As a new school year begins, R CITY would like to thank the many interns and staff who blessed our community this summer. Bryanna, Jesus, Sanrenity and Zarriona all brought dedication and expertise that built up our programs and inspired our youth!
Every February, R CITY honors one person who has been heroic to the work of R CITY. Awarded at the Black History Celebration, R CITY's Distinguished Award for Foundational Contributions recognizes an individual whose work has been integral in the success of R CITY. This year's awardee is Pastor Antoine Taylor.
A published author and educational consultant, whose work with R CITY extends back to its beginnings, Dr. Rivera conducted research through R CITY's very first programs and was integral during our founding. She continued her investment in 2020 as a board member and joined the staff of R CITY serving as the Director of Strategy, Research & Partnerships from 2021-2023.
Dr. Rivera exemplifies the absolute best of OUR CITY and we are honored to celebrate our 2024 recipient of the Distinguished Award for Foundational Contributions.
In January 2024, I will step out of the Executive Director role, remaining with R CITY as Finance Lead to continue managing R CITY's grants and finance. At that time, the Executive Director role will be filled by the magnificent Charnesha Collier. She will be supported by myself, our board of directors, and Michelle Johnson, Director of Administration. This role is the culmination of years of leadership development for Char, who began as a youth in the Harambee program. Having served as R CITY's Director of Programs for the last year, Char has shown herself to be an excellent leader for both staff and youth. It is my great honor to place the role I love so much in her hands.
At R CITY our mission is to bring the BEST of our city to build a path for families to walk from cradle to career to the glory of God. As we prepared for our very first Black History Showcase, we knew it would be a great evening to celebrate our beautiful children and youth but also, we didn’t want to pass up an opportunity to celebrate and honor some of the VERY best of R CITY whose contributions support our youth, our programs and our community, and this year we had the immense privilege of bestowing our first Distinguished Award for Foundational Contributions to Phaedra M. Leslie from ALL Construction.
We have now completed two months of remote learning support. Many students and families in our city have found a workable rhythm, but others have deeply felt the weight of working their jobs while supervising their children's education. It is this moment that you have stepped into, opening River City's doors to create an extended family for our youth and support for our families. Through your generosity, we've invited in a full roster of 61 students, kindergarten through high school.
What I have learned from life in the city is that love grows deepest amid difficulty. Violence bonds survivors together, marching against what robbed them of peace. Shortfall brings about the miraculous deliverance of God--and the communal gratitude of the delivered. The challenge of faithfully walking with children from hard places--shouldering with them the burdens they carry--forges a team bonded in unforgettable ways. The hardest years become powerful memories of the ones who loved us fiercely during those times.
In the spirit of this most unusual season, I write this from my living room to yours. Much has been said about the difficulty of this time, and it rings true in our world. The charts show our zip code near the top of Chicago's COVID case rankings, and multiple young adults in my circle have indeed lost parents or grandparents to COVID. The news talk about shortages of food, income, & access to technology, and texts from our families echo that.
We began a new calendar year with new routines in Dreambuilders- our after school children's program. We have been reading and sharing from the Jesus Storybook Bible with a goal of making sure our kids know that God loves them with a "Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love."
Each time I've shared a story- I prepare myself for constant interruptions- some that you would expect given that our kids are often squirmy after a full day of school - but more often the interruptions are incredible comments showing they have been listening with spiritual ears and are eagerly wrestling with eternal questions. One little guy even drew me a really great picture that's I think is a mashup of Minecraft and Genesis! ;)
We have been so blessed to witness their engagement- and blessed to have the opportunity to remind them of how lovable and valuable they are. Thank you for continuing to love our youth through your prayers and support! If you are available to love our kids in person, we are looking for additional volunteers as we ramp up into Monday-Friday programming.
Blessings,
Michelle Johnson
Director of Apprenticeships and Communication
Originally posted in our 2019 February Email Snapshot
At the end of any summer working with Harambee, I'm often asked how the summer went by friends, families and supporters of our work. I usually try to share one of my favorite stories. This summer there's no contest as to my favorite story.
This summer our Harambee teens ate lunch everyday next door to a Walgreens. On occasion a staff member would accompany a few youth to purchase a bag of chips or a gatorade to supplement the free lunch program's meal. One day as I was in line with two of young men, both 17 years old in our Harambee Citybuilders safety vests. The cashier asks me, "What do these kids do all day? I see your kids in and out of here all summer and they are just SO HAPPY!" Surprised, I gladly shared they they spent their days doing heavy construction work in the heat, dirt and sweat.
