CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - This week’s Difference Maker is a retired CPD officer who refuses to leave the residents of her old beat in the past.
As a Chicago Police officer patrolling the Southside, Jennifer Maddox was often called to Parkway Gardens, a residential complex located on East 64th and King Drive.
“That was my beat, I spent a lot of time in Parkway Gardens answering calls for service”, said Maddox.
Many of the calls she responded to had to deal with young people.
“Basically, because they had nothing to do…They would be running up and down the stairs, throwing balls or hitting cars, damaging property, spray painting the buildings, things of that nature,” Maddox said.
Maddox took interest, and a part-time job as a security officer at Parkway Gardens.
“I saw that there was no safe spaces or spaces, period, for young people to gather, socialize, have fun or do anything that children should be doing as kids,” said Maddox.
At her request, the property management opened up a basement to use as a gathering place for youth living in the complex. Around 2005, Maddox and a few volunteers made the space comfortable.
“The youth started coming in, in droves. We just set it up with some tables and chairs. We had some snacks. We had some board games, and just one computer,” said Maddox.
Fast forward to 2023, her program is now a non-profit called Future Ties and has just expanded to a once vacant Walgreens on 63rd and King Drive, next to Parkway Gardens.
“We’re looking to revitalize this space, we want to call it the ‘Spark Center,’ so that it can be the spark on this block to start bringing change and opportunity to this area, which is very much needed,” Maddox said.
Now housed in a large street level community resource center, Future Ties offers teen workforce development, parent mentoring, family services and after school programs. It’s a large space where kids can be kids.
Retired Chicago Police Officer Jennifer Maddox is making a difference as the founder and executive director of the non-profit Future Ties.
Information on how to volunteer, donate or otherwise support Future Ties can be found on their website or their social media pages.
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