It Takes a Village...

"It Takes a Village..." focuses on violence prevention in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago. Gang violence is prevalent in Little Village, as many youth recognize. Some of these youth take an active roll in strengthening the community and finding different, constructive ways to prevent violence. In this documentary, you will hear the youth state ways in which they feel can help reduce violence within the neighborhood. Please hear them.

The documentary also displays specific aspects of the community through images and footage, e.g. 26th St, Cook County Court and Prison, police lights, etc.

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The Little Village Youth Forum

Saturday April 4th, 2009 marked the Second Annual Little Village Youth Forum.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times last year saw the deaths of more than 500 people in Chicago. These deaths occurred in our predominantly Black and Latino communities. Reports also indicate that many of these deaths were young people between the ages of 13 and 19. This has only been an increase in fatal shootings in recent years. We know that these deaths are as intentional as they are systematic and go beyond just a local gang problem. We understand that this violence in itself is tied to a broader system of oppression that is at work to further marginalize our community.

The 2009 Little Village Youth Forum focused on the theme of Building Community and Fighting Violence.' The program itself was carved out by the efforts of young people from across the neighborhood boundaries. Every part of this event carried that young spirit that demands a change for the better. Please take this message seriously, as we look for ways youth can become involved in community organizing, especially when it comes against these serious vital matters that affect our quality of life.




The program included:
Workshop Presentations
Gallery Exhibit
Plenary Session

Program also featured:
Live Performances
Youth Poetry Readings
Community Resource Fair

Our keynote address was delivered by:
Andrea X Guzman, Community Resident,
Violence Prevention Project Coordinator
Stroger Hospital Department of Trauma

The 2009 Little Village Youth Forum was held at the east side of our neighborhood at the Farragut Career Academy High School campus. We claimed a victory against violence in the community, by bringing together adults, youth and educators from not only the surrounding communities, but throughout the entire city.

Little Village Youth Forum
Building Community - Fighting Violence

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Little Village
• Chicago
• violence
• gangs
• prevention
• youth
• community
• neighborhood
• youth forum
• education
• documentary

[cdoggy5]

video sucks u should have intervied some real gangmembers and not some dumbasses

[annanimal6]

the point wasn't to interview gang members

[BillFoster1]

It takes a village! bullshit! it takes a family. it all starts with yourself. treat yourself w respect.  i want nothing to do with a black village. let them all kil lthemselves

[annanimal6]

what does this have to do with a black village? you make some pretty ignorant comments, but it definitely does take a family.

[nmejia]

dang annan you get the prestigious, honerary Little Village resident. looove you, and your work

much loove

norma and ada

[annanimal6]

thanks norma AND ada lol

[theWORLDisSPIKE]

@cdoggy5 lol

[lilcry3]

did u see the green ice cream truck i live around there lol....u should have tlk to a real gangbanger n ask them all them questions

[RAYTFS]

you should what the kid said remove all cops from 26th st. theyre all crooked. than lets watch what happens, and what the girl said have the parents stop working all together to spend more time with their kids. wtf!!!???? bunch of nonsense your asking people that dont have a f%^&ckn clue

[daisybugzy]

good job more recreation gyms keep the youth off the streets so cops dont mess with them do it on the down low cause the system has a way of destroying positive movements ask the black panthers.