ST. SABINA PROVIDES 1000 INTERNSHIPS & registers 173 clients for GED classes
STATE OF ILLINOIS*:
CVPP Youth Employment Program (YEP) - 60 interns
ICJIA Summer Violence Prevention Program (GOALS) - 62 interns
DHS Community Youth Employment Program (CYEP) - 463 interns
CVPP Community Intern Program (CEP) - 25 interns
CITY OF CHICAGO*:
Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) - 196 interns
One Summer Chicago PLUS (OSC+) - 200 interns
GreenCoprs Program (GC) - 60 interns
* Note: Not all registered interns successfully completed their allotted weeks.
I’m very protective of my brother and sister and worry about them when they’re on the street and especially getting on the bus.
While living on the block, I got involved with some good friends who are also in the PeaceMaker program, Jabril and Patrick. Our common bonds were friendship and basketball. Playing basketball is a time when I can relax and get my mind off of problems or dangers. We would see each other and hang out on the block around Laflin Street and then we would go to different basketball courts like The Ark at St. Sabina. It was at The Ark that I met Father Pfleger. He always encouraged me and had something nice to say to me. He always kept the court open for us. He’s been a blessing to me and kept me away from a lot of violence. He also always told me to come to church. I started taking him at his word and came to church while I continued to play basketball. Eventually my friend Patrick brought me into the PeaceMaker program and it’s been a real blessing to me. It’s kept me out of a lot of
Success Stories - continued
Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God - Matthew 5:9
trouble and even kept me from making enemies. It’s funny how you naturally make enemies depending on what side of town or block you live on. Since people know that I’m with the PeaceMakers now though, it doesn’t matter.
I graduated from Lakeview and am currently a junior at the University of Illinois at Chicago, majoring in physical therapy. I have dreams of being a professional athlete one day. I’m a part of the Peace League and a member of the PRO-AM league which is a feeder for a lot of players to play professionally overseas. Through St. Sabina I was able to link up with Joakim Noah’s Arc Foundation and had the honor of playing at the United Center in his tournament. It was so exciting playing on that court! If I can’t play basketball professionally, I plan to utilize my degree and work in physical therapy for athletes and maybe NBA players. My dreams are big and it’s great to know that I’ll have a degree that I can utilize no matter what my future holds.