Our Work
History:
- In 2022, the Coalition received funding to launch Youth programming, with the goal of tailoring our programming and education for young people throughout Chicagoland.
- In 2023, we hired our current Youth Programming Director. Under their leadership, we have drastically increased the programming capacity and staffing of our Youth team.
- In Spring of 2024, our Youth Team hosted our first Trans Wellness Resource Fair. We brought together partners throughout Chicago to an event in Bronzeville, where we provided tons of resources & services, including healthcare, legal aid, free clothing, and much more!
- In the Summer of 2024, we partnered with Good Kids Mad City to be one of the host sites to 100 high school students and young adults for a 6-week peacekeeping program through One Summer Chicago. Youth were taught a variety of skills, including conflict resolution and self-advocacy, all in a safe setting of their peers.
- That same Summer, our team hosted the first 4-YOUth Block Party in Pilsen. They gathered organizations, artists, mutual aid collectives, and more, to share their resources and services with young people on the Southwest side.
Initiatives:
Our initiatives are led by our Youth Organizers Team, they include:
Friends of Nature
This initiative connects young people with nature while learning about the scientific relationship between cannabis and other plants. Our goal is to destigmatize cannabis, promote responsible use, and inspire advocacy for environmental justice. Youth engage with local parks and participate in guided discussions about the importance of nature in urban environments.
Interfaith Advocacy
This initiative engages faith communities by translating key issues, such as medical cannabis, reparations for the War on Drugs, and harm reduction, into a faith-based framework. Activities include teach-ins, discussions, and youth-centered community gatherings integrating mutual aid with modes of meaning-making — faith, performance, somatic healing, the arts, and more — within local faith communities.
Join Us for Our Next Event: The People’s Room on Thursday, May 29th from 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM at Hyde Park Union Church
Mutual Aid Support
Our team is building a mutual aid network and tangible resources for under-resourced and at-risk youth, providing access to essentials like clothing, food, bus cards, job support, and more! Find out more here
Youth Justice and Advocacy
We provide a supportive environment for young people to identify and address the various impacts of the War on Drugs and the school-to-prison pipeline, particularly in schools, the juvenile justice system, and healthcare.
Trainings
Community Advocacy
This presentation provides tools for becoming an effective community advocate and organizer, focusing on creating and driving meaningful policy changes. By integrating education with art-based activities, the session encourages participants to imagine and explore real changes they wish to see in their communities.
Know Your Rights
These presentations offer accessible education on cannabis laws, policies, and history, equipping community members with the legal knowledge necessary to protect themselves and their peers from criminalization associated with cannabis use.
Harm Reduction and Cannabis Safety
These presentations provide accessible education on harm reduction related to substance use, with a particular focus on cannabis. We offer tools for safe usage and address the mental health needs that cannabis is often used to manage. Additionally, we can provide information on the medical cannabis card as a resource for safe cannabis use in Illinois.
Mythbusting Cannabis
These workshops aim to address stigma and misconceptions surrounding cannabis by fostering open discussions on safety, harm reduction, and dispelling misinformation. The presentation includes evidence-based information, practical harm-reduction strategies, and research.
Medical Wellness
In collaboration with Soul & Wellness and Modern Compassionate Care, we provide the public with education on the diverse ways the cannabis plant can enhance health and well-being. We emphasize that cannabis is not limited to smoking, and that one does not need to experience a 'high' to access the numerous benefits this plant offers.
Employment Opportunities:
Peacekeeping Program
We were a host site for the 2024 Summer Peacekeeping program organized by Good Kids Mad City and One Summer Chicago. Youth, ages 16 to 24, organize and participate in events and community outreach, workshops, and learn a variety of skills, including restorative justice practices and self-advocacy, in a safe setting with their peers.
Internships
CEIC partners with Adler and DePaul University to host student interns who support our programming throughout the year. This includes community outreach, leading events and workshops, and completing projects and credit hours needed. For more information please email [email protected]
Upcoming Events
Contact Us
Interested in requesting a workshop, supporting, or collaborating with the Youth Organizers Team?
Reach out to [email protected]
Reach out to [email protected]
