Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club of Chicago by Patrick J

U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance

Bulletin From the Field February 1999 ractitioner Onsite Visits, Case Histories, and State and Local Innovations From the erspectives Bureau of Justice Assistance Nancy E. Gist, Director The Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club of Chicago By Patrick J. Coleman, Elizabeth Lahey, and Kristine Orlando, BJA

n March 23, 1998, we hailed a Checker Cab on Chicago’s North OSide and asked the driver to go to 5120 South Federal Street. It was obvious ◆ that the cab driver had no idea where this address was; this address is not frequented Founded in 1991, this by cabs. From a few blocks away, any one Club is located in the of the 16-story, high-density (32.4 units per acre), low-income Robert Taylor largest public housing Homes could be any apartment building.1 development in the However, the uniformity of the brick-red and dust-white alternating clusters of rect- United States. The Club angular buildings gives the neighborhood serves more than 1,500 an institutional look. members, predominantly The outside walls of the Robert Taylor African-Americans, in Boys and Girls Club of Chicago (the Club) are covered with bright colorful murals the Grand Boulevard depicting children playing sports and en- Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago Board Member and Washington Park joying themselves. The almost electric yel- low, green, and purple pictures send the Mrs. Renee Crown visits the Robert Taylor Homes Boys and Girls Club. areas of Chicago. message that this place is fun. The Club stands in sharp contrast to the Robert Tay- In 1996 President Clinton authorized ◆ lor Homes development located directly $100 million in grant funding for the Boys across the street with its dilapidated, circa and Girls Clubs of America (B&GCA) to 1959, buildings surrounded by mud and be awarded over 5 years. The bulk of these broken glass. Nothing else colorful was funds are being used to enhance the pro- visible on South Federal Street, not even gramming of the 2,500 Clubs around the businesses with colorful signs. Bulletin From the Field: Practitioner Perspectives country so that they can serve an ad- Assorted Crime Incidents for District 002 – All Locations ditional 1 million children. In 1996, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) was awarded $35.35 million of these funds to support B&GCA over the next 5 years. In 1997, 260 juris- dictions received funding for new clubs or outreach programs.2

We went to the Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club to see if it is possible to maintain a neutral, safe haven for children living in impoverished conditions in a neighborhood troubled by violence and crime on the border between rival gang territories. If you look at the Chicago Police Depart- ment’s crime maps of the 5100 South Federal Street neighborhood during the 2 weeks around our visit to the Club (figure 1), you can see the in- Figure 1. Crime activity over a 2-week Figure 2. Crime activity in a 24-hour credible rate of crime and violence period in the Robert Taylor Homes period in the Robert Taylor Homes that occurs in this area. Even the neighborhood. neighborhood. crime map covering a 24-hour period during our visit (figure 2) is littered those raw materials and accomplish latch onto hope and turn their dreams with marks indicating narcotics and the Club’s mission are available. And into reality. assault and battery crimes. Can a yet, from our viewpoint, the Club is club—an afterschool program—really an unqualified success. It provides A Tour of the Club make a difference in the lives of a clean, warm, safe haven for chil- Into the Club we went. As we entered, children facing such enormous dren—a place where they can play, we passed a paper banner that said, challenges? build strong bodies, get help with their homework, and learn how to use “Welcome Justice Dept.” And even The Club is an amazing place. This computers and the Internet. This is a though there was no one in sight, we public, nonprofit organization has the place where children can dance and felt welcome. The clean, bright, mission of “building men and women, laugh and dream; where children can colorful entryway was full of life. Ken one kid at a time.” The Club is para- develop and find the support to resist Dunkin, the Director of the Club, doxically situated in a community the destructive influences of the world greeted us and led us to the activity where all the raw materials—the chil- around them; where, considering the room. Like the Club’s exterior, the dren—are available, but almost none specter of the housing development entire length of the main hallway is of the resources necessary to refine across the street, the children can painted with bright, colorful murals.

