The Illinois Youth Summit provides high school students with an annual opportunity to
work with local, state, and federal leaders in addressing public safety and violence
prevention issues which affect youth. The program combines public policy analysis and
community service in a semester-long curriculum. In 1997, 200 student delegates at the
culminating Youth Summit represented over 1,200 students from across Illinois.
Youth Summits are part of a national violence prevention initiative created in 1995
by Youth for Justice, a cooperative program supported by the
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the United States
Department of Justice. Youth Summits are designed to help youth and adults identify
and understand public policy issues and to encourage young people to be actively
involved in their communities.
For additional information, please contact Nisan Chavkin, Education Director, at
312/663-9057 or via email at chavkin@crfc.org
Below are descriptions of community service projects created by students as part of
their work with the 1997 Illinois Youth Summit.
Downers Grove South High School (Downers Grove). Using the Youth Summit curriculum,
students: researched Illinois Senate Bill 542 and interviewed their State Senator, Kirk
Dillard, in their classroom; researched automatic transfer for juveniles and gathered
information to promote awareness at their school; conducted a survey among their
peers on a proposed after-school center under consideration at their school.
DuSable High School (Chicago). Using the Youth Summit curriculum, students drafted
their own proposal for a community youth center, which included: sports; recreational
activities; classes such as art, cooking, woodshop, teen parenting, dance, and
computers; and stores for food, snacks, and supplies.
Morton High Schools (Cicero and Berwyn). Working on the larger theme of public safety,
students at both East and West campuses: created a peer mediation program that
worked with elementary students in the district to teach them positive was to promote
a peaceful atmosphere in their schools; and, using Operation: Snowball materials,
conducted a full-day workshop of discussions and speakers on preventing substance
abuse for elementary students.
Thornton Township High School (Harvey). Using the Youth Summit curriculum, students
developed “Project Rec,” a program to open their local junior high school for safe after-
school recreational activities and tutorial services. Working with the Coolidge Junior
High School administration and the local village government, students surveyed the
junior high students, interviewed the local mayor and park and recreation officials, and
outlined a $2.7 million program. They then presented their data and program
recommendation to the Village of Phoenix for consideration as the basis for a grant
proposal to the United States Department of Justice.
Washington High School (Chicago). Working from the Youth Summit curriculum,
students created a campaign for an alcohol-free prom night. Students prepared banners
and posters which were posted at various locations around the building. The campaign
was conducted during the week leading up to prom night.
Young Magnet High School (Chicago). Working from the larger theme of public safety and
using the Youth Summit curriculum, students prepared prevention, intervention, and
punishment recommendations on theft at their school. Students presented their
recommendations to the Local School Council for possible implementation in School
Year 1997-98.
12th District YouthNet (Chicago). Using the Youth Summit curriculum, students:
designed a full-service community center, for use by pre-school-aged children through
adults; critiqued and recommended alternatives to Illinois Senate Bill 542; and
reviewed the proposed mandatory transfer policy for juveniles in U.S. House
Resolution 3.
Last updated: January 2, 2002
Please forward all inquiries regarding the website to webmaster@crfc.org, or use the contact form. This website is provided courtesy of the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. Copyright 1998-2002.