The mission of Chicago Youth Centers (CYC) is to provide high-quality early learning and out-of-school time enrichment in under-resourced neighborhoods to holistically support children of all ages, their families, and their communities. Since 1956, Chicago Youth Centers (CYC) has been the place Where Possibility Lives: a trusted partner on Chicago’s South and West sides, ensuring that nearly 1,400 kids have a safe place they can go to explore, to discover, to process, and ultimately to envision a bright future that they can create for themselves. In early learning classrooms, afterschool programs, and summer day camps, youth ages 15 months to 18 years find joy in learning, grow socially and emotionally, and build skills for the jobs of tomorrow. CYC children are deeply engaged, with many attending our hands-on clubs five days a week, 48 weeks a year. CYC envisions a Chicago where every child has equitable access to the resources, experiences, safe spaces, and mentors that they need to live each day as their best selves.
External link for Chicago Youth Centers
218 S. Wabash
Chicago, IL 60604, US
CYC Welcomes Interim President and CEO Tina Ayala! Tina has been skillfully guiding Chicago Youth Centers (CYC) as our interim President and CEO since her appointment on August 9th, 2024 — ensuring seamless leadership for our organization. Tina is a remarkable individual who has dedicated the entirety of her nearly 30-year career to growing within our organization! Her deep program knowledge, exceptional community-centric leadership skills, and passion for youth development make her the perfect choice to guide our agency through this interim period. We sat down with Tina to learn more about her journey, her vision for CYC programs, and what makes her proud to be part of this organization. “It has been such an honor to evolve, grow, and find a home at CYC.”, she says. “I remain committed to bringing our programs to the larger community of Chicago, so that those who do not know who we are can learn how great we are as an agency.” We are confident that Tina’s deep understanding of our mission, gained through hands-on experience at every level of the organization, positions her uniquely to lead CYC into our next chapter. Her story is a testament to our organization's commitment to growth, both for the communities we serve and for our dedicated staff! You can read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gswFEauV
Chicago Youth Centers is soliciting bids from food service vendors. Bids are being solicited for service in the Chicago area for approximately 200,204 total meals of breakfast, lunch, and PM snack. - Breakfast – 59,852 (estimated) - Lunch – 59,852 (estimated) - PM Snack – 80,500 (estimated) Locations of service include: - CYC-Sidney Epstein Youth Center in North Lawndale - 3415 W. 13th Place Chicago, IL 60623 - CYC-Rebecca K. Crown Youth Center in South Shore - 7601 S. Phillips Avenue Chicago, IL 60649 - CYC-Calumet Heights in Calumet Heights - 9207 S. Phillips Avenue Chicago, IL 60617 - CYC-Centro Nuestro in Humboldt Park - 3222 W. Division Street Chicago, IL 60651 - CYC-George E. Taylor in Humboldt Park - 3232 W. Division Street Chicago, IL 60651 - CYC-Dorothy Gautreaux Child Development Center in Riverdale - 975 E. 132nd Street Chicago, IL 60827 The proposed operating days will be October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025, Monday through Friday. To obtain a bid packet, please visit: https://lnkd.in/ghYYHPWa Procurement Contact: Talina Carter-Bowie, Chief Program Officer talina.carter-bowie@chicagoyouthcenters.org. A public bid opening will take place on: September 16th, 2024, electronically. Deadline for bid submission: September 23rd, 2024. All questions and submissions must be submitted to Talina Carter-Bowie. All contracts are subject to review by the Illinois State Board of Education. Chicago Youth Centers – 218 South Wabash Avenue, Suite 510, Chicago, IL 60604
We can't wait for a thrilling weekend at the Autobahn! The whole family is welcome to join us August 15-18🏁
Mark your calendars for August 15-18 at Autobahn Country Club for an unforgettable weekend of fun and empowerment with Chicago Youth Centers 🎉 Attendees of all ages are invited to play games and learn more about the incredible work CYC is doing to positively impact Chicago. We will also be raffling off a free supercar drive every single day of the event so be sure to enter for a chance to win! Funds raised through this collaboration will provide critical resources and necessary funding to support CYC's programs. The proceeds will help expand access to educational opportunities, enrichment activities, and supportive services, making a real difference in our communities.
Earlier this week we shared with the CYC community that, after 7 years, Kevin Cherep will be transitioning out of his role as President and CEO on August 9, 2024. Effective that same day, Tina Ayala will step in as Interim President & CEO of Chicago Youth Centers. We are grateful for the positive and lasting impact he has had on our organization. We wish him continued success as he begins his next chapter.
Catch CYC on TV! We'll be on Spotlight Chicago TODAY at 1pm!⭐️ Tune into channel 9, or click this link➡️ https://lnkd.in/dT2Zy3Qp
CYC is going global🌍 Click the link to read the full blog!✨️ https://lnkd.in/gEa3iNiC Our wonderfully dedicated leaders have garnered the attention of social work specialists across the globe! Recently, Tina Ayala (Sr. Director of Program and Operations, School Age and Teens) and Piotr Wojnicz (Director of ESI and Continuous Quality Improvement) were invited to share their expertise at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, in Germany. Thank you to Technische Hochschule Augsburg for this opportunity!
Our annual Believe in Kids Dinner is TONIGHT! Make sure you've registered - text "BIK24" to 76278. And don't forget to check out the amazing Silent Auction! Whether you're attending or not, you can still participate! Click the link below to see what you can win✨️ https://lnkd.in/gfz7qytF
We love our partnership with Kindred, LLC! Thank you for supporting CYC children's social emotional learning and ensuring kids have the tools they need to navigate each day.
This week at #Kindred #WellnessOasis Series at Wells, we dove into the heart of #mentalhealth with our latest programming theme, focusing on coping with #stress, understanding #emotions, and #selfexpression. Our 5th to 8th graders channeled their creativity into art and activism, crafting impactful #artivism posters that speak volumes about mental health awareness. Meanwhile, our 3rd and 4th graders poured their hearts into creating emotion cards and relaxation books... tools to help them articulate and manage their #feelings. We wrapped up our sessions by sharing our creative processes and affirming each other's efforts and feelings. It's inspiring to see how these young minds are learning to navigate their emotions and support one another. Another fantastic week of growth and community at Chicago Youth Centers! Let's keep the conversation going and continue to support each other. #ChicagoYouthCenters #MentalHealthMatters #YouthArtivism #EmotionalWellness #KindredWellnessOasis #CopingWithStress #ExpressYourself #CommunitySupport w/ Jessica Juarez, M.Ed., LPC, NCC Fausto Alejandro López, M.Ed. Monimia Macbeth LCPC, R-DMT, GL-CMA