This series is dedicated to the exploration of vital issues in criminal justice program development and management. Case studies highlight the work of progressive, innovative people and programs in state and local criminal justice systems. Although a case study may include a detailed description of the operational aspects of a program, it is not a scientific program evaluation. Rather, it is a document designed to explore the interaction of factors such as collaboration, politics, resources, culture, and others that play a part in successful public management.

2 The Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club of Chicago

◆ Director Dunkin told us later that children participating in a summer One Club jobs program were paid to paint the Member’s Story murals with the assistance of artists from the Chicago Children’s Museum. My name is Laresa Robinson We noticed that, although the hall and I live in the Robert Taylor floors seemed clean enough to eat off Homes in Chicago, Illinois. of, a janitor was preparing to polish My home is in a crime- Children participate in athletic programs in the floors with a large machine. Ken the Club’s six-rim gym. infested neighborhood. I was explained that keeping the Club clean stereotyped as a criminal was a high priority and he believes a year. Seventy percent of the Taylor when I was only 13 years of that part of a healthy and safe envi- residents are under age 21, and 99.9 age. I am the oldest of four 3 ronment is order and cleanliness. percent are African American. children, and I’m the first to Gang symbols are forbidden in the ◆ attend a 4-year college. My Club, and the children are not al- mother wasn’t able to finish lowed to wear ball caps inside. The The Robert Taylor Boys and high school, and I believe color of a cap, Ken explained, is one that is the reason why she Girls Club provides a clean, way a youth can indicate his or her pushed me so hard to go to membership in a particular gang. warm, safe haven for children— college. Most members of my family were gang members, a place where they can play, In the activity room, we were intro- but the Robert Taylor Boys duced to Dr. Billie Adams, a well- build strong bodies, get help and Girls Club showed me respected pediatrician and member that there is more to life than with their homework, and of the Club’s advisory board. We ex- gangs and motivated me so plained to Dr. Adams and Ken that we learn how to use computers that I would not become a wanted to write a case study about the crime statistic. The Club and and the Internet. Club’s mission and activities, and that my mother are helping me we were interested in how the Club ◆ become the woman that I am functioned and survived in a public going to be. Ken Dunkin, the We asked Dr. Adams what the Club housing setting. Director of the Club, is a needs to succeed in the Robert Taylor positive role model for me Neighborhood. “Resources!” she pro- Dr. Adams indicated the building claimed. “The need for resources here and the other children in my across the street and said, “What this neighborhood. I was a junior is terrible. The staff are stretched to kind of deprivation has meant to the the limit. This Club is less than 10 helper in the computer room community, is that there is no commu- at the Club, where I received years old, so it doesn’t have the donor nity outside of the Club. Even if there base that a lot of the older clubs have. much valuable hands-on were a theater or a store it would be computer experience. I am That makes it really hard to raise better. But there’s nothing. No after- enough money from private donations. currently a Computer Infor- school programs at all outside of the mation Systems major at Older clubs have a donor base of chil- Club.” This deprivation is reflected dren that grew up in the club and now Wartburg College in Waverly, in the extreme demographics of the Iowa. I am forever thankful give back to the club that helped people living in the Robert Taylor them.” She noted that some clubs to the Club for providing me Homes. Of the more than 11,000 with this opportunity. have a lot of contributors for special people living in the development, less reasons, as in the case of the James than 5 percent are employed, 84 per- Jordan Boys and Girls Club of Chi- ◆ cent earn less than $10,000 a year, cago—the club named after Michael and 41 percent earn less than $5,000

