HIGHLIGHTS THIS ISSUE Officially Speaking . .3 Gateway Progress . .14 Arts Beat . .17 Food Fun . .18 Volume 4, Issue 3 September, 1999 Published by the Rogers Park Community Council (circulation: 10,000) Rogers Park YouthNet Fun Camp '99 By Vernandez Jones ogers Park Youth Network (RPYN) Fun Camp When the staff was R opened it doors July 6th to youth 11-13 years of asked why kids should age. An exciting summer full of sports, recreational get involved in the activities and fun field trips was about to begin. Campers RPYN, Eladio Gomez enjoyed participating and learning skills in volleyball, bas- responded "they can ketball and softball. interact with other peo- The RPYN Fun Camp in collaboration with the ple from different ethnic Howard Area Community Center's Youth Coordinator, and cultural back- Ginger Spitzer participated in field trips including: grounds. By doing this Wendella Sightseeing Boat Tour, Kiddieland, Racing they can expand their Rapids Water Park, Lincoln Park Zoo and a special thank creative minds." you to the Chicago White Sox for donating 50 tickets. We Russell Cunningham all had a great time at the game. said "kids should get The RPYN Fun Camp staff (Chris Baskoff, Russell involved because Cunningham, Andrea Ferguson, Eladio Gomez and RPYN brings teens Arlene Taylor from the Mayor's Office of Work Force together and helps Development) demonstrated an open willingness to work them develop strategies with youth. For most, this was their first job experience. for dealing with issues The campers looked up to them to provide guidance and they are confronted leadership; this made them feel very special. with on a daily basis." Youth Net Fun Camp provided a special and personable When the staff was asked why they chose to work at In response to the question: What does the RPYN atmosphere for campers and remains eager in its efforts the RPYN, Arlene Taylor responded "because of the dif- mean to you? Andrea Ferguson said " RPYN is a place to meet the challenges of youth as we enter the new mil- ferent people we would get the opportunity to work with- where kids and teens can come for an array of activities lenium. through this diversity we learned teamwork, discipline and homework help. It provides a place that keeps kids and cooperation." off the street in a caring environment." Vernandez Jones is the Prevention and Recreation Coordinator at RPYN. For more information on youth pro- grams, call (773) 761-5498. For its first summer the Rogers Park Summer Teen Success and Fall Plans By June C. Terpstra ummer 1999 offered the Rogers Park Youth Network prises including talent shows and rummage S (RPYN) the opportunity for staff and youth members sales. (We have become a favorite place for to join in a successful partnership that will carry for- Loyola faculty and staff to donate books, cloth- ward. RPYN has expanded the partnership with the ing and other stuff!) Howard Area Community Center’s TeenReach program. Funding from the Driehaus Foundation The collaboration brings together the resources of two allowed us to bring Jill Swan to RPYN as a Ginger Spitzer, Youth Outreach Coordinator for Howard Area successful programs to offer a full compliment of summer consultant to our entrepreneurial team. Community Center, and Vernandez Jones, Recreation Coor- recreational, educational, and social development initia- Working with teens and staff, Jill developed an dinator for Rogers Park YouthNet, receive awards for participa- tives. exciting curriculum for training future business tion and collaboration in the June 5th S.A.F.E. Night events. While many teens had ‘nothing to do’, this summer, leaders. Jill is a tremendous asset for teens RPYN and TeenReach kids were able to partake in a myr- and has endured the usual chaos that comes 3. Reach out to other teens in our community to increase iad of classes, sport programs, and city excursions. with the first year of a new program. This summer, the participation. Classes offered included leadership and entrepreneurial entrepreneurial team participated in classes on inventory This fall, RPYN will continue to build on its partner- development, youth and law, dance, painting, mural paint- analysis, conducted marketing surveys, organized two ship with TeenReach. Programs are offered for youth ing, music business, and performance poetry. Teens “yard-sale” fundraisers and sponsored an “end of the aged 11 through 18. RPYN is open Monday through were also able to participate in soccer training camp at summer” community festival. It was a blessing to see the Friday from 2:30 until 8 pm. On Saturdays, Quality Time Warren Park and our basketball league at Loyola Park. ways in which the teens took initiative and leadership in Music School offers free violin and piano lessons. Fall Weekly, participants went on trips to Chicago highlights the project this summer. Thirteen students were