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Communities united

Advancing Healing and Justice through Organizing

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OUR RECENT IMPACTS

DAQUAN FORD: WE YOUTHS NEED CHICAGO LEADERS TO ENGAGE, LISTEN AND ACT

In an Op-ed recently published by the Chicago Tribune, Communities United youth leader Daquan Ford discusses the urgency for mental health support for youth in Chicago. He says that elected officials need to involve young people in the conversations. They need to invest in youth-led initiatives to address the gaps in mental health resources, rather than make unilateral decisions that implement punitive and policing policies. When utilizing healing-centered approaches led by those most impacted by the issues, the vision for a healing-centered city becomes clearer.

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Daquan Ford's Op-Ed

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RECENT MEDIA COVERAGE

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO

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Teens Say Downtown Feels Off-Limits As City Considers ‘Snap Curfews’

Teenagers say their options for enjoying Downtown Chicago are shrinking as city officials consider “snap curfews” that would allow police to enforce curfews anytime, anywhere. Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) will again push for legislation Tuesday to change the city’s curfew rules. Hopkins said his ward has seen several “teen trends” — organized gatherings of young people in parks, beaches and other public spaces — that have led to injuries and sparked concerns among residents.

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Chicago Teens Talk Safety, Making a Positive Impact Through Community Involvement

According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the average age for Chicagoans to witness a shooting is 14. Research also shows that exposure to violence can lead to long-lasting mental health issues. Davarius Jones, on the other hand, said he does feel safe in his Austin neighborhood on the West Side. The 15-year-old is a member of Communities United, which advocates for racial justice and social change. Jones believes more jobs and economic opportunity would reduce crime.

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO

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Most Chicago 911 Calls Don’t Need Urgent Police Response, Report Shows

In response to the release of the Alternatives to Policing: How U.S. Cities Are Advancing Community Safety by Taking a Multidisciplinary Approach report, Communities United Leader and Board President Roxanne Smith courageously spoke with Block Club Chicago Reporter Rachel Hinton to share about her family’s experience with generational violence at the hands of the Chicago Police Department and the road toward policing alternatives in Chicago.

How Chicagoans are tackling violence

The Democratic National Convention put Chicago in the spotlight. Some people said they were surprised by the beauty of the city. Others repeated harmful narratives about crime, framing the city as a “combat zone.” Chicagoans don’t deny that gun violence is a real issue, but exaggerations can be dehumanizing – and they often ignore the people who are most affected by gun violence, as well as the efforts of locals working to solve this issue.

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