Bringing the Community Together and Its Importance Today
Community is often not looked at with as much importance as it should be. Community is incredibly important in society today, and without it, there is no chance that a prosperous Chicago can be achieved.
Chicago blooms into many localities, each with an immense and rich history. Especially after these past few treacherous years, there is a huge sense of need within Chicago and all around the nation. With COVID-19, tensions between Russia, Ukraine, and NATO, and many more catastrophic events, there is a sense of worry and anguish amongst Chicagoans. This is why forming positive and inclusive communities can be incredibly beneficial for the City of Chicago.
However, it’s not easy given that the streets of Chicago are not the safest, and it could be difficult to form a community with people that are unknown. Despite these reasons, forming a positive community should still be a main goal, as not many people are aware of how valuable a community really is. This is the reason PlayStreets was first invented.
What Is PlayStreets?
PlayStreets is an event that is hosted to commemorate different communities around Chicago and to bring people together, especially now.
“PlayStreets is a collaborative initiative through the Chicago Department of Public Health to build healthier and stronger communities through safe and accessible residential play areas. The PlayStreets activities encourage kids to be active, to learn, and for neighbors to come together,” according to Chicago Youth Centers.
Therefore, the primary goal of this event is to bring people together, along with safe and fun activities for younger children. There are many foundations that are supportive of this event, due to how important and how needed it is in today’s world. Therefore, PlayStreets continuing this annual tradition is essential to bringing people together.
How Is PlayStreets Funded?
An event of this magnitude definitely needs a steady supply of funds to be able to continue launching every year. Therefore, there are several foundations that are funding this event.
“Non-profit community organizations are responsible for implementing PlayStreets in Chicago neighborhoods and for coordinating day-to-day logistics and operations,” according to Chicago Medical Society.
The organizations that help fund this event are:
- Active Transportation Alliance.
- Gads Hill Center.
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation Chicago (LISC Chicago).
- World Sport Chicago.
Aside from these organizations, there are neighborhood organizations across Chicago that also help fund this initiative. These neighborhoods are, but not limited to:
- Pilsen.
- Little Village.
- Brighton Park.
- Woodlawn.
- Chicago Lawn.
- South Chicago.
Therefore, there is a lot of support that this initiative is receiving, that without it, would most certainly not prosper the way it is now. Funds are also incredibly important for the amenities that are at the event itself.
What Does the Event Look Like?
After delving in deeper into the background and the partners associated with this event, an important question arises: What do these events look like? There are plenty of aspects in relation to the youth, as there are many amenities that are for them.
“PlayStreets spaces feature basketball courts, obstacle courses, jumping castles, life-size chess, jump rope, hula hooping, dancing, Zumba, and more. It is a fun, effective, and creative way to directly target our city’s children, mostly in neighborhoods with limited access to play lots,” according to the Chicago Medical Society. This is why, as aforementioned, funds are incredibly necessary to be able to host an event of this magnitude, with many different and fun amenities that are presented.
The List of Organizations That Will Participate
There are several organizations that will be participating in this initiative. These organizations are:
- Breakthrough.
- Garfield Park Community Council.
- Brighton Park Neighborhood Council.
- Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council.
- Northwest Center (NWHC).
- UCAN.
- Carey T. Ame Church.
- Chicago Youth Center – Epstein Youth Center.
- Gage Park Latinx Council.
- Chicago Youth Travelers.
- Chicago Westside Chamber of Commerce.
- New Life Centers of Chicagoland.
- St. Agatha Dream Builders.
- Community Empowerment Center.
These organizations are spread out all across Chicago and will sponsor many different people and children. As aforementioned, thanks to the funds that are received, this initiative is able to continue. Otherwise, it is safe to say this event may have only happened a couple of times rather than annually.
The Future of This Event, and the Community
It is without a doubt that this event paves the way for younger people to get together and have fun, safely. If it were not for this event, many friendships in the community would not exist today. This is why this event is such a positive one and a needed one as well. Surely, the future of this event will continue to prosper, especially if these organizations continue to supporting it. It will also prosper if new organizations decide to help support this event as well. Therefore, this initiative will surely be the change that Chicago desperately needs.
Written by David Loran Jr
Sources:
Chicago Youth Centers: Creating Strong and Healthy Communities Through Play
Chicago Medical Society: Shaping Healthy Behaviors with PlayStreets
Featured and Top Image by Patrick Race Courtesy of San Francisco Planning Department’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Daniel X. O’Neil’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