3 Bulletin From the Field: Practitioner Perspectives

Jordan’s late father. “[The Club at The three rules of the Club were Robert Taylor] has neither of these posted on the walls throughout the things going for it and is often strug- building: 1) No hats (to ensure that gling to make ends meet.” the Club remains gang neutral); 2) No smoking; and 3) No sunflower seeds. From the activity room, Director Despite the rules posted throughout the Dunkin led us to the Club’s impres- Club, we encountered one brave little sive gym, which is almost the length girl in the gym eating sunflower seeds. of a football field. It has six basketball rims and a gleaming floor. Children develop computer skills in the Club’s We toured the day care center, the computer room. Standing in the gym you have the computer room, the dance room, and impression that you are on the court habits, like profanity. It is also impor- the game room on the second floor of of a professional basketball team. It tant that the younger children be sent the Club. We spent most of our time is a sharp contrast to the dilapidated home at earlier hours to ensure that in the computer room, which was courts across the street that are lit- they arrive home safely and spend the filled with young enthusiastic chil- tered with broken glass. evenings with their families. dren who were laughing, learning, and getting along. Around the room At one end of the gym is a stage Our next stop was the Club’s library more than 24 computers lined the where the children put on plays. At located down the hall from the gym. walls. The E-mail Club had recently the other end of the gym, Marty, the We were pleased to see that the li- ◆ physical education instructor and brary is large and houses many books. former high school all-American The books are in good condition, and The Club provides literacy classes baseball, football, and basketball the walls are adorned with colorful and welfare-to-work programs player, monitored the children as they artwork by the children. It resembles played basketball. Marty is a large an elementary school library. Several for adults and offers a wide friendly man, and the children’s re- children were sitting at a small table variety of programs for children, spect for him was apparent. Ron, a reading and laughing. The friendly volunteer little league baseball coach, librarian explained that the Chicago including physical education, was also present, signing children up Public Library operates the library. for the spring leagues. We asked Ron social and recreational activities, what he thought this Club means to The Robert Taylor Homes Local Advi- and arts and crafts. the children and he told us, “People sory Council has an office in the Club ◆ from the outside looking in [at this building. We stopped by the office community] think there’s nothing good and spoke to Mildred Dennis, the had a sleep over in the computer here. But these kids want to be doing Local Advisory Council President. room and the kids eagerly told us positive things. The Club and these Ms. Dennis told us that the city is about it. One wall had windows with [baseball] leagues give them a chance preparing to tear down the Robert a view of the housing development. to do something positive.” Taylor Homes and finding housing for It was “E-mail Day” in the computer the development’s residents has been room. The children were sending e- The younger children, ages 6–12, are difficult. Two forms of relocation are mail messages to their assigned pen allowed access to the Club from 2 being planned by the city. Robert pals at a large consulting firm lo- p.m. until 6 p.m., and the older chil- Taylor residents may be relocated cated in Chicago. Ken explained that dren are allowed to come in after to low-density housing developments the consulting firm was a “good 6 p.m. Director Dunkin explained the in other neighborhoods or they may friend” of the Club. Some of the chil- importance of separating older chil- be given rent subsidies to allow them dren played games on the computer dren from younger children. The to relocate to “nonpublic” housing and others wrote book reports. younger children need to be protected developments. from some of the older children’s bad

4 The Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club of Chicago

Other stops on the tour included an area where the Club provides literacy classes and welfare-to-work programs for adults. Ken told us that the Club is renovating the dance room so that Af- rican dance and ballet classes can be offered; a major hardware store has agreed to donate the materials.

Back in the computer room, we met DeAndre, a bright 12-year-old boy. Because of his excellent grades in school, DeAndre went to Disney World last year with children from other Boys and Girls Clubs around the country who had their own success stories. We asked DeAndre why he liked to come to the Club and he told us, “My favorite part is the computer room. I like to write e-mail The Club exposes the children to events outside of the Robert Taylor community. [messages] and do my homework here. We asked our friend DeAndre to Club in 1991 and currently serves as Coming to the Club gives me a place interview Club Director Ken Dunkin the Senior Vice President. to go instead of getting involved in so that we could learn about the one of the gangs.” We asked DeAndre ◆ Club’s history and the everyday why most of the kids he knows get in- problems he and his staff face. “Coming to the Club gives me a volved with gangs. “For protection,” DeAndre found out that a man he said. “Kids get into gangs because place to go instead of getting named Carl Lavender founded the they don’t feel safe any other way.” involved in one of the gangs.” DeAndre (12 years old) Club member ◆

The Club receives funding from private donors and grant funding from local, state, and federal sources. The building that houses the Club is leased from the Chicago Public School System for $1.00 per year.

