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Chicago nonprofit R CITY helps youth build strong foundation with masonry apprenticeship

An masonry apprentice with the West Side nonprofit R CITY. The organization was founded in 2015 to, in part, give local youth an alternative to gang recruitment
An masonry apprentice with the West Side nonprofit R CITY. The organization was founded in 2015 to, in part, give local youth an alternative to gang recruitment.
R CITY

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — This week's Difference Maker is R CITY, a nonprofit on Chicago's West Side that's been working to keep kids safe and give them a path to employment.

R CITY was formed in 2015 by Elizabeth Galik and others from River City Community Church. The founders had a lot of experience in charitable work — and a mission.


"If we started a community center from scratch, what would we want it to look like?" Galik said. "What are the values we see in the community? What are the needs we see here? And how would all of that come together?"

R CITY masonry apprenticeR CITY

The nonprofit in West Humboldt Park works with kids to provide attention and opportunity at a critical time to keep them out of gangs.

"If they're going to be recruited, it typically happens around [ages of] 11, 12, 13, and very often there's a strong need for income in the family," she said. "Then the kids find a way; they're being offered money on the street at age 12. So, our paid internships start at age 12 so that we have a valid alternative."

That alternative includes masonry apprenticeships, where they teach kids how to tuckpoint older homes in their West Side community.

R CITY masonry apprenticeR CITY

"Our 12- and 13-year-olds mix mortar and clean up; our 14- and 15-year-olds spread new mortar, and then our 16- to 18-year-olds operate the power grinders to grind out the old mortar," Galik said.

R CITY relies on government funding and private donations to offer victims services, such as help with funeral expenses, and kids programs, such as summer camp and after-school events. Galik said they started building their own play space after visits to public parks became too risky.

R CITY parkR CITY teams are currently working on a play space next to its existing building.R CITY

"Within the last two years, our kids have been in proximity to gunshots at each of the parks, so we can't do that anymore," she said. "Our focus now, we've been building out an outdoor space next to our building."

That space is almost complete.

R CITY, making a difference on Chicago's West Side.

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