lamp summer 2013 newsletter

8/22/2019 LAMP Summer 2013 Newsletter

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CHICAGO LAWNDALE AMACHI MENTORING PROGRAM

SUMMER 2013 EDITION

LAMP provides active mentoring toour youth throughout the year. We werealso blessed to be able to employ many ofour youth this summer. They are employed

in the Neighborhood Recovery InitiativesComprehensive Youth Violence PreventionProgram, the LISC Program, the SAFECITIES Program and the CIVICLEADERSHIP THROUGH SERVICE ANDCOMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Program.

All of our programs are designed toprovide a quality workforce developmentexperience; project-based learning;community engagement and ongoingopportunities for the youth to participate andacquire skills that are invaluable to theirfuture success. Moreover, our youth areable to strengthen their academic, technicaland employability skills. This motivatesthem to succeed in school as they learn therelationship between work and educationand are able to contextualize their work in aresults-oriented environment. In addition, ithelps to keep them focused, out of troubleand earning their own money.

This Newsletter is designed toallow you to hear from some of LAMPs

youth.

Our Participants,In their Own Words

By: Debron Powell

(Summer 2013 Editor)

Hello, my name is Debron Powell. I am19 years old, and I am a student at IllinoisState University. I have been involved withLAMP since 2010, but I can honestly saythat Dr. Green and other leaders in ourcommunity have been present throughoutmy life as positive role models for my meand my peers. For the past couple of years Ihave been an employee of the Neighbor-hood Recovery Initiative (NRI). Working forthis program opened my eyes to whatprograms like LAMP really do for ourcommunity. In the midst of all the chaos inour community, LAMP gives my peers andme a place to go to stay out of trouble andlearn from people who want to see us growinto more than what we have seen going onin our community so far. Thats why I try mybest to stay involved with LAMP, becausewhen no one else cares, at least we knowthat we have a few people cheering us on.

By: Rachael Pillot

Hello, my name is Rachael Pillot. Ihave been involved with LAMP since I win elementary school. Being a part of thismentoring program has been one of mymost memorable experiences. Theentirestaff is amazing. Their passion towardhelping children is the most beautiful thinhave ever seen.

Most people who are from the hood anmake it out always say theyre going tocome back to help their community, but tnever do. On the other hand, the people LAMP never really left. They have beenhelping our community a lot, and thisprogram is the icing on the cake. All of thmentors are spectacular people as well.

mentor is the best! Shes really nice and feel as if I can talk to her about anything.She is always there when I need someonto talk to. If she cant answer the phone tfirst time she returns my call as soon aspossible. That lets me know that she trulcares about me. I feel like shes the bigsister I never had. More children shouldwant to be a part of a spectacular prograsuch as this one. I cant wait until LAMPtakes off!

People of Faith Mentoring Children of PromiseLawndale AMACHIMentoring Program

A Word fromDr. Betty Allen Green,

Executive Director


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SUMMER 2013 EDITION

Get Involved!

If you have a passion for helping children,seriously consider getting involved in theLAMP mission.

Encourage your church to partner with usto find mentors for children who areimpacted by incarceration.

Mentor a child for at least one hour each

week for one year and make a differencein a childs life.

Be the vessel of light to illuminate thepotential of a child. Please feel free toshow support by making a contributionand help make that difference for childrenof promise.

Phone: 773-521-5267Email: [email protected]

Address: 3508 W Ogden Ave.Chicago, Illinois 60623

By: Tasharra Adams

Hi! My name is Tasharra Adams. I amtwenty years old and I work for the ChicagoLAMP Program. I feel that the LAMP haskept me out of a lot of trouble over thecourse of the past few years that Ive beenwith them. Not that Ive ever been a youthwho misbehaves, but this program has keptme out the streets and from doing badthings. LAMP has kept me out of trouble byproviding me with a job for the past threesummers. Being employed by LAMP hashelped me work on my communicationskills, social skills and helped me break outof my shy shell. I like the Lawndale AmachiMentoring Program because it giveschildren the opportunity to match up withsomeone who can show them things andplaces that their parents and families cantshow them. I think thats what I love themost about the program. They want to uplift

our youth and community and show usthere is more to life outside of the hood.

By: Clinecea Phillips

Hi, my name is Clinecea Phillips. I attendSchurz High School, and I am 15 years old. I

work at the Chicago LAMP office for thesummer. Im also a mentee in the program.Ive been in this program for almost a yearnow. This program has provided me with awonderful mentor. My mentor and I do a lotof cool things together, and she helps mewith my homework sometimes. We even goto the zoo and museums. I learned a lot fromthis program. Everyone treats each other likefamily. This really is a great program to be in.I enjoy my time here and I learn somethingnew every day. I enjoy being around all my

peers that are in the program with me.

