chirinjeev Kathuria, MDChairman, New Generation Power |
Kevin KenningAttorney, Private Practice |
Maureen LarsonSales & Catering Partner, Aba & The Dalcy Fulton Market |
Mark MandichChief Executive Officer & President, PPM America |
Jeff McIntoshJunior Executive Board President; Attorney, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP |
Bryan OysterVice President and General Manager, Jones Lang LaSalle |
John A. RileyRetired, Great Books Foundation |
Sandra Sanguino, MD, MPHCo-Director of CYP/CMH Clinic Lurie Children’s Hospital |
Staff
James McCarterSecurity |
Corey BarksdaleMale Mentoring Initiative Coordinator |
Alfredia LittlePREP Program Assistant/Office Assistant |
Katelyn GonzalezWashington Park Program Coordinator |
Jakina DortchHigher Education & Scholarship Program Manager |
Monique Cook-BeyChief Program Officer |
Cinaiya StubbsExecutive Director |
Chelsea CorbettUptown Youth Programs Manager |
Audtrie MobleyWashington Park Programs Manager |
Anna DevineFundraising Manager |
Elizabeth MinterPREP Program Coordinator |
Brandon ReynoldsCabrini Green/North Lawndale Programs Manager |
Harry Jones IVOperations Manager |
Karen MartinFinance Manager |