We Need To Invest In Our Youth, Not Police Them.

Another tragic death of a child happened this past weekend. A 16-year-old was killed in Millennium Park near the Bean. A bright, cautious student that attended one of our partner schools. He did not go out much, and this was the one night he did.

The response by the City of Chicago was a?curfew?and an executive order to arrest youth if they violated the curfew. This is embarrassing.

There has been no mention of a true strategy to stop this outcome from becoming a reality in the first place, a plan to invest in our kids that do not have a safe place to survive childhood yet alone resources to develop their well-being. History, statistics, and actions show over and over again that preventative programs are the only way to curb violence, not policing kids. It is critical to make it a priority to create environments that encourage self-esteem, self-worth and empathy towards others. With this we create individual purpose and accountability which decreases the risk of violence and creates a peaceful environment for all of us.

The Simple Good is dedicated to this?everyday?as we challenge our students to find their 'simple good' across the city. By building the skillset of finding these small moments of hope in their lives, we improve decision-making and resilience to prevent another tragic passing to be a part of their story.

We need to do this together.?We need more programs, like TSG, that provide a constructive and creative outlet for our youth. Support our incredible youth this Friday, May 20th at our City-Wide?TSG Youth Showcase hosted by the Chicago Bulls & Zenni Eyewear?as they share how they will create change through their artwork. See the change we are making for yourself.

Can't make it? Join us as we spread #thesimplegood across Chicago on June 11th at the?Hunt for Good Urban Art Scavenger Hunt?and help us fundraise for our powerful youth programs this summer.

Let's take peace building into our own hands and invest in our youth.