Learn about our outreach efforts
The Paving the Way Project, Incorporated has been engaging, educating, and empowering the youth of Washington Park to understand and address the root causes of gun/gang violence in Chicago. The Project began as a series of educational forums and programs aimed at sharing information with participants as a way to prevent violence and increase community relations among residents in the Washington Park Area and beyond. Today, we continue to address the prevailing community needs.
Goals:
- Provide information for alternative life choices in the lives of participating youth and young adults.
- Provide information and programming for transitioning from a gang lifestyle.
- Provide exposure to positive people, experiences and opportunities.
- Build relationships with troubled and/or at-risk youth.
- Create a safe space for participants to share their cares and concerns truthfully and authentically (i.e. building communities and being a voice to participants, employment, police interaction, etc)
- Develop a core identity and sense of belonging to a part of a larger active non-violent lifestyle movement (i.e. building a community with accountability)
- Increase parent involvement and participation in the lives of their children.
- Equip participants with life skills (i.e. finance management, investing, building of skill sets, etc)
- Community re-engagement
Future Forums and Programs:
- Dear Momma – Single Mothers Raising Boys
- ThugLife & Real Life – Getting out of the Gang
- Rites of Passage – Initiation into Manhood and Leadership Development
- FutureProfits – How Money Works
- Restoring Justice through Restorative Justice
- Employment, Resume, and Interviewing Workshops
- Substance Abuse and Addiction Programs
- And more…
