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Healing Through Justice

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CHICAGO TRIBUNE

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Daquan Ford: Los jóvenes necesitamos que los líderes de Chicago se involucren, escuchen y actúen

En un artículo de opinión publicado recientemente por el Chicago Tribune, Daquan Ford, joven líder de Communities United, expone la urgencia de brindar apoyo en salud mental a la juventud de Chicago. Señala que los funcionarios electos deben involucrar a los jóvenes en las conversaciones. Deben invertir en iniciativas dirigidas por jóvenes para abordar las brechas en los recursos de salud mental, en lugar de tomar decisiones unilaterales que implementan políticas punitivas y de vigilancia. Cuando se utilizan enfoques centrados en la sanación, liderados por quienes más viven estas problemáticas, la visión de una ciudad enfocada en la sanación se vuelve más clara.

How Chicagoans are tackling violence

Lakaya Knight, shines light to the need to invest in mental health and other community resources in communities impacted by gun violence.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

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A Call for City-Wide investment in Youth Mental Health Services and Community Resources

For decades, young people across the nation have struggled with mental health battles with little to no support or understanding from adults. In response, Communities United Youth Leader wrote an empowering piece in conversation with Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Dr. John Walkup calling on adult allies to support youths by investing in mental health services and community resources.

Dr. John Walkup's Op-Ed

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The BeingMe Podcast: Meyiya & Jermal's Empowering Stories

In this episode of the BeingMe podcast, Meyiya Coleman and Jermal Ray shed light on Communities United's work in racial justice, mental health, and their unique initiatives. They also share some advice for teens who are passionate about social justice

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A Youth-Led Strategy to Heal Marginalized Chicago Communities Through Justice

Over the past 10 years, Communities United developed the Healing Through Justice model, which positions youth to act on visions to address issues impacting their peers and families. This transformative effort has led to a partnership with Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Lurie Children’s Hospital to create youth development and mental health breakthroughs.

THE WASHINGTON POST

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5 Organizations Awarded Millions To Advance Racial Equity Across The Globe Within The Decade

The foundation is making a long-term commitment, granting $80 million over the next eight years to five innovative organizations, each of which takes a community-centered approach to tackling the obstacles they face. “We see this challenge as one way to sustain the growing movement for racial equity,” Tabron said. “By changing systems of inequity today, we can create a brighter future for children around the world.” The five grantees were selected from more than 1,400 applications representing 72 countries. Learn how these visionaries will use these resources for long-lasting impact.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

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Lurie Children’s Hospital and Communities United win $10M to transform mental health for youth of color

Over the past year, Communities United and Lurie Children’s moved through a process of multiple levels of review and feedback involving peer applicants and multi-disciplined experts from across the world to bring their plan to scale with a $1 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The duo are now the recipients of $10 million by the foundation to turn their plan to practice. The money will be paid out over eight years to coincide with W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s 100th anniversary in 2030.

CHALKBEAT CHICAGO

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Youth-led Chicago initiative gets $10 million grant to expand its reach

For years, Bezaleia “Bezzy” Reed watched her brother Caleb advocate for racial and social justice issue, his life was cut short when he was shot in July 2020, Bezzy joined Communities United to honor her brother, who had been a youth leader at the grassroots organization. The activism helped her heal from her brother’s death. Now, thanks to a $10 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the racial justice organization will be able to help thousands more Black and Latino youth in partnership with the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital.

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Foundation Makes Global Effort Toward Racial Equity

President and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation on the Racial Equity 2030 initiative and reveals five awardees who will split $80 million to go toward the future of racial equity.

WTTW CHICAGO TONIGHT

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Community Groups, Anti-Violence Organizations Working to Keep Kids Safe This Summer

Communities United youth organizer Emily Jade Aguilar works with a group of girls and young women. She said simply having people and place to meet can go a long way toward making young people feel connected to each other and reducing violence.

