South Chicago Readies Residents to Take on Trauma

As a young boy growing up on the South Side of Chicago, Rasheed Sami faced struggles that no child should. Some days, there wasn’t food on his table. Today, Rasheed, who’s almost 30, uses those struggles to empower others who face similar circumstances. Most recently in his journey to healing, Rasheed attended an educational symposium designed to teach South Chicago residents about trauma, how it can manifest in your life and tips to better respond to its effects.   

Austin Teens Build Sisterhood of Support

Austin Mentors Steer Youth Toward Nonviolence

At the age of 13, Michael, an 8th grade student at George Leland Elementary School in Austin, faced tough choices. Living in an under-resourced neighborhood with high crime, poverty and unemployment, Michael fell into a crowd of friends who were participating in dangerous activities with local gang members. When staff at his school recognized the behavior, they intervened and referred him to BUILD, Inc., a youth development organization and United Way of Metro Chicago community partner that specializes in gang intervention and prevention.