My Block, My Hood, My City

"Millionaires buy planes, billionaires buy trains." ?? Wise words from Pullman Alderman @aldbeale I caught up with him tonight at the Pullman Community Center—an absolute hub of energy! Kids were playing soccer, hooping, volleyball, and even little league baseball. Plus, a whole section for pizza and drinks! This is violence prevention in action—giving our youth a safe space and positive outlets. Every community in our city deserves a center like this. Alderman Beale and I had a great convo about Pullman’s progress, challenges, and the work I’m doing with the Live 77 initiative. He’s even considering stopping by my workshop at the end of the month to share some exciting updates with residents. #chicago #myblockmyhoodmycity #jahmalcole #pullman #live77

For so many of the young adults playing in the men's and women's NCAA Tournaments, dreams of glory began on busted rims. Let’s make sure the next generation has a safe, healthy outlet. Streetball isn’t just a game—it’s crime prevention. #chicago #myblockmyhoodmycity #jahmalcole #SaveStreetball #HoopDreams

In honor of this weekend's St. Patrick's Day festivities, we're throwing it back to our Emmy-nominated short film "Bl*Irish" which tells the story of Audrey Jackson and the incredible discovery that changed her perspective on identity, belonging, and what it means to be a Chicagoan. #chicago #myblockmyhoodmycity #jahmalcole #stpatricksday

We're just three weeks away from our biggest fundraiser of the year... the 2025 Hoodie Ball! ?? There's never been a better time to snag a table—the only way to ensure you have a seat for our incredible program. Did we mention it also allows you to purchase tickets at our expired early-bird prices?! Hit the link below for purchasing options before tables sell out! ?? https://buff.ly/j96wpdE #chicago #myblockmyhoodmycity #jahmalcole #hoodieball

We love to blame the youth when things go wrong in our communities—especially when they act out. "They are terrorizing our neighborhood!" "What's wrong with these teenagers?!" We shout. We villainize. We demonize our young people, making them scapegoats for all the perceived problems in our communities—the same communities that have been neglected for decades. No job opportunities. Limited youth programs. A lack of mental health support. And yet, we wonder why they act out in ways that demand our attention—violence, theft, drug use, and property damage. It's much harder to turn those accusations inward and ask ourselves, "What's wrong with us?" How did we allow our neighborhoods to deteriorate to the point where young people feel they must go to such extremes just to be seen? And still, our response is jail time, heightened security, curfews—pushing Chicago's youth even further from the very places and spaces we claim to "protect." Within 24 hours of the news coverage on the downtown youth chaos, we started receiving messages about our upcoming Downtown Day initiative. People wanted to know if we were considering canceling the event. After this weekend’s headlines, they were worried. Our response? Absolutely not. Investing in our youth is more important than ever. On July 12th, we're inviting 1,000 young people downtown to positively engage with their city. Each participant will receive a $50 Exploration Card, granting them access to museums, restaurants, and experiences they may have never had before. One bad news story won’t stop us from investing in our youth. Visit formyblock.org/downtownday to sign up a young person, volunteer, or donate to the cause. Explore, Experience, and Evolve with us on July 12th. #chicago #myblockmyhoodmycity #jahmalcole #downtownday

Honored to host students from the Morrill Scholarship Program at The Ohio State University! ?? They spent Spring Break giving back—volunteering with the 64th & Vernon Block Club and inspiring our high school Explorers with their wisdom. ???? Shout out to @odiatosu for their continued support of a diverse OSU that is inclusive of all community members. #chicago #myblockmyhoodmycity #jahmalcole #osu

Happy #312Day, Chicago! Today we celebrate our iconic city and the OG area code that started it all. Make sure to grab a $3.12 hot dog at @wienerscircle or $3.12 tacos at @tacotlantacos or just pour a cold one from @gooseisland and toast to our incredible hometown! ??????? #chicago #myblockmyhoodmycity #jahmalcole

Jahmal Cole has embarked on a mission to live in all 77 Chicago community areas over the next 77 months in an effort to more deeply connect with residents. After starting in South Shore, he's now immersing himself in the rich history and vibrant culture of Pullman. Follow along on our social media channels to support and celebrate this incredible initiative! #chicago #myblockmyhoodmycity #jahmalcole #live77

Last week, my teammate Nathaniel and I celebrated Chicago’s 188th birthday at 360 CHICAGO’s Cloud Bar. Huge shoutout to Nichole and her team at 360 CHICAGO, Kymberly from the Mag Mile Association, and all the incredible folks at the Chicago Loop Alliance. Man, I absolutely love this city. The energy of living here is unmatched. You can travel the world without ever leaving Chicago and that’s why our partnerships with 360 CHICAGO, the Mag Mile Association, and the Chicago Loop Alliance are so vital. Too many teenagers have never even been downtown. I’m not just saying this—I mean it. A few weeks ago, we took a group of teenagers to the Waldorf Astoria. We’ve also introduced them to trading firms, architectural agencies, and everything in between because when you show teens better, they do better. With so many corporations moving to Chicago, I want our youth to experience what it’s like to be an architect, a banker, a Microsoft engineer, a lawyer, a chef—you name it. Exposure is key. Chicago is the #1 city in the nation for corporate expansion and relocation. It’s the best place to build and grow, and that includes investing in our youth. It’s a great day to be in the city. #chicago #myblockmyhoodmycity #jahmalcole @360chicago @cloudbarchicago @loopchicago @themagmile

???? Huge congratulations to the Kenwood Academy Girls Basketball team on clinching the IHSA Class 4A State Championship! Your dedication and hard work have made the community immensely proud. Here's to many more successes on and off the court! ???? #chicago #myblockmyhoodmycity #Broncos #StateChamps #KenwoodAcademy