By: Dashel Bridge

Hey! My name is Dashel BridgeIm 17 years old, and I work for theNeighborhood Recovery Initiative (NRI). had an interview with Dr. Green, then I g

call two weeks later. I started my 4 weektraining at Sinai on May20 2013. Then afthe training I was placed at the LAMPProgram. In this program we work ongardening, and we are going to garden two lots that we own. We have one on 16and Lawndale and we have one on Homand Harrison. We are going to plant flowto make our community look better. Thisis preventing me from staying on the streand being at home in my bed sleeping. I very concerned about people throwing tr

on the ground as they walk throughout ocommunity. I feel I represent a positiveinfluence for my neighborhood and Im gIm here, its a great experience.

Did You Know?

Nearly two million children have a parentwho is in prison, according to statistics fromthe Bureau of Justice. Without intervention,70% of those children will find themselvesin their parents position.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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SUMMER 2013 EDITION

By: Isaiah Hudson

Hello, myname is Isaiah Hudson

Im 16 years old and thisis my first year at theLAMP. I joined thisprogram to stay out oftrouble and to earnsome extra money. I found out about this

job through a family member. She works atthe LAMP. Im very excited to start thecommunity garden project on 16th andLawndale and on Homan and Harrison. Ihope to gain a lot of experience in thisprogram and take full advantage of all it

offers.

By: Brianne Jordan

Hi, my name is Brianne Jordan. I attendRoosevelt High School. I will be a sophomorethis upcoming fall. I will continue to playbasketball as a starter playing the center orpoint guard. This summer I get to work forthe first time. I will share the money I earnwith my little brothers and sister.

I was given a mentor through the LAMPProgram, which is also where I work. I plan tohang out with my mentor, Ms. Smith, a lotmore this summer. Shes been my mentor foralmost three years. We visited museums,

have been to plays, and have also been todifferent restaurants. I think it benefits mebecause it gives me something to do, whenIm not working, and keeps me out of trouble.In addition to that my mentor takes me to allthe different kinds of restaurants to trydifferent foods.This made me want to openup my own restaurant one day. I think Ms.Smith encourages me to try new foods togive me an idea of how to own and operatea restaurant. She is very supportive.

We are building two communitygardens this summer through LAMP. Wevisit a lot of gardens like the Garfield ParkConservatory and the Botanic Garden tolearn about gardening. I really neverrealized all the different flowers that wereinside theConservatory. We even got totaste bananas. They were sweeter andsofter then store-bought bananas. We got tosee grapes and we got to taste a leaf thattaste like a sun flower at the BotanicGarden. I cant wait to see how our gardensturns out.

By: Jessica Pillot

Hello my name is Jessica Pillot. Iattend Collins Academy. Im 16yrs old. Msite name is Chicago LAMP, the sameagency that provides me with a mentor aa job. Ive been in this program for yearsThe last two years Ive worked with theNeighborhood Recovery Initiative (NRI)trying to make the community look nicerand pass positive messages. The prograhas helped me manage my time better ahas shown me how to dress for success

also taught me how to create an effectiveresume and how important it is to know tcompanies background /history when yogo in for an interview. It also helped me gsome income to purchase some of thethings I need. Lastly it has kept me off thstreet.

We have a final project to completewhich is a community garden on 16th anLawndale. Im looking forward to creatingthis garden because this will be one step

further to creating a better community.

Students take a breafter a service learnsession at the NorthLawndale African

Heritage Garden.


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By: Briana Caldwell

Hello, my name is Briana Caldwell; Iattend CCA High School. Im 17 years old,

and I work for the Community ViolencePrevention Program (CVPP). I have been apart of the LAMP Mentoring program for 6years. I started at this program gardening atmy grammar school, Herzl. Because of thisprogram I stay out of a lot of trouble. I reallyappreciate this program because I learnedmore in regards to life. I learned how tomanage my money better, and work withothers. I have a good feeling about myCommunity changing for the better.

By: Tyre Hardnick

Hello, my name is Tyre Hardnick. Iattend North Lawndale College Prep. Im 15years old, and I work at a gardeningprogram through Chicago LAMP. I would bein the streets and playing basketball all dayif I were not with LAMP. I was tired ofseeing my community dirty and trashy, so Idecided to take a stand and clean up theneighborhood. This program has taught

me to work hard and mange my money.

Also, I learned about gardening and itsimportance to the environment. Thisprogram has brought more purpose tomy summer than I expected.

By: Kalyn Edwards

Hello, my name is Kalyn Edwards. Iattend North Lawndale College Prep, andthis year will be my first year working for theNeighborhood Recovery Initiative (NRI). Iheard about this program through ChicagoLAMP. I had to go through training for fourweeks to get ready for the job. I think if Ididnt get called for this job, I would havekept depending on my mother for

everything. I like being independent, so thisjob is good opportunity for me. I work with agroup of youth. We have to wear uniforms,which require khaki pants and navy blueshirts with Community Violence PreventionProgram (CVPP) labeled on it. We arerequired to keep the community clean. Thisis my first year working with NRI.

