CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Kids from all over Chicago were spending Saturday exploring a part of the city that many of them have not seen much of — that is, downtown Chicago.
“Today, we’re having ‘Downtown Day,’” said Nathanial Viets-Vanlear. “We’re welcoming 1,000 young people down here from across the city to explore downtown. We have partnerships with businesses all across to give them special deals, and we’re giving them a $50 gift card to explore.”
Viets-Vanlear is the director of engagement and outreach with My Block, My Hood, My City. Although it might be surprising to hear that young people in the city rarely come downtown, Viets-Vanlear said the area has become less accessible to Chicago’s youth since the pandemic.
“It’s a huge issue that we have,” he said. “So many of our young people are isolated, more so than before. The pandemic didn’t help that. A lot of our young people lost access to opportunities and engagement in after-school programs, so we’re trying to bring some of that back.”
The first stop on Saturday was the Harris Theater, and Tirrell Taylor was among those in attendance.
“Unfortunately, a lot of our students from the inner cities have never been downtown before or haven’t gotten a chance to experience the amazing city — and all the amenities — that Chicago has to offer,” Taylor said.
Syaire Travis, a 15-year-old who lives in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, said Saturday’s event was all about showing love.
“Everybody’s just showing out, having fun [and] everybody’s having a good time,” he said.
Organizers said the event was part of My Block, My Hood, My City’s goal to make sure every local kid gets to experience downtown Chicago by 2025.
Dorian Nash, who works at the Smart Museum of Art on the University of Chicago campus on the South Side, said efforts like this one are vital for supporting the youth in the city.
“You have to give kids an opportunity to grow and an outlet,” Nash said. “When you don’t feed them what they need, holistically, you set yourself up for problems. Our kids in Chicago, most kids are incredible youth.”
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