Ken explained that the Club offers a wide variety of programs, including physical education, social and recreational activities, and arts and crafts, for children like DeAndre. “We try to expose [the children to events] outside of this community,” Ken said. The Club building is a sharp contrast to the units that make up the Robert Taylor Homes For example, DeAndre has seen The development.

5 Bulletin From the Field: Practitioner Perspectives

Nutcracker Suite and the Dance The- ater of Harlem, and he has attended a White Sox game, a Bears game, and several Bulls games.

Ken singled out the Club’s computer room as a particularly valuable resource. Working with computers al- lows children the opportunity to familiarize themselves with today’s emerging technologies—writing and sending e-mail messages, surfing on the Internet, and even designing Web pages.

DeAndre asked Ken about the Club’s The main hallways of Robert Taylor highrises are open to the elements. future prospects, and Ken mentioned that the Chief Executive Officer of Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago and We buttoned our coats as we exited hallways of this complex are open to the Mayor of Chicago met recently the Club. The Hulk, as Ken refers to the outside. Exposure is limited only to discuss possibly establishing a the Chicago wind, blew ferociously by the steel mesh screen that is second club in the area. Ken was not through the corridors formed by the welded to the open side of the hall- certain when this might happen, how- buildings as we walked between ways. You would think this design ever. “Maybe within the next 5 them. Children were playing outside would give a feeling of openness, yet years,” he said. and laughing happily, even though we just couldn’t shake the feeling that there was no playground. we were in prison. We walked 20 feet A Walk Through the down to the CHA office, which is dif- As we walked across the street ferent from the rest of the building. Robert Taylor Homes toward the Robert Taylor Homes It is bright, has been painted a light Development development, we immediately noticed color, and is warm. We asked a CHA The Chicago Housing Authority that many windows in each building employee why the windows of some (CHA) describes the Robert Taylor were boarded up and painted a dark apartments are boarded up and Homes development thusly: red. The entrance to the first building painted red. He answered, “Because was dark. We didn’t see the person they are vacant and the Housing Au- The physical conditions of Robert standing in the doorway until we thority boards them up to keep drug Taylor–B include obsolete passed by him. As we walked through dealers from doing business in them.” mechanical and electrical sys- the unlit, 15-foot passageway, our tems, outdated elevators, leaking noses were assaulted by the odor of We then walked across the hall to a plumbing, inadequate security, sewage. Glass crunched under our stairway. The entrance to the stairway deteriorating hot water tanks and feet as we walked between buildings. was guarded by a heavy, gray metal heating riser systems, and an in- door. We began walking up the stairs, adequate sanitary waste system. The first building we visited houses but, after two flights, it got very dark The building design includes the offices of CHA and the Local Ad- and we stopped. We contemplated our open-air galleries on each floor visory Council President. We were safety if we were to climb any higher. that lead to weather exposure told that this is one of the nicest We noticed that the light fixture was (a major cause of elevator break- buildings of the complex. We walked gone and bare wires were hanging down) and high levels of crimi- through an entranceway but were still from the ceiling. Ken asked that we nal activity.4 out in the elements because the main close the stairwell door, cutting off our

