My Block, My Hood, My City

I got to see democracy in action last night when the Pullman Community Organization met to discuss a more interconnected Pullman. A comment that resonated with me was, “It’s always the right time to include others.” One resident gave an example of his little league team and how at a time when it was common practice to only play the best kids, his father made it mandatory that every kid on the team got to play at least two innings. He noted that at the beginning of the season, things started out rough but toward the end of the year, the team excelled.? He pulled it all together by saying that the Pullman Civic Organization has a huge roster but has only been playing a small sample and the team of Pullman needs to include both sides of 111th. Wow, what a story. I loved it. More comments included: “Inclusion is making a new space a better space!” “People, make the right choice and include all Pullman. We want this neighborhood to be remembered by our kids and include all Pullmanites.” Looking forward to my Live 77 Listening Tour/Civic Energy Workshop next Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Find out more info or sign up to attend at formyblock.org/live77 #chicago #myblockmyhoodmycity #jahmalcole #pullman #live77

?? LAST CALL! ?? —Monday is your FINAL chance to secure your tickets and tables for the 2025 Hoodie Ball. Don your hoodie, celebrate Chicago, help empower our youth and communities, and enjoy an unforgettable night at Bridgeport Arts Center! TICKET LINK: https://lnkd.in/gQHc_7Sg #chicago #myblockmyhoodmycity #jahmalcole #hoodieball

Jahmal Cole is on a quest to live in all 77 community areas of Chicago and this month he's posted up in Pullman. Last month's Community Assets Workshop in South Shore was a huge success and the team spent yesterday (before the rain and snow!) flyering for the next workshop. If you're a Pullman resident and want to join the conversation head to formyblock.org/live77 to RSVP! The Next Workshop: ?? Saturday, March 29th at 10:30 a.m. ?? Florence Lowden Miller Historic Pullman Center - 614 East 113th Street, Chicago, IL #chicago #myblockmyhoodmycity #jahmalcole #live77 #pullman

?? The Hoodie Ball is almost here! ?? What’s your hoodie game looking like? ??? Drop a comment and let us know what you’re rocking! ?????? #chicago #myblockmyhoodmycity #jahmalcole #hoodieball

"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