ABOUT
CHICAGO-- IMPACT Family Center (IMPACT) is a human service organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for at-risk children, youth, and their families in the greater Chicago area through effective and interactive programs. Since 2005, the organization has incorporated mentoring into its entire computer, technology, media, employment, and academic programs while assisting their participants to become self-sufficient, productive, and healthy individuals. The organization incorporated in 2009. The flagship program focusing on journalism and digital media has been the catalyst for improving academic performance, college enrollment, and creating a new generation of journalists and media professionals.
The Greater Roseland and far south side areas of Chicago is plagued with violence, recidivism of ex-offenders, chronic health conditions and low social-economic situations for children, youth, and their families. Taking notice of this prevalent issue, as an award-winning broadcast journalist, Marsha Eaglin, original founder with the initial idea for the creation of IMPACT, was joined by Amber Gardner to create a dynamic organization that makes a difference. Marsha and Amber realized a community center, geared towards youth, their families, and young adults, was much needed training opportunities that would create and enhance individuality as well as motivate individuals to exceed and succeed their expectations out of life and gain and maintain an entrepreneurial spirit.
There has been a proven record of accomplishment of hundreds of youth and families experiencing personal and academic development as well as obtaining the necessary skills to succeed and exceed within society. Hundreds of teens and young adults who have matriculated through IMPACT Family Center have been accepted to various colleges and universities around the country and have spent their summers giving back to the organization and worked as college interns to assist youth participants. Some of our past apprentices and interns have created their own businesses and secured jobs after participating in our programs. Parents, teachers, and others have been highly pleased and have appreciated our mission to help transform the lives of youth and their families enrolled in IMPACT programs.
There is a great need to invest in our youth and families, while nurturing them to success. IMPACT helps hundreds of young and old to develop high expectations for their lives and encourages them to not only dream big, but to put forth the effort, to work that dream into a reality.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
OUR MISSION
IMPACT Family Center is dedicated to creating change among under-served youth and families living in violence through holistic digital media-based programs with social emotional support that promote racial equity, inclusion, and social justice.
OUR VISION
Use media and the arts as a vehicle to give youth a voice in issues of racial equity, inclusion and social justice
Improve low socio-economic positioning through employment training, financial management, and wealth building
Improving social/emotional well-being and mental health
Provide and advocate for resources in marginalized communities
Provide educational supports and pathways to educational advancement
Decrease the cyber-divide by providing technological opportunities with STEAM programming
Increase mentoring and job shadowing to increase Black & Brown representation in the workforce
Increase arts programming to provide creative outlets, celebration of artistic diversity, and unity in our communities
Encourage health, wellness, and fitness to decrease chronic illnesses.
OUR "WHY"
The far south side areas of Chicago and south Cook County are plagued with violence, recidivism of ex-offenders, chronic health conditions, and low social economic situations for youth, and families. These areas have become service and resource deserts because there are few programs that address these issues on a consistent and impactful basis reaping measurable outcomes. IMPACT Family Center has provided unprecedented solutions to these issues for over 15 years.
IMPACT Family Center teens are not simply numbers that are taught or babysat; they are nurtured through a supportive, structured program to achieve an individualized metamorphosis of greater confidence and success. There is a special focus on the very fragile 18-24 year olds who need guidance as they enter adulthood with many odds against them. We maintain an active presence in their lives through high school, college and into their careers.
IMPACT is resolved to blend ingenuity with journalism/digital media production to create a fresh approach to holistic youth development that creates change in the racial inequity and social justice landscape. The Far Southside has a rich history among Black & Latinx families living in one of the poorest and inequitable areas. Our trained youth rewrite negative stories as they become the next generation of leaders using their voice to change the narrative and mobilize to fight with strategy and media skills. They strive for advanced education and careers as they create new norms while bridging history with a future of potential and achievement.