6 The Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club of Chicago only available source of light. It was However, with all the talk of rede- free cable here,” Ken joked. We so dark that we couldn’t even see velopment, it was surprising to see started to walk further but were each other. “Imagine,” Ken said, people moving in. In fact, the CHA stopped by a little girl questioning “the elevator broken, as it often is, has received approval from the U.S. Ken why she didn’t get a job she and having to walk up to the 10th Department of Housing and Urban had applied for at the Club. She floor at 7 p.m. when there isn’t even Development (HUD) to demolish 5 was dressed like most of the people the sunlight to provide guidance. Your of the 28 buildings at Robert Taylor. we encountered during our walk, in hands [are] full of groceries.” As we Three of the buildings have already clean, well-kept clothing. Ken mo- reopened the door, Ken commented been selected and the other two will tioned for her to come back with us that he routinely carries a flashlight be selected by CHA in consultation to the Club, and we turned around to with him. Later, when walking with Robert Taylor residents. CHA set out for the safety, security, and through the common areas of the de- has begun relocation planning for the warmth of the Club. Once inside, we velopment, we noticed that virtually residents of all buildings that are set realized for ourselves why the Club all of the light bulbs and light fixtures to be demolished.5 seemed to be “paradise in the middle were missing. of hell” as one of the Club volunteers Ken pointed out the magnet school on described it. When we walked out of the stairwell State Street. This special school is for at the next floor, we were greeted by the best and brightest kids in the Success in the Midst the stench of trash. As we looked over neighborhood. Ken made the observa- of Strife the vacant courtyard, we felt as if we tion that the school building doesn’t were standing in a war zone. The have one window on the side that Our walk through the Robert Taylor walls were covered with graffiti. Di- faces the housing development. Homes development lasted between rectly across from the elevators was 30 and 45 minutes at most, but it left the source of the odor—the trash We walked past the omnipresent per- images of decay and despair in our chute. Garbage that had missed the son in the doorway to the next build- minds. The contrast between the small opening was piled all around it. ing where we walked through an unlit clean, warm, welcoming order of the Ken said, “Imagine being 7 years old 15-foot tunnel and back into the ele- Club and the conditions across the and your mama asks you to take the ments again. These apparent “sen- street was almost impossible to recon- trash out and you have to find your tries” at every door just stood there, cile. During our brief visit we were way through all that.” Even at 3:30 in noting our presence. Ken stopped out- able to determine that it is possible to the afternoon the room with the trash side the next building in order for us maintain a safe haven for children liv- chute was completely dark. Ken to see the cables coming out of all the ing in an impoverished neighborhood pushed the elevator button to take us windows and connecting to the cen- troubled by crime and violence. The up for a view of the whole complex. trally located cable box like a giant Club has successfully created a neu- After waiting for several minutes, we thin legged spider clinging to the side tral zone among gang territories and determined that the elevator must be of the building. “At least you get is making a difference in the lives of broken and walked down the stairs. this neighborhood’s children.

When we walked out of the build- By any standard, the Club has been ing, a moving truck pulled up. Ken a great success—as a model of cost asked the two men unloading the efficiency and as a service provider contents of the truck if they were to the community. With approximately moving in. One answered that they 1,500 members and an annual budget were, and Ken gave them a hearty of just over $325,000, all Club ser- welcome to the neighborhood. It vices are provided at a cost of less was a typical moving-day scene. than 65 cents per member per day. Children pass the time in a safe, warm, and learning environment.

7 Bulletin From the Field: Practitioner Perspectives

through activities and clubs such as the Club’s Keystone Club, Torch Club, and “Teens, Crime, and the Community,” as well as Junior Achievement. Through these specific efforts the Club provides a regular community service workforce to the neighborhood.

On “National Service Day,” October 24, 1998, the Club’s teens, in collaboration with a local nonprofit organization called Chicago Cares, Inc.:

◆ Painted five apartments housing senior citizens. ◆ Explained to neighborhood seniors how to use the “Senior Citizen Resource Guide” that the kids at the Club had developed. Club Director Ken Dunkin (left) with Dr. Frank Gardner, Honorary Board Chair. ◆ Participated in the Robert Taylor Homes biannual “Clean Up the Club staff are dedicated and enthusi- that all community members are Hood Day.” astic and are willing to work for low welcome to attend. ◆ Helped transform a formerly wages in a dangerous neighborhood. ◆ The Club is supported by private con- vacant lot into “Mama’s Garden”— tributions and in-kind donations of The Club has also been a success a flower garden that has been equipment; goods; services; volunteer dedicated in memory of a commu- for the community, hosting a time; local, state, and federal (includ- nity activist. ing Bureau of Justice Assistance6) number of major events that help ◆ Wrote letters to local, state, and grants; and ongoing coordination with to bring residents together. federal officials. the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago. ◆ Participated in a march to support The Club is open 313 days a year and ◆ advocating additional initiatives serves more than 300 children and There is also a Winter Holiday Cel- against violence. community members each day. ebration for the community with holi- The Club’s success is also told in the day foods and gifts and toys for the The Club has also been a success for stories of past and present club mem- children. In addition, the Club con- the community, hosting a number of bers. There are many other stories ducts three to four clothing drives a major events that help to bring resi- like the one given earlier in this year, provides day care services, and dents together. Each spring, the Club newsletter by Laresa Robinson. For organizes computer literacy training, organizes the “We Are Family Festival,” example, Theo Williams is a first-year basic educational classes, and job during which residents of all ages are computer science major attending skills training in banking services and treated to food, music, and entertain- Northland College in Northern Wis- housekeeping for parents in the com- ment. Every fall, the Club hosts a Hal- consin. Theo is the first man in his munity. The Club fosters success and loween party and haunted house. The family to attend college. He told us builds marketable and social skills Club serves a Thanksgiving Day dinner that his experiences at the Club have

