An average of one in four girls will be pregnant at least once by the time they turn 20, according to the National Conference of State Legislators. In Chicago, that meant 45,000 teenage pregnancies counted by the Chicago Department of Public Health in 2012. The number and quality of resources for pregnant teenagers have improved dramatically over the past 30 years. The Chicago Department of Public Health coordinated three teen pregnancy programs between 2005 and 2015 to provide sex education, distribute contraceptives, and implement a school-based STI screening program. The programs were made possible by the partnership between Chicago Public Schools and the CDPH, as well as the $1.3 million grant from the Federal Department of Public Resources.

Our story profiles two generations of teen parents and compares their experiences. The Chavez family has endured and thrived through years of poverty.  Irene Chavez, who gave birth to her first child at age 15 in 1985, raised her five boys and one little girl in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood. Angel Gonzalez, Irene’s fourth son, had his child out of wedlock at 19-years-old in 2014.

By pursuing this intimate portrait of teen pregnancy, Real Chi Youth reporters investigated how the landscape of teen pregnancy has changed, what resources have become available, and how social perceptions of teen parents have shifted over the past 30 years.We discovered numerous programs and organizations purely dedicated to making the life of teen parents easier, such as Christopher House. It offers programs that include prenatal care and an elementary school from kindergarten to the third grade, which adds grades every year. With the increasing number of programs for pregnancy, teen parents now have more resources than ever to build their families.

story originally published here

Approximately 40 percent of Chicago’s homeless youth identify as LGBTQ, according to the Huffington Post. This large number has not received much support, but on March 3rd, 2012 El Rescate, an extension to VIDA/Sida on the West side of Chicago opened, giving the necessary support and resources to minority LGBTQ youth. El Rescate has space for 16 tenants, and they are currently looking for more applicants. Through its outreach in the community, El Rescate has been able to change the lives of many people by giving them: a living space, job finding help, and assistance in enrolling in school.

For more information, go to Vida/SIDA’s Facebook or website

THIS STORY ORIGINALLY PRODUCED THROUGH FREE SPIRIT MEDIA’S 2013 SUMMER PROGRAM AND WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED HERE

George Zimmerman was acquitted of the charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter against Trayvon Martin on July 13. The verdict translated into varying reactions amongst Chicago citizens; ranging from supporters of Zimmerman to supporters of the Martin family.

Meanwhile, some mainstream media outlets, like CNN, connected the case to Chicago youth violence—saying that what happened to Martin is nothing compared to the violence that happens on the city’s west and south sides of Chicago.

To better understand the connection between Martin’s death and gun violence in Chicago, reporters from RealChiYouth interviewed lawyer Mary Neil and Black Youth Project activist Luvvie Ajayi.

THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED THROUGH FREE SPIRIT MEDIA’S 2013 SUMMER PROGRAM HERE