We are living in the midst of a new normal that continues to aggravate centuries of racial inequities, lack of inclusion, and financial hardship that keeps BIPPOC families in turmoil. While the precious lives of people unjustly killed have highlighted inequities, the playing field is far from being leveled. While smaller organizations like IMPACT Family Center still have to vie for attention and funding, larger organizations and those connected to those in control get more when their outcomes are less in comparison to the lasting IMPACT that our organization has helped to create for more than nearly 18 years. Despite the challenges and meager increases in funding, our dedicated staff continues to guide youth on pathways that help to change the trajectory of the lives of precious youth and families living in the 3 rd most violent and poorest areas in Chicago. Continue reading to see how you can help us increase the IMPACT in 2022 and beyond.
We resolve that we will continue to provide exceptional programming with measurable outcomes and spark positive action with lasting outcomes. Our IMPACT My Future programming includes A Four Track Apprenticeship for youth 18-24 years old, with a focus on The Trades, Computer Tech, Digital Media/Music, and Community Gardening that can create opportunities that initiate significant changes for justice-involved youth and youth looking for change. We also offer an after school youth development program targeting Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) youth in order to break the cycle of dependence on subsidized housing. IMPACT’s innovative and comprehensive programs that mental health and life-skills support to position youth to developing skills/education training, and a leader’s mindset for mobility and winning in employment and entrepreneurship for this decade and beyond.
IMPACT is focusing on advocacy media production and highlighting the changes in societal injustice by creating short and long format productions and social media marketing. All programs are designed to support and transform trauma-involved and justice-involved youth and give them a voice. Our theme this year is, “IMPACT No Matter What…Stories from the Hood/by the Hood.”
The inequities we see in so many areas of life for Black people is also prevalent in not-for-profit funding and philanthropy. We are in a capital campaign to create the new IMPACT Training Center in Roseland. We will service the Far South Chicago Communities, an area designated by Mayor Lightfoot as a targeted area in need of transformation. The IMPACT Training Center transformation of this space will include:
IMPACT DIGITAL PROGRAM
Youth-Led Production Training for youth
Advocacy Productions with local organizations
Highlighting social movements, racial justice struggles, and community efforts for equity via public service announcements and movie-shorts via social media
A Mini Docu-Series focusing on justice reform and other issues will be released
IMPACT Training Center
Employment Training/Technology
Trades Training & Apprenticeships
Community Garden & Fitness
IMPACT Financial Training
Personal Financial Training
Business Financial Training
Entrepreneurship Training
IMPACT Programs include:
Mental Counseling/Case Management
Youth/Adult Computer/Job Readiness
Educational Tutoring/Homework & Test Prep
Trades Apprenticeship/Community Gardening
I Am Beautiful/Men Stand Out Mentor Clubs; Scholarship Cotillion
In-School Mentor/Restorative Media; Programs/Podcasts
Gay/Straight Alliance
PROVEN RESULTS
IMPACT involves more than 1500 youth in programs, in-school workshops, and community events annually.
Our overall community reach is about 2500 youth. Past apprentices and interns have done
the following after participating in our programs:
All participants make significant changes
99% Graduate High School
62% Attended 2/4-year colleges
23% Complete Trade/Certificate Programs
Less than 1% are jailed or imprisoned
20% Become Entrepreneurs
93% Secured Employment
Please, invest, become a sponsor, provide a grant and/or volunteer to help us IMPACT…No Matter What.
GET INVOLVED
Make An IMPACT Today!
Do you want to make an IMPACT in your community? Join us! We are active between the Englewood and Roseland communities two of Chicago's most high risk areas on the Southside. We are looking for individuals to volunteer and sponsored business partners to be active in the following areas/ resources:
Grant writing & revision
Youth management and supervision
Event management
Providing transportation equipment (2- 15 Passenger Vans/ 2 Large SUVs) or services
Supplying up-to-date computers, tablets, and audio/ visual equipment
Employment Relationships for Teens & Adults
OUR FUNDERS & SUPPORTERS
We are grateful for a diverse group of individual donors.
