See It: The Community being helped

Founded by Gabrielle Pickens, a Senior at Walter Payton College Preparatory High in Chicago Illinois, the Payton Grizzlies Dance Troupe, through theatrical dance & performances, raise money and such, to be donated to the Chicago Police Departments 'Victims Unit'. In addition, to already having been granted a $2,500.00, the dance group is now planning and executing a Chicago Public School (CPS) City-wide Dance Competition. All monies raised will be donated to the Victims Unit. Also, the Dance Team emphasizes youth artistic development, and therefore makes every effort to perform at elementary schools around the city to encourage school children to reach their dreams in the Arts.

See It: The Community being helped

Most people spend their spring break, with friends, partying. I decided long ago, that I wasn't going to spend my spring break like that. instead, I went with some kids from my youth group in Michigan, to Chicago to go feed the Homeless. In the city of Chicago there are over 8,000 homeless people.

Our group joined up with The Salvation Army in Chicago. From there we divided up into 2 teams and went out on "runs". Each team went to different stops all over Chicago, and served food to the homeless. The team I was on went to the "projects" of Chicago. Each run we went on, we went to 6 different homeless shelters/churches. We had 2 big things of soup, and a few hundred grocery bags of food/snacks, that we passed out to every person.

We fed over 600 people on each run. We where in Chicago for only 2 days, we did only 2 runs. But we all learned a lot from the experience. We heard some stories of the men and women out on the streets. We also saw some of the kids that where out on the street as well. Which was horrible.

Over all, the experience was amazing. I hope to go do it again, soon.

See It: The Community being helped

Alex Poeter founded the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council in Chicago, IL. An East German immigrant who was raised under an oppressive dictatorship, Alex leads a grassroots organization that mobilized local residents to close down 27 drug houses, secure $40 million in local school improvements, and improve the local economy through $65 million in Community Reinvestment Act funds. Alex won a BRICK Award in 2000.

See It: The Community being helped

Matthew McDermott served as a Policy Specialist for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH), Chicago, IL. The CCH works to expand affordable housing, protect human rights, and increase the political power of homeless people.  Matt’s efforts lead to the preservation of 1,000 units, the creation of 380 single room housing units with social services on site, and the adoption of a policy for a 20% affordable housing set aside in all city housing expenditures. He won a BRICK Award in 1998.