BUILD Chicago

Bradly Johnson, Chief Community Officer at BUILD, was featured on The Hope Matrix Podcast. Bradly shares his journey from overcoming bullying and a move to becoming a community leader, and he discusses his vision for empowering young people in Chicago through the Shine Hope program. Watch the full episode at https://bit.ly/3B3U2JA

We are proud to announce that BUILD’s Austin Campus won the?2024 Lerch Bates People’s Choice Award?for Community and Civic Architecture from AIA Chicago! Thank you to everyone who casted a vote for BUILD and congratulations to LBBA Architects for receiving this recognition!?

It’s BUILD Week! Every year, BUILDers take time between Summer and Fall programs for BUILD Week - a meeting, training session, orientation and Spirit Week, all wrapped into one! For Day 1, we looked at our accomplishments from the past fiscal year, engaged in team-building exercises and took part in specialized training on youth engagement.

??BUILD’s Summer Impact: Join us for a final look back at our 2024 Safe Summer of Possibility: By the Numbers. Thanks to your continued support, we provided West Side youth and communities a safe and unforgettable summer. You made this possible by Investing in Peace! ???? #BUILDChicago #westsidechicago #safesummer

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Labor Day Weekend! BUILD’s Austin Campus and Humboldt Park Office will be closed Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day. Normal hours and programing resume Tuesday, September 3rd.

BUILD has been nominated for a Lerch Bates People’s Choice Award for best “Community & Civic” project from AIA Chicago! Show your support by visiting https://lnkd.in/gkaCpryu Voting remains open through 11:59pm CT on Wednesday, August 28

We were excited to invite teachers and staff from Leland Elementary to BUILD in preparation for big things ahead! This year, Leland will be the site of BUILD’s first “Violence Prevention Village” (VPV) - a comprehensive intervention and prevention program to reach youth before they age into danger or become court-involved. A large, cross-functional team of BUILD staff will be there to support young people and coordinate connections between the school, families, and other community partners - creating real “villages” of caring adults around each youth.

BUILD Youth Ambassadors and Youth Council representing BUILD and Chicago’s West Side during the Youth Alcohol Awareness Summit Panel Discussion (Y.A.A.S.). BUILD youth gave unique perspectives on alcohol prevention and participated in a fun day of awareness-raising activities like virtual driving simulations, guest speakers, special courses and more. Thank you to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission for giving these young leaders the opportunity to contribute to the conversation!

Momentum Matters ???? ? You don't always get to know or see the impact you're making… And sometimes you do, and it just warms your heart. Recently, members of our BUILD Chicago community were visiting downtown Chicago. It was shared with me that to their surprise and delight, they saw their Austin neighborhood coffee shop, Momentum Coffee , represented right there in Millennium Park! There were shouts of "Hey! That's our coffee shop!" ( I LOVE THIS!) Hearing that our coffee shop inspired them to take pictures, smile, and feel a sense of pride and ownership is incredibly fulfilling. We say it all the time - representation matters! Seeing your neigborhood small business on a big stage sparks excitement, and it also helps expand the field of vision for what is possible. This brings me so much joy because this is what we mean when we say #morethancoffee! It's about building our community, small business, and investing in our future. So, let me take a moment to thank the Chicago Mayor's Office, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs (DCASE), 11 N. Hospitality, and our BUILD Chicago partners. Together, we understand the critical role small businesses play in creating a sense of community and pride. With gratitude! #momentummatters #nationalblackbusinessmonth #buildmomentum #momentumcoffee #smallbusiness #economicdevelopment #chicagocoffee

Yesterday at BUILD, volunteers from BMO U.S. and United Way of Metro Chicago filled more than 500 backpacks with school supplies. Thanks for this generous donation just in time for heading back to the classroom!?