8 The Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club of Chicago taught him the importance of good fear, few job opportunities, limited ◆ sportsmanship, perseverance, leader- access to goods, limited city services, To survive, the Club has to be ship, and imagination and helped him a struggling public school system, develop a positive attitude about life. and dangerous and unsanitary living both fun and safe for children, The Club kept him off the street and conditions. The residents of this com- have the support of the Chicago out of trouble by keeping him en- munity have little or no political gaged in structured recreation. Theo voice in Chicago and, according to Police Department, and be made the Chicago Sun-Times First- Ken Dunkin, the residents respond to accepted by the community. Team All-Stars for 2 consecutive governmental relief efforts with an ◆ years. Theo’s most memorable experi- understandably overdeveloped “no ence was meeting professional bas- outsiders” attitude. hats inside. The Club must maintain ketball players Alan Iverson, Marcus an understanding with gang members Camby, and Tim Duncan, who con- Balancing Support that there is to be no criminal activity ducted a clinic at the Club. Theo also or violence at the Club. Prohibiting met the famous professional boxer, A whole series of interdependent re- the display of gang colors is part of Muhammad Ali, at the Club. Theo lationships must remain in balance this understanding. Getting gang said that meeting these people helped for the Club to survive. First, the members to see that the Club belongs to motivate him. Club could not possibly succeed if it to the community is essential. The didn’t attract the children. According Club has to be both respected and, to ◆ to DeAndre and other children we an extent, protected by the neighbor- A past Club member told us that spoke with, the Club has to be both hood gang members. However, the fun and safe to appeal to children. Club cannot depend on gangs to keep his experiences at the Club have Considering the Club’s limited re- the peace. Doing so could lead to both taught him the importance sources and the neighborhood, nei- an imbalance of power among the ther goal is easily accomplished. gangs and a perception by Chicago of good sportsmanship, authorities that the Club is allied with perseverance, leadership, and One promising practice the Club em- the gangs. This is a very delicate ploys is rewarding children for com- and tenuous balance that must be imagination and helped him pleting homework, getting good maintained. develop a positive attitude grades, playing games and sports fairly, and showing an interest in Another factor to consider is that the about life. learning about new things. The re- Club must have the support, but not ◆ wards come in the form of access to the constant presence, of the Chicago computers, healthy snacks, trips to Police Department. The Club cannot Douglas Massey, coauthor of Ameri- Disney World, paying jobs, and the appear to be too much of an ally of the can Apartheid: Segregation and the use of all facilities that are available police or it might be perceived as a Making of the Underclass and a to them at the Club. police program by the community— former Professor of Public Policy at just another “outsider” organization the University of Chicago, argues, Equally important, but much more that thinks it knows what’s best for the “When you concentrate poverty, you difficult to attain, is the goal of a safe Robert Taylor Homes residents. At concentrate anything that’s correlated environment. The children and their the same time, it is essential that the with poverty—[single] heads of parents must trust that the Club is a Club clearly be supportive of law en- households, welfare dependency, safe place. Achieving this goal re- forcement efforts and inform children 7 crime, violence.” In addition to these quires more than simply telling gang about dangers associated with gang conditions, residents of the Robert members that they can’t wear their membership. Taylor Homes live with high levels of

