It was a huge blow for Keric Mosley when his grandmother died. She was his guardian and he was living with her at the time. After she died, he started getting in trouble in school.
“I was heading down the wrong road,” says Keric, 17. “At the time I didn’t see it, but as I look back, getting into a lot of fights and getting suspended doesn’t really lead to nothing.”
Two years ago, he joined GoodKids MadCity’s six-week summer program. His time with the Englewood-based nonprofit exposed him to new experiences and possibilities. He learned to journal, worked with a weekly food pantry, did art therapy and participated in anti-violence work. The high school junior says his involvement with the group is “one of the best things I ever did.”
The mission of GoodKids MadCity, which was founded by youth, is to provide safe spaces and skills training for young people, giving them the vehicle and tools to make positive changes in their community, says executive director Carlil Pittman. The organization emphasizes youth leadership, advocacy and community engagement.
“We do that through teaching young people organizing skills, life skills, and skills to cope with trauma and violence, and at the same time, teaching them how to advocate and understand the different structures that have existed over time that have put us in the situation that we’re in now, and that we can come together and build relationships to bring those changes that we need to see in our community,” Pittman says.
I love that GoodKids MadCity is very welcoming to new people. No judgments. You just need to be yourself, have fun, and be open to learning about new things and new people.
Keric Mosely
Organizations like his are struggling to get consistent financial backing. “Young people have a vision and want to have a voice, and as many times as we hear that they are important and we support them, we need to put the dollars behind that,” he says. “We would have a much greater impact when our capacity is where it needs to be.”
Young people coming from under-resourced communities often have unresolved traumas, and few opportunities to socialize and have fun. GoodKids MadCity creates those spaces. For example, in one week alone this summer, their Peacekeepers organized a week of events that included food, a karaoke night, a movie night, a game night and a Youth Olympics.
The group inspired Keric to think seriously about his future. He plans to pursue trade school, probably in plumbing or auto mechanics. He also has considered becoming a youth organizer and possibly starting his own business. One day he hopes to help his parents retire.
“I love that GoodKids MadCity is very welcoming to new people,” Keric says. “No judgments. You just need to be yourself, have fun, and be open to learning about new things and new people.”
Through the Robert R. McCormick Communities Fund, dedicated people across Chicagoland help make sure that every child and family has opportunities to achieve their goals. With your support, we can create new possibilities and help make countless dreams come true. Funding from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation Communities Fund assists organizations on the South and West Sides of Chicago to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children, young adults, and families each and every day.
