In the late 1990’s, there were numerous shootings and deaths of BOTY youth. The public elementary schools were mandated to improve student scores. However, the violence was interfering with progress being made. The principals at Chavez and Hamline Schools were in conversation with Phillip Jackson from Chicago Public Schools about this issue. Phillip suggested a meeting be called with all interested parties to address the issue of youth violence. (Phillip is currently the CEO of the Black Star Project impacting Black youth nationally.)
The principals developed a list of invitees, which included all neighborhood principals, clergy, law enforcement, elected officials, park districts, and community based organizations. This meeting was held at the Chavez School in November,1997. This group did grow into the not-for-profit Peace and Education Coalition of Back of the Yards, New City (PEC).
Approximately forty groups were represented. As the PEC continued, it relied upon the expertise of the various groups within. An important piece was the work Fr. Bruce Wellems. He, in conversation with park district employees, realized how needy our youth were for an outlet of their anger and hurt. Fr. Bruce created Reflection Groups providing a safe place for our youth to have a voice. One thing learned was that many of these youth were dropped out or put out of high school. They were not successful in a traditional educational setting. Thus, working with CPS, in July, 1998, the Sister Irene Dugan Alternative High School was created in the neighborhood. It has since expanded to two more campuses and to date more that 500 youth have completed their diplomas.
The BOTY is a community divided by school attendance boundaries, parishes, aldermanic wards, major streets and so on. In February, 1998, it became apparent how divided yet connected the neighborhood was. An eleven year old student from Seward Academy, was shot and killed in front of Chavez School, by two Daley students. At the request of the newly formed PEC, CPS provided a grant to implement a sports program between and among the elementary schools. It was the intent of the program to blur the lines that so divided the community.
The forces behind the implementation of many of the endeavors included Fr. Bruce Wellems of Holy Cross, Marcey Reyes, Principal of Seward Academy, and Sandra Traback, Principal of Chavez Multicultural Academic Center. Other members of the Coalition have supported their efforts tirelessly.
The mission of the PEC is to use education as a way to reduce and prevent violence. Poverty is very prevalent in the neighborhood and presents significant challenges to the residents, especially the youth. So the PEC uses its partnerships to collaborate and maximize all grant and contribution dollars. Since it’s inception the PEC has been an all volunteer not-for-profit organization with very little overhead. Therefore, all the money raised for scholarships ($500,000 to date) or youth programming is used for that stated purpose only. The Board of Directors DO NOT receive any compensation for their efforts. However, beginning June, 2017, a CEO was hired to grow the PEC and create a long term plan to serve the BOTY community.
The Peace and Education Coalition (PEC) develops leaders and fosters neighborhood networks that promote education, strengthen families, and build peace through social justice.
We believe that the development of a common mission depends on membership commitment to the following values:
· To learn and understand the (hi)story of the families, organizations, and the neighborhood
These stories, woven together, express a common thread of struggle, determination, and resiliency which has marked this community since it was built to serve the workers of the Stockyards (1865-1971).
· To learn and appreciate and promote the culture of the Back of the Yards
Some expressions of these, though not an exhaustive list, include: interwoven relationships often dating back multiple generations; organizing by local residents; processions commemorating various occasions; programming in the arts such as murals, marimba, and ballet folklorico; exposure to the natural world outside the neighborhood through camping and outdoor experiences; and many more examples of cultural and neighborhood pride.
· To promote health and wellbeing
Despite the many challenges faced in this community, we believe in asset-building rather than deficit-based strategies.
· To dedicate time to the development of common trauma-based standards of services and training in such.
Our children, youth, and family deserve nothing less than the best practices available in any given set of services, and to know that wherever they go in our community they will be treated and cared for with dignity, respect, and cultural/linguistic competence. This requires commitment to common training and willingness to participate in evaluative followups.
· To “hire locally” to the extent possible
Since those who have spent considerable amounts of time living in our community have a special sensitivity to the local culture they can help craft strategies that are more effective. Our youth and adults merit the opportunity to show and develop their work skills within the business, educational, health, social, governmental and political community of the Back of the Yards. Those who live in our community are directly impacted by the work of coalition members and should have leadership positions within the member-organizations, whenever possible. At the very minimum, those who live in our community should have access to positions working with member-organizations.
· To contribute to “telling the story” of the Back of the Yards
To promote the development of common projects, it is important we are willing to share narratives and statistics that tell the true story of the Back of the Yards, for the sake of the people of this community as well as to inform those outside.
· To believe in this community and not lose hope.
The resident families and youth face multiple challenges on a daily basis and look to organizations and institutions to offer strength when their own may be fading.
· To stand alongside and accompany community residents as they realize their sense of agency (power) to enact change."
We acknowledge context and the power imbalance that systemically deprives residents and the community from radical progress, and we recognize that slow progress isn't due to lack of power or ongoing efforts from residents but can be attributed to system level factors.
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