WTTW CHICAGO TONIGHT

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Youth Researchers Identify Mental Health Challenges for Young Men of Color

In collaboration with Lurie Children's Hospital, young researchers with the racial justice organization Communities United conducted a study focused on the mental health and well-being of Black and Brown young men in Chicago. The report titled "Changing the Beat of Mental Health" identifies mental health challenges and provides recommendations on how to cope.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Mental health resources

Chicago’s Mental Health Resources for Young Black and Brown Men Need An Overhaul— And A Group Of Them Are Researching How To Do It

The research — presented Monday at Lurie Children’s in the hopes of securing $20 million to foster youth-led strategies on community healing and bettering mental health in Chicago.

CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS

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Chicago youth on Chicago youth: Mental trauma is real

Most young men of color, interviewed by their peers in a recent study, say they face mental health challenges. They also see a deep connection between systemic inequities and mental health, although they often internalize the blame, according to a report being released today titled "Changing the Beat of Mental Health." The research report was compiled primarily by the Ujima Project, a group of young men of color aged 14 to 19 from across the city, in conjunction with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital and social equity organization Communities United.

CHICAGO CRUSADER

Trauma Normalized For Young Men of Color

An intergenerational racial justice organization in Chicago, are working together to center the leadership and voices of Black and Brown young men of color in their ongoing efforts to transform the mental and behavioral healthcare system. Core to this effort is Ujima, a group of young men of color ages 14-21 who have conducted a research study throughout the duration of the pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of Black and Brown young men in Chicago, culminating in a report titled “Changing the Beat of Mental Health.” Ujima, the group’s name, is a Swahili word meaning collective work and responsibility.

ABC NEWS CHICAGO

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Normalizing trauma leads to worsened mental health in young Black, Brown men, study says

The hospital was host Monday as research was presented by young people for young people. Changing the Beat of Mental Health focuses on young men and boys of color. Monday's virtual and in-person discussion was led by two youth researchers. "Can't nobody tell the youth what to do, so now we just out here no one to help us guide us so we can do better," said Communities United Ujima Youth Researcher D'Angelo Moore.

UNIVISION CHICAGO

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Falta de acceso a servicios de salud mental afectan a los jóvenes de Chicago, según investigación

Un estudio que se llevó a cabo en algunas de las comunidades menos favorecidas reveló que el origen de los problemas de seguridad en los que se ven envueltos los adolescentes es la falta de recursos. La investigación sugiere que los edificios abandonados sean convertidos en centros comunitarios y que se creen programas gratuitos que promuevan el arte, las actividades físicas y los juegos en línea.

FOX NEWS CHICAGO

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New Chicago study focuses on mental health of young men of color

With Chicago violence at a fever pitch, a new study looked at the mental health of young men of color. The study, conducted in part by Anne and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, is trying to make health care better for everyone. The study recruited young African American and Hispanic men to conduct their own research, among their peers, to determine what was impacting their mental health the most. They found systematic inequity and the normalization of trauma were the leading factors to a worsening mental state.

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Study Shows Trauma, Inequality Leading To Mental Health Challenges For Young Men Of Color In Chicago

New research shows that trauma and inequity lead to worsening mental health in young men of color in Chicago. That's according to the group Ujima. They conducted their research on Black and Brown men in Chicago, including surveys, interviews and focus groups. While 59% would consider professional counseling if given the chance and 62% reported facing challenges with their mental health.

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Chicago partnership aims to transform mental health system

The partnership between Communities United and Lurie Children's Hospital was picked as a finalist in the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Racial Equity 2030 Challenge. The Foundation plans to award $90 million to those with "bold solutions to drive an equitable future for all" that will "transform racialized systems where they live."

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Kellogg Foundation awards $1M grant to invest in Chicago youth leadership, mental health

Communities United, in partnership with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, is the only Chicago-based finalist of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Racial Equity 2030 Challenge, an open call for bold solutions to drive an equitable future for children, families and communities across the globe. Lurie Children’s Hospital and Communities United have been working together for years on issues like mental health and equity.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

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Lurie Children’s Hospital and Communities United have a shot to win $20M to transform mental health for Black and brown youths

The plan, “Healing Through Justice: A Community-Led Breakthrough Strategy for Healing-Centered Communities” is a 10-year road map to foster youth-led strategies on community healing that centers youth leadership in creating institutional change on mental health. The medical institution and grassroots organization will bring the plan to scale over the next nine months with a $1 million planning grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Racial Equity 2030 Challenge.

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