Chicago Youth Programs

The Mission of Chicago Youth Programs (CYP) is to improve the health and life opportunities of at-risk youth using a comprehensive approach aimed at developing their capabilities. Chicago Youth Programs (CYP) is an award-winning, innovative program created by Northwestern University medical students in 1984. CYP currently offers services in three under-served communities: Near North/ Cabrini Green, Washington Park, and Uptown. The Cabrini Green Youth Program started in 1984, the Washington Park Youth Program was founded in 1995, and the Uptown Community Youth Program began in 1998. CYP provides over 40 comprehensive programs to at-risk youth, ages 3-25, living in the Washington Park, Near North/Cabrini Green, and Uptown/Rogers Park neighborhoods. Why these neighborhoods? CYP is dedicated to serving those least likely to have access to support. These neighborhoods have some of the highest rates of youth living in poverty out of all 77 of Chicago’s neighborhoods. In Washington Park, our largest community program, fully 86% of children below the age of 18 are growing up in poverty. The need and isolation poverty creates, combined with underfunded schools and a lack of affordable after school or summer programs, feed into a cycle of poverty that is difficult to escape. To combat this devastating reality, we make it our goal to empower each of our youth to escape poverty by attaining the skills and degree necessary to attain financial independence.