Berwyn-Cicero Cluster LAC Kick Off Meeting

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

2:00 pm to 4:00 p.m.

via Zoom

Breakout Room: Berwyn/Cicero Cluster

Objectives: To meet to discuss review of the toolkit, profiles, next steps, and action items.

  • How does this align/not align with what you know about your community?
  • How does this data help you start shaping your goals?
  • What additional information do you need to inform your decisions?

Members agreed that the data presented, and profiles provided to them does represent the community.

Members discussed prevention cycle opportunities including youth crossroads would be doing strategic planning and are applying for a grant to provide opportunities. Focus on counseling and youth development. District 99 in the process of applying for a grant for violence prevention.

Members also outlined Inner city impact does not have certified counselor but offer:

  • After school programs
  • Camping
  • Mentoring
  • During pandemic partnered with Youth Crossroads for food distribution
  • Leadership development program

Members shared on how Inner City Impact intervenes with a youth that is already in that cycle. Inner City Impact got to know some of the gang leaders made a program that was focused on them. Make it possible for the youth to have a safe space.

Members outlined what additional information needed to inform decisions.

  • Gather information from stats from the beginning of 2020 through 2019 see impact of the pandemic on families of Cicero and Berwyn and what it did with gun violence numbers? It helps to see if some of those things have led to this.
  • Go to the police and get their input
  • Need more social workers
  • Involve parents to break the cycle before it gets to the child
  • Statistics
  • Reach out to clergy
  • Should we have someone from Berwyn?
  • Someone from the police?
  • Former gang member Carlos Colon works for gang violence prevention in Austin
  • Recommendations for an elected official
  • Louie Gutierrez police officer second in command
  • Maria Punto Arias
  • David Avila township supervisor

Additional Questions Noted:

  • Are we going to be contacted with next steps and links to training that were mentioned?
  • How many recommendations can we have?
  • Can we have more than 5 or is 5 the max?