I love working with my hands, but I'm usually filled with a feeling closer to "satisfaction" as I work, rather than "happiness." This summer I saw smiling, happy teenagers at work. Of course different teens had their moments of unhappiness- but as I shared in our July snapshot there was a surprising spirit of JOY among our youth. I know it wasn't the dirt, sweat or heat that caused their smiles, but meaningful work done together with safe adults who delight in them and a team who they grew to love. Teens get a bad rap for moodiness and attitude, but in my opinion there is nothing more life giving than being around happy, exuberant teenagers.
We're so thankful for ways God developed a sense of team and family, and of laughter this summer among the youth in all our programs, and we're so thankful for how you prayed for and supported this work this summer. In this snapshot- find out ways you can support us as we start our fall season.
Delighting in God's goodness,
Michelle Johnson
Director of Apprenticeships and Communication
Orginally posted in our 2018 September Email Snapshot
Anyone with kids knows the difficulty of filling those out-of-school summer months with positive activity. Finding the right balance between activities that are "good for" our kids and things that they think are the most fun can be tricky. This summer the programs of R CITY run the length of the continuum between work and play.
Our youngest friends are kept busy at Dreambuilders: active play, creative work, time reading, playing outside, nurturing character traits of kindness and respect. When you enter our space the energy of JOY surrounds you- dancing, singing, laughing, and reciting our summer catchphrase: "I have a HOPE! I have a FUTURE!" (From Jeremiah 29). The prayer of our children's staff has been that God would bring us the neighborhood children who would otherwise have nothing else positive to do- children that for whatever reason might be spending their summer days inside without much enrichment. God has definitely answered that prayer bringing many new children into our program.
Our teen apprentices are mostly on the other end of the spectrum from work to play. Our oldest teens (Age 16-18) are busy Monday-Friday in the heat, dirt and sweat as they tuckpoint and repair buildings. It's so great that even in the midst of the hardest work, they find ways to make their work fun. They sing, they laugh, they tell stories and cheer each other on. At the end of the day when you would imagine them at their most tired, they are all noise- laughter, singing, funny stories and JOY! Nothing fills my heart more than when teenagers love their work and love their teammates.
As we pass the halfway mark of the summer and the days start cruising by with all the activity, we are so thankful to all of you who have made this work possible. When I started preparing this e-mail, we were still in need of $30,000 to complete our summer work, and it's great news to announce that we're now only in need of $20,000. If you are still considering a summer gift, I can't think of a better way to spend our resources- producing JOY in the children and teens of Humboldt Park!
Michelle Johnson
Director of Apprenticeships and Communication
Originally posted in our July 2018 Email Snapshot
Summer in the city. Even for our kids living amid Chicago's violence, summers are filled with happy memories. Pickup games and playgrounds. Ice cream from a truck. Sparklers and fireworks. Splashing in the open fire hydrant spray. Family barbecues and birthday parties.
And yet we know that while our kids experience so many of summer's quintessential childhood memories, they face its shadow side as well. Playgrounds they've been warned to avoid. The constant question of "fireworks or gunshots?" Evenings too dangerous to play outside. Birthday memorials that should have been parties. And for our teens, an awareness of the cost of living--rent, food, clothing--and the weight of finding a way to earn it.
Summer, with both its light and shadow sides, is right around the corner. And R CITY's response--your response--is right around the corner as well.
This summer, over 120 youth will engage at R CITY. We'll push swings and tie-dye t-shirts with 50 children in Dreambuilders.
We'll play ball and process trauma with 30 junior high mentees in Peacebuilders.
We'll build scaffolding and teach tuckpointing and practice working with 40 teen apprentices in Citybuilders.
It will cost $135,000 in salaries and supplies and stipends, and every penny will be worth it.
To earn this, we're using one of the best things summer has to offer: the sun. On June 24*, we'll gather on the terrace overlooking a sparkling Humboldt Park lagoon for happy hour and dinner. We'll laugh, eat, drink, and be inspired, and we'll find a way in our common generosity to make summer bright and beneficial for these 120 youth.
Will you join us--and bring a friend? Come take a moment to celebrate your own #summerbrightandbeautiful, and to make one equally brilliant for Chicago's youth.
Click below to RSVP or to give your gift today.
* Are you a Minnesotan? Your benefit is August 1. We can't wait to see you there!
