A Week at Chicago 1

Chicago is a spectacular city made up of many smaller neighborhoods, each with their own unique character and identity. At Chicago One, we spend most of our time on the city’s south side, working in the Bridgeport neighborhood and house near Canaryville. We’ve served alongside the Chicago community since 1999 and in that time we have met incredible community members serving their community all year round. Here’s a peek at what a week in Chicago 1 looks like:

 

Monday

 

Chicago 1 kicked off Monday of Week 7 right 🙌 We will be spending the week at our Chicago 1 site, showing you around the community and introducing you to some awesome community members. Stay tuned! #yw2016 • 📷: @charelva13

A video posted by YouthWorks Missions (@ywmissions) on Jul 18, 2016 at 11:50am PDT

 

Today at Chicago 1, this crew served at the Mother and Child (MAC) Warehouse, packing 742 boxes of meals for people in the Chicago area. Sponsored by Catholic Charities, MAC provides nutritious supplements to low-income mothers and their kids, as well as senior citizens throughout the city. We are grateful to be able to serve alongside organizations like MAC that are working to meet the needs of their community! #yw2016

A photo posted by YouthWorks Missions (@ywmissions) on Jul 18, 2016 at 5:40pm PDT

 

Meet Ray. He’s a housing partner and one of our many awesome community members at Chicago 1. On Monday evenings, Ray comes to speak to groups about what it’s like growing up as a struggling youth in Chicago. He opened a youth center at the church where students could find refuge, a hot meal, and the Gospel. Last night, he shared about the gang violence here in Chicago and how important it is to give kids a safe place so they don’t get involved in gangs. The youth center closed 6 years ago and now Ray gets to work with youth again because of the partnership with YouthWorks and we are so grateful for his heart and to serve alongside of him. #yw2016

A photo posted by YouthWorks Missions (@ywmissions) on Jul 19, 2016 at 7:28am PDT

 

Tuesday

 

Today one of our crews had the chance to serve at Hermitage Garden – a community garden space in Chicago for families to grow their own food and also serves as a gathering center for the community. This is Miss Cordia, the manager of the garden. She is a sweet lady that has a deep love for her community and the YouthWorks crews that help her out each week. #yw2016

A photo posted by YouthWorks Missions (@ywmissions) on Jul 19, 2016 at 1:31pm PDT

 

Nothing like a little game of Ring of Fire before Large Group Gathering tonight at Chicago 1 to get church groups mingled! #yw2016

A video posted by YouthWorks Missions (@ywmissions) on Jul 19, 2016 at 7:46pm PDT

 

Wednesday

 

We love serving at Chicago Lawn UMC! This crew has spent their week helping with a summer kids program and today they helped out for a bit in the church’s food pantry. Chicago Lawn UMC is very active within the community and we are so excited to be able to serve alongside them during the summer months. #yw2016

A photo posted by YouthWorks Missions (@ywmissions) on Jul 20, 2016 at 12:01pm PDT

 

Today was Entrepreneur Day at Covenant Faith Church’s Kidtrepeneur Camp at Chicago 1! Kids are are selling snow cones to their parents! Covenant Faith runs a kids camp throughout the summer for kids ages 4-15 can come hang out and build community. YouthWorks is fortunate to be able to support this camp and get to know Chicago through the youth of this community. #yw2016

A photo posted by YouthWorks Missions (@ywmissions) on Jul 20, 2016 at 8:26pm PDT

 

All sorts of fun at the Chicago 1 community cookout last night: an iguana, giant watermelons and ice cream! So awesome to get to share these nights with Chicago 1 community members. #yw2016

A photo posted by YouthWorks Missions (@ywmissions) on Jul 21, 2016 at 6:52am PDT

 

Thursday

 

What better way to cool off after a hot day serving than in Lake Michigan?! Yea God for Great Lakes 😉 #yw2016

A photo posted by YouthWorks Missions (@ywmissions) on Jul 21, 2016 at 6:40pm PDT

 

Friday

 

How is it already Friday?! Thanks for joining us here at Chicago 1 this week! We loved introducing you to passionate community members, sharing about incredible service partners, and letting you in on a little bit of the fun we have on-site. So long from the Windy City! #yw2016

A photo posted by YouthWorks Missions (@ywmissions) on Jul 22, 2016 at 9:09am PDT