The Peace Hub seeks to build capacity among partner organizations to assist with reducing exposure to and participation in violence, address trauma, and improve positive outcomes for youth by facilitating access to programs and services that foster the consistent continuum of care. The Peace Hub Chicago (PHC) is a violence prevention initiative that aims to increase the engagement of Chicago’s youth in programs and services to maximize efficiency and leverage underutilized services.
6th Annual Chicago Peace Con 2020
For the past 5 years, the collective that makes up PHC has hosted the (formally known as the Impact Youth Conference) annual Chicago Peace Con. The 6th annual Chicago Peace Con: “And How Are the Children?” is a FREE two-day conference that takes place in Chicago. This year, we plan to explore the state of community by discussing the concept of the greeting “And how are the Children?” from a speech delivered by Rev. Dr. Patrick T. O’Neil. The conference will take place at the Chicago Teachers Union building located at 1901 W. Carroll Ave, Chicago, IL 60612 on Thursday, April 30th and Friday, May 1st.
Past Chicago Peace Conferences have included the following topics:
| · voice expertise of young people | · restorative justice |
| · peace and mindfulness | · social media & it’s impact on violence |
| · trauma and violence | · youth mental health |
| · gangs (power groups) | · human trafficking |
This event is highly anticipated by a wide range of youth and community serving industries, PHC partner organizations, past year’s attendees and by individuals throughout the Chicagoland area and beyond.
The first day of the conference supports the experiences of high school students and young adults and is structured to provide linkages for conference attendees to access programs and services that foster the consistent continuum of care through engaging in workshops and hearing from peer experts. Day one of the Chicago Peace Con will culminate with live performances.
The second day of the conference supports the personal and professional development of youth advocates, service providers and law enforcement through workshops and facilitated discussions tailored to provide guidance and leading practices. The anticipated outcome for attendees would be building the skills and relationships to do the work of Violence Prevention.
Youth voice will be promoted through all aspects of the conference. Attendees will experience dynamic guest speakers and participate in innovative workshops conducted and managed by members of PHC. A special session will be added with the focus on unconscious Bias and Trauma informed practices for Chicago Police officers on day one.
Peace Hub Chicago Common Indicators
A survey will be administered over the course of the Chicago Peace Con to gain understanding related to the percent of youth who have experienced trauma, youth who report they feel safe, youth who report a connection with a caring adult and youth who agree that the services received fulfilled their needs.
Peace Hub Chicago Partners
Chicago Lights, Chicago Survivors, Children’s Home and Aid, Cook County Juvenile Probation and Court Services, Covenant House, Gary Comer Youth Center, Strengthening Chicago’s Youth, Teamwork Englewood, UCAN, Urban Gateways and others.
How Are the Children?
Among the most accomplished and fabled tribes of Africa, no tribe is considered to have warriors more fearsome or more intelligent than the mighty Masai. It is perhaps surprising then, to learn the traditional greeting that passes between Masai warriors. “Kasserian Ingera,” one always says to another. It means, “How are the children?”
The traditional greeting among the Masai acknowledges the high value that the Masai always place on their children’s well-being. Even warriors with no children of their own always give the traditional answer: “All the children are well,” meaning, of course, that peace and safety prevail, that the priorities of protecting the young, the powerless, are in place, that Masai society has not forgotten its reason for being, its proper functions and responsibilities. “All the children are well” means that life is good. It means that the daily struggle of existence do not preclude proper caring for the young.
I wonder how it might affect our consciousness of our won children’s welfare if, in our culture, we took to greeting each other with this daily question: “And how are the children?” I wonder if we heard that question and passed it along to each other a dozen times a day, would it begin to make a difference in the reality of how children are thought of and cared for in our own country?
I wonder, if every adult among us, parent and non-parent alike, felt an equal weight for the daily care and protection of all the children in our community, in our town, in our state, in our country, could we truly say without any hesitation, “The children are well; yes, all the children are well.”
What would it be like if religious leaders began every worship service by answering the questions, “And how are the children?” If teachers began every class by answering the question, “And how are the children?” If every town leader had to answer the same question at the beginning of every meeting: “And how are the children?” If every business leader and corporate executive had to answer the same question at the beginning of every work day: “And how are the children?” Are they well? Wouldn’t it be interesting to hear their answers? What would it be like? I wonder… I wonder…
And how are the children? Working together, may all our children be well.
Our Mission
The Chicago Peace Hub is a violence prevention initiative whose goals are to increase engagement of Chicago’s youth ages 12-24 in programs and services...
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The Peace Hub supports partner organizations in their quest to provide quality services and programs for vulnerable populations.
Supported By..
Peace Hub Voices
“Our kids today are faced with challenges we didn’t have to worry about. That being said, programs have to be stronger than ever.”
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Map of Partners & Resources
at our Social Services FREE Database:
www.chicagoresourcehub.com
PEACE HUB Partner Organization