9 Bulletin From the Field: Practitioner Perspectives

Yet another key factor to the Club’s not afraid to be in the community. It is that it is not fun. The Club must be ac- success is its acceptance by the commu- not unusual to see Ken Dunkin or other cepted and protected by the gangs, the nity. The Club accomplishes this in club staff walking around the develop- police, and the community—all of many ways. Perhaps one of the most im- ment talking with children, parents, and which, at times, exist in conflict with portant ways is that most of the people community leaders. one another. For now, the staff of the who work or volunteer at the Club live Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club of in the neighborhood. Also many of the The Club must be fun for all ages and Chicago are maintaining this fragile bal- Club’s part-time employees are older a variety of interests, but it must stay ance. The result of their efforts is an children from the Robert Taylor devel- within its extremely limited budget. The oasis that offers hope for the children opment. Club employees make a point to Club must be safe, but not so structured of a very troubled community. demonstrate that they care about and are

Notes For More Information 1. Chicago Housing Authority World For more information about the Rob- To order publications or to find out Wide Web information site (http:// ert Taylor Boys and Girls Club of Chi- more about BJA programs, contact: www.thecha.org/Taylor_Back.htm). cago and the Boys and Girls Club of America, contact: Bureau of Justice Assistance 2. “BJA Grants Spark Club Creativ- Clearinghouse ity,” Connections, Boys and Girls Ken Dunkin P.O. Box 6000 Clubs of America, Atlanta, Georgia, Club Director Rockville, MD 20849–6000 Spring 1997, p. 2. Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club 1–800–688–4252 5120 South Federal Street E-mail: [email protected] 3. Chicago Housing Authority World Chicago, IL 60609 World Wide Web: http://www.ncjrs.org Wide Web information site (http:// 773–924–6160 www.thecha.org/Taylor_Demo.htm). Clearinghouse staff are available Boys and Girls Club of America Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4. Chicago Housing Authority World National Headquarters 7:30 p.m. eastern time. Ask to be Wide Web information site (http:// 1230 West Peachtree Street NW. placed on the BJA mailing list. www.thecha.org/Taylor_Back.htm). Atlanta, GA 30309 404–815–5700 5. Chicago Housing Authority World World Wide Web: http://www.bgca.org Wide Web Information site (http:// www.thecha.org/Taylor_Stat.htm). For more information about the Bu- reau of Justice Assistance Practitio- 6. The Club at Robert Taylor received ner Perspectives Series, contact: part of a special $150,000 grant in 1994 from BJA that was passed Patrick J. Coleman through the Boys and Girls Clubs of Resident Practitioner Chicago. The Club also received Bureau of Justice Assistance $10,000 grants in both 1997 and 810 Seventh Street NW. 1998 to support its implementation of Washington, DC 20531 the “Smart Moves” Violence Preven- 202–616–0313 tion Curriculum.

7. Shore, Debra, “The Houses That Gautreaux Built,” The University of Chicago Magazine, February 1995.

10 The Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club of Chicago

Acknowledgments thank Robbie Callaway and Steve A special thanks goes to Rebecca The Bureau of Justice Assistance Salem at the Washington, D.C., Morris for her research and edito- would like to express its apprecia- office of the Boys and Girls Clubs rial assistance with this article. tion to the Robert Taylor Boys and of America for their review and Girls Club of Chicago, the Boys support of the publication of this and Girls Clubs of Chicago, and the article. Most important, we would The Bureau of Justice Assistance is Boys and Girls Clubs of America like to thank the children at the a component of the Office of Jus- for their cooperation and support in Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club, tice Programs, which also includes preparing this article. We would who allowed us to invade their the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the especially like to thank Ken worlds and see, hear, and get to National Institute of Justice, the Dunkin, Club Director at Robert know their Club. The children Office of Juvenile Justice and De- Taylor, and his staff who took time made researching and writing this linquency Prevention, and the Of- away from their important work to article fun and reminded us of the fice for Victims of Crime. meet with us. We would also like to value and importance of programs like this.

NCJ 174442

11 U.S. Department of Justice PRESORTED STANDARD Office of Justice Programs POSTAGE & FEES PAID Bureau of Justice Assistance DOJ/BJA PERMIT NO. G–91

Washington, DC 20531 Official Business Penalty for Private Use $300