WHAT DO WEthINK

YOUTHINK CHICAGO IS IN COLLABORATION WITH SOCIAL FORCE ART COLLABORATIVE. WE RECOGNIZE THE INCREASING NEED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE AMONG THE YOUTH IN CHICAGO. WE SEEK TO EMPOWER YOUTH BY PROVIDING THEM WITH ALTERNATIVE MEANS TO EXPRESS THEIR ENERGY AND PASSION. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT CAN BE SOLVED BY ONE ORGANIZATION, BUT THROUGH A NETWORK OF COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATONS, YOUTH LEADERS AND YOU! THE POWER LIES IN OUR HANDS. STEP UP AND STEP OUT TO END YOUTH VIOLENCE!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Second Annual Urban/Suburban Youth Summit on Gun Violence

The latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that
3,184 children and teens died from gunfire in the United States in 2006.
This represents a +6% increase from 2005.*

To help address the issue of gun violence, UCAN will host its
Second Annual Urban/Suburban Youth Summit on Gun Violence
on December 5th, 2009 from 9:30a.m. to 3:30p.m.
at George Westinghouse College Prep High School.


The Summit will unite youth, community leaders, policy makers, and advocates in a solution-focused agenda to improve the public's understanding about the effects of gun violence, to engage community support in reducing gun violence, and to educate on the issues critical to America's youth. The main goal of the Summit is to foster youth civic activism and leadership, with youth attendees identifying the most significant issues pertaining to their age groups on gun violence and working with community and business leaders to identify and implement solutions and strategies to end gun violence. In addition, Senator Emil Jones III will be speaking. The Summit will include:

  • Highlights from UCAN's 2009 national Teen Gun Survey and local focus group findings
  • Various youth workshops reflecting discussions on focus group findings as well as education and policy issues
  • Creation of a "Call to Action" plan detailing what youth can do tomorrow to advocate for change, and how youth and adults throughout Chicago communities can work together to make a difference in reducing gun violence


Students from the following schools will be participating in the Summit:

  • Bethune School of Excellence
  • Collins Academy High School
  • Fenger Academy High School
  • George Westinghouse College Prep High School
  • Johnson School of Excellence
  • Latin School of Chicago
  • New Trier Township High School
  • Rockford Auburn High School
  • Thornton Township High School
  • Uhlich Academy and High School



To learn more, to attend, or to support the Urban/Suburban Youth Summit on Gun Violence, please contact the Director of U-LEAD, Lee Roe, at roel@ucanchicago.org. To download further details about the Summit,click here.

*Source: Children's Defense Fund, Protect Children Not Guns report, Sept. 16, 2009

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