UCAN
A West Sider Took A Big Bet On Local Women’s Basketball. Now In Its 8th Season, Her League Aims To ‘Pave A Way’ For Ladies To Play
Ana Sierra's grassroots league has drawn the attention of Jordan Brand and basketball fans across the city. Its eighth season kicks off Thursday.
West Side Neighborhood Sees 58% Drop In Shootings Thanks To Violence Prevention Programs, Outreach Workers Say
Outreach workers are connecting with vulnerable people, offering support to reduce their risk for violence. The result: fewer shootings, advocates say.
Chicagoans Arrested For Marijuana Possession Are Getting Crash Course In The Legal Weed Business
The Olive Harvey College program aims to create more racial equity in the weed industry — from the ground up. It's on track to have an associate's degree in cannabis studies by next year.
‘It’s All Good’ Episode 22: The Sky’s The Limit For Women’s Hoops In Chicago
Ana Sierra is the one-woman operation behind the West Side’s semi-professional women’s basketball league. The league has become a gathering space for residents and entrepreneurs.
This West Side Group Is Helping Kids Try Rowing, Rugby, Lacrosse And Chess
The North Lawndale Athletic and Recreation Association is expanding the kinds of sports and activities it offers to give neighborhood youth more options.
West Side Garden Is Designed To Help Youth Heal From Trauma: ‘A Garden Is A Friend You Can Visit Anytime’
The garden will support the therapeutic services offered by UCAN, a West Side social service organization with a program to help young people heal from trauma.
To Combat Crime, City Launches Central ‘Nerve Center’ To Bring Violence Prevention Programs Under One Roof
The Community Safety and Coordination Center will be a centralized hub for programs that impact safety across all city departments.
West Siders To Hold March For Peace After 2 Mass Shootings Within Minutes: ‘There’s No Respect For Life’
The community's response to ending violence must continue to be "all hands on deck," one organizer said.
To Combat Crime, West Side Neighborhood Groups Are Trying To Build Community
"The way we think about safety is having a healthy community," said Brittany Spralls, an organizer with the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council.
West Side Violence Interrupters Working To Bring Hope, Purpose To Young Residents — Before They Pick Up A Gun
Three years ago, the city dedicated less than $1 million to violence prevention. But this year, $36 million is going to violence prevention and related programs, on top of at least $38 million from private organizations.
Street Outreach Groups Join Forces In Lawndale To ‘Interrupt Violence Deep In The Trenches’
The collaborative of violence prevention groups is focusing on North Lawndale to scale up street outreach work.
West Side Neighborhood Leader Honored For ‘Dedication To Empowering And Uplifting The African American Community’
Claude Robinson of UCAN was awarded the Donald Stewart Fellowship from the African American Legacy Fund and the Chicago Community Trust.
Neighbors Light Up West Side Boulevard To Let Community Know ‘They’re Cared About’
The holiday light show spanned the length of Douglas Boulevard, the first time the street has been fully decorated.
West Side Portrait Series Unveils Public Art Installations: ‘It’s A Story Of Redemption’
Lawndale: A Living History is a photography and oral history series that highlights the stories of West Side elders, who are the stewards of their neighborhood's history.
Free Legal Aid Now Available As Part Of Anti-Violence Street Outreach
The new Justice Corps will give violence interrupters at partner neighborhood groups a new tool to help people at-risk for violence.
Street Outreach Programs Get $6 Million Boost To Curb Violence On South And West Sides
Most recently, violence interrupters have been tackling another epidemic disproportionately impacting Black Chicagoans: coronavirus.
On The West Side, Violence Interrupters Have A New Message: Wash Your Hands
"We already had an epidemic called violence," Perez said. "But now we have another epidemic that is disproportionately affecting Black and Brown communities."
