Youth Services

After School Matters

TRCDO is also an approved partner with After School Matters for the ASM Summer Programs. Programs in the arts, communications, science, sports, and technology are offered at more than 100 community organizations, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, and Chicago Public Library locations across the city, as well as Downtown at the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts in Millennium Park. In totally, approximately 6,000 program opportunities will be available to Chicago teen residents who are at least 14 years of age and entering or currently enrolled in high school.

After School Matters’ unique programs offer teens an opportunity to explore and develop their talents while gaining critical skills for work, college and beyond. During the summer, our programs are similar to a summer job. The six to eight weeks programs meet four to five days per week for approximately four hours per day, and teens must produce a robust final product or performance. Teens that successfully complete their summer program are eligible for a monetary “Award for Program Completion”.

TRCDO’s program offering is the Music Appreciation Program, which is offered for 8 weeks, 4 days a week, 4 hours per day. Interested youth must apply on the After School Matters website. After School Matters is now Accepting Applications from Chicago High School Teens for the 2017 Programs!
Our Youth Support Services are undergirded with strategies that teach empowerment and prevention, focused on at-risk youth ages 8 – 21. Programs include Tutoring, Career Development, Music, Arts, Recreation, Making Healthy Life Choices, Financial Awareness, and Individual Counseling Services. TRCDO’s youth-targeted programs focus on innovation and progression, and additional attention is paid to families at risk. Additional program services include occupational training with an emphasis on Computer Literacy, Basic Life Skills, Health Awareness and Fitness, Financial Literacy, and College Bound Counseling Services.

After School Matters

TRCDO’s Youth Summer Employment Program began on July 1, 2013 with a mission to grow a Community Garden while providing our youth with new, tangible skills that could be used in the community, in school, and in an employment situation. Interns learned and received the information they needed to be successful in their education, career pursuit, and personal lives. We provided both instructional and hands on training and interactive workshops with professionals from the workplace and in the interns fields of interest.

The outcome of this program included successfully creating and implementing a community garden from scratch, employing 50+ interns, and providing hands on job readiness and skills development sessions. This included the clearing and prepping of the land, designing the layout of the plots, selecting the types of plants for growing, and attending to the garden on a daily basis. The Interns also worked actively with the Harvest for the World Food Pantry. This included packing and distributing +300 bags of food weekly to families in need along with the produce from the garden. We look forward to continuing this program in the Summers to come! This Program is offered based on funding availability.