Last week, Chicago-area teens from Uhlich Children’s Advantage Network and the National Runaway Switchboard met at Francis Scott Key Elementary School, 517 N Parkside Ave., to let city officials know how youth feel about the continued violence in the city
Adults received less than average grades, according to the report card. Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th); John E. Rooney, CEO of U.S. Cellular; and Bryan Samuels, chief of staff for Chicago Public Schools, were just some of the leaders present to hear the young leaders share the results of the 10th annual UCAN Teen Report Card.
“As a resident and representative of the Austin neighborhood, I know there has been too much violence in this city, and it has to end,” Carothers said in a written statement. “I hear these teens loud and clear. Community leaders and adults all need to pull together to make a difference for our youth.”
Teens are asking adults for their direct involvement to help stop the violence and help heal the trauma they are experiencing. Recently, two 14-year-old boys killed in separate drive-by shootings became the 27th and 28th CPS students to die from gun violence since last fall.
“It’s scary knowing I have lost so many schoolmates to gun violence, and it’s hard to concentrate in school when I’m worried about violence,” Briana Brooks, a 16-year-old student at The Al Raby School for Community and Environment said in a written statement. “Adults need to work together and work with us to get this figured out so that young people across Chicago communities can be safer.”
Each year, UCAN helps more than 10,000 youth cope with traumatic pasts and mature towards more productive, healthy and positive futures. U.S. Cellular, UCAN’s corporate partner, donated $150,000 to the organization at last week’s event.
The grant will provide sponsorship for two of UCAN’s violence prevention and leadership programs called Hands Without Guns and Project Visible Man. The UCAN Teen Report Card asked 900 young people nationwide the question: “Let’s suppose you could give adults an A, B, C, D or F. How would you gradeà ”
The findings paint a picture of a generation of youth both disappointed and frustrated by what they see as adult failures, to forge a safe and harmonious world for the future. According to the results of the report, teens give adults below-average or failing grades when it comes to ensuring elected officials truly represent them. These findings may explain why.
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