Im 16 years old, and working with NRIhas been a pleasure to me. Helping keepmy community clean is something Ive

always wanted to do. All of the youth areassigned to build a community garden.One is on 16th and Lawndale and one ison Harrison and Homan. Im excited,because Ive never built a garden before. Ithink it is going to be a great experience. Iunderstand its going to be a long process,

but it is worth it to see our communitylook nice.

By: Ronald Caldwell

Hi, my name is Ronald Caldwell.I am 19 years old, and I attend CCA

Academy. Being a part of LAMP hasreally had a good impact on my life. Ilove being in the program. The peopleinvolved in the program are very nice tome. The best part about it is having amentor who helps me stay on the rightpath, and stay off the streets. It makesme cry when I see that othercommunities are succeeding and mypeople are being locked up and killedeveryday around me. LAMP provides mewith the opportunity to work everysummer, and stay out of trouble; thatswhy I will continue to stay involved.

The Youth Lend A Helping Hand!

About Us

The Lawndale Amachi Mentoring Program(LAMP) was started in Chicago in 2006 by

the principal and some staff members ofTheodore Herzl Elementary School, a schoowhere teachers and staff daily live with theanger and emotional turmoil of childrenwhose parents are incarcerated. Former

principal, Betty Allen-Green joined withconcerned staffers to develop a nonprofitagency to provide needed support for thesechildren. LAMP is collaborating with 13elementary schools and a high school in theNorth Lawndale community. LAMP is

patterned after the nationally recognizedAmachi program, which has provided

mentoring to children of incarcerated parentssince 2000.


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SUMMER 2013 EDITION

A Trip to the Conservatory

Mentor, Alfea Gordon, explores the Central ParkConservatory with some of the youth.

By: Adrienne Johnson

Hi, my name isAdrienne Johnson. Ihave been a casemanager here atLAMP for alittle overtwo

yearsnow. This summer, I have the opportunity tomanage the Green Corps program awardedto UCAN. This 6- week environmentalprogram teaches the youth about bikesafety, and how to build bikes and abouthorticulture. I love working with youngpeople and seeing them learn new things.These are skills they will be able to use inthe future to earn extra money.

By: Stanley Robinson

Myname isStanleyRobinson,and I am amentor atChicago

LAMP. Ilove being amentor. Growingup I had ateacher that Ilooked up to, andenjoyed beingaround. Thats why Ibuild a relationship with my mentees. I wantthem to relate to me as I related to myteacher as a child. Ive always wanted togive something back to my community, and

the children that live here. As a mentor I I have the chance to help my menteesshare their thoughts and have meaninconversations with someone they feelthey can trust.

I have four children of my own, s

know how important it is for a child tohave someone to share things with a laugh, a conversation, or even jussmile. Just knowing there is someowho cares means a lot to a child. Imakes me happy to know I help

brighten someones day. This issomething Ive been doing for three yearnow, and something I hope to continuedoing for as long as I live.

Going Back to Our HeritageStudents get ideas for the LAMP gardens by examining climbing plants

in the North Lawndale African Heritage Garden.

Mentors Speak


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By: Leticia Robinson

Hello, my name is Leticia RobinsonI'm 26 yrs old. I am very blessed to sayI have been an employee at ChicagoLAMP for two years.

I started off as a recruiter/casemanager, but because of my dedicationto the LAMP program I am now thelead coordinator for CommunityViolence Prevention Program (CVPP),and the lead mentor/program managerfor the Safe Passages Project. Workingfor LAMP has really shown me mypurpose in life, and that is to help asmany children as I can. Working forLAMP has also made me feel like I nolonger just have a job, but a career.During these past two years here I'venot only had room to grow in my field,but room to grow as a person. It bringsme joy to say I am a voluntary mentorto two beautiful young ladies, and I amforever grateful and proud to say I am

an employee for Lawndale AmachiMentoring Program.

IF IT TAKES A VILLAGE.........................

CLEAN VILLAGE

DOES IT BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!

OUR CHILDREN DESERVE NO LESS.

JOIN THE WAR ON FILTH AND FEARBY CLEANING FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

Sel Dunlap


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SUMMER 2013 EDITION

Be the vessel of light to illuminate the potential of a child.

For more info:

Dr. Betty Allen- Green(Executive Director)

3508 W. Ogden Ave.Chicago, IL 60623-2507

(773)521-9452(773)521-9468

Mentoring Children of Promise
http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=lawndale%20amachi%20mentoring%20program%20chicago&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=E1G25fBlVYYBVM&tbnid=efPehRg06XVXNM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.chicagolamp.org/&ei=sk3wUfi5NcSGrAHS8oGYBA&bvm=bv.49641647,d.aWM&psig=AFQjCNHQXw--jq9gOQDUAvSndVI6owFUWA&ust=1374789284468439

lamp summer 2013 newsletter

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