A Look Into The Future: IMPACT’S 2021
The recent changes in our world have created some time to reimagine our value, our effectiveness, and our ability to help change the trajectory of the lives of the youth and families living in one of the poorest communities in Chicago--Roseland. In addition, as we celebrate our Sweet 16 Anniversary as a not-for-profit organization in Chicago, we will continue to incorporate strategy and action with lasting outcomes that can create pathways to initiate significant changes for current/future workforce. Our youth participants ages 14-24 are encouraged to be vocal and to use media as a vehicle to speak out and help change the narrative of THEIR stories. Giving youth a voice as they train in journalistic and media arts,’ is empowering and life-changing.
IMPACT’s innovative, comprehensive and holistic programs position youth and families to win with educational enhancement, employment training, technology training, conscious/advocacy media production, social/emotional supports, and a mindset for mobility and winning in employment and entrepreneurship for this decade and beyond. We are supplying laptops and software as we work with participants virtually.
Virtual programming and remote learning is working by incorporating hard and soft skills development. Combining innovative applications and social emotional supports is assisting with maintaining positive outcomes despite the new challenges.
We are also creating the IMPACT Training Center on the Far Southside, another target area for the mayor. Residents of both areas are gaining skills via the internet. We hope to return to in-person programming as soon as possible. We are launching a Capital Fund Campaign to really make a difference where we started, on the Far Southside of Chicago, which has been a forgotten community area.
Looking back over the years, youth gravitated to changing the narrative of their lives, families and neighborhoods using digital media production journalism, arts creatively. IMPACT youth love entrepreneurship and shaping their lives with their own ingenuity to create real businesses. IMPACT youth have grown to understand the historic and current inequities that have shaped the marginalized lives filled with poverty, violence, broken dreams, and a lack of hope. They are committed to creating strategy and taking action.
While we are virtual we see a good consistent interaction of 30+ youth ages 16-24, we cannot wait for in-person programming. Our goal of 100 participant engagements remains because we are expanding virtual training as we also increase viable job placements for in-person and remote opportunities. We are seeing a 98% success rate for program completion. In addition, due to the virtual and tech world most have been catapulted into, we are adding more community short courses for adults and seniors to learn how to navigate the virtual world.
IMPACT has excellent outcomes in changing these opinions and positions by creating pathways to take strategic action to write their own stories of success. IMPACT’s amazing alumni are living productive lives. We have dozens of entrepreneurs, youth with careers, and college grads.
The new IMPACT Training Center in Roseland will service the Far South Chicago Communities in the South/SouthWest region. The IMPACT Training Center will be holistic in training in order to better prepare the entire individual for better overall success in living life better:
IMPACT 2021 Digital Media Arts
Youth-Led Media Arts Production and Journalism Training for Youth
Racial Equity & Social Justice Advocacy Productions
Highlights of the racial equity, social justice movements and community efforts with documentary productions
IMPACT 2021 Workforce/Employment & Life-skills Training
Employment Training/Technology/Digital Media Youth Ages 16 - 24
Mentoring & Life Skills Training--I Am Beautiful Club & Men Stand Out
College & Careers Support
“From the Crop to the Pot” Community Gardening & Healthy Cooking Show Cooperative
#IMPACTFitChi - Saturday morning virtual fitness class
IMPACT 2021 Financial Literacy & Management Training
Personal Financial Training with the Fars South Chicago Coalition
Business Financial Training
Entrepreneurship Training
IMPACT Future Endeavors 2022 & Beyond
Brown Butterflies IMPACT® Returning Female Citizens Program
GED Prep
Trades Training & Apprenticeships
Healthy Soul Cooking Classes & Family Restaurant