able to classes will include: leadership and entrepreneurial train- such as the Peace Museum, Sox Park, and Racing combine work and education at the snack shop because ing; tutoring; how to D.J. & the music business; responsi- Rapids! (Who said there was nothing to do?) of support received from the Mayor's Office Workforce ble choices and parenting; as well as computer, youth and RPYN is located at 6600 N. Sheridan in a special Development (MOWD), the Chicago Community Trust law, dance and painting classes. place donated by Loyola University Chicago. The won- and the Driehaus Foundation. For more information on the Rogers Park Youth derful café has been claimed by our teens and named Network, visit our teen center at 6600 N. Sheridan Road "The Club". The program opened just about a year ago. This fall, our entrepreneurial program is working to or call 773-761-4980. Since that time, an entrepreneurial program was orga- achieve three objectives: nized which trains youth to operate a successful snack 1. Implement the curriculum and create an operations June C. Terpstra is a Rogers Park resident and serves as shop for program participants. Teens work with staff to manual; the director of the Rogers Park Youth Network. determine inventory, student job descriptions and sched- 2. Develop a business plan to enhance the training and ules. This fall, teens will investigate several micro-enter- employment opportunities for teens; and 2 ROGERS PARK 2000 CAPS In Command How Well Do You Know Rogers Park? By Commander David V. Boggs riday, July 2, 1999 was the start of a holiday week- entire district during this period. Where is this mural painted? F end as well as a day that will be forever ingrained in I would like to thank the many members of the com- all of our minds. munity who came to the scenes on that evening, offering The tragic shooting of Jewish residents of our district information to our officers and comfort to the victim's fam- as well as the murders that followed are reminders that we ilies. As tragic as this was, the entire incident brought out must all be vigilant, at all times. The diversity of West and the best in our community. I saw police officers convers- East Rogers Park as well as Edgewater makes our com- ing with many residents on that evening. Some of the res- munity susceptible to attacks of both overt and much more idents knew the police officers from beat meetings they subtle bigotry. Although the gunman targeted the had attended. Still others knew the officers because the Orthodox Jewish community in West Rogers Park, anyone same officers work the same beats now. Whatever the could have been a target, given the racial and ethnic com- case, the community was very helpful and supportive of position of our community. all of our efforts and we are indeed grateful to the many I am extremely proud of the response that our police residents who showed their neighbors how much they officers and the community made to this crisis. cared. I would also like to thank the community residents Understandably, responding to this emergency was high- and beat facilitators who participated in the "silent vigil" at Send your correct response by September 30, 1999 to RPCC, ly manpower intensive. A great deal of police resources Indian Boundary Park the following Wednesday. The 1772 W. Lunt Avenue, Chicago, IL 60626. The winner of a were used to immediately respond to the various crime turnout and sincere show of support for each other was $25.00 gift certificate to the new Gateway Bar & Grill will be scenes. Fortunately, we plan for such emergency overwhelming. selected by lottery from the correct responses. Good Luck! The response(s). As police officers from all over our district It is now more important than ever to know your answer will be printed in the next issue of Rogers Park 2000. were directed to respond to a variety of tasks associated neighbor and know the police officers who patrol your with these shooting, other officers were brought into the neighborhood. The Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy Last issue's winner was Sharon Robinson. The lion is standing district to ensure the consistent delivery of police ser- (CAPS) contributes to your knowledge of crime preven- guard at Gullivers Restaurant at 2727 W. Howard. vices. We were able to coordinate all the scenes as well tion and solving problems that infect our community. We as continue to answer calls for service throughout the dis- are planning to get all segments of our community does not. Working with your beat officers and your neigh- trict with a minimum of problems. In the days that followed involved in CAPS and our monthly beat meetings. As we bors, regardless of your ethnic or racial heritage, makes the shooting incident, support units such as the Area experienced on July 2, no segment of the community can our community stronger and safer.