The recent youth takeovers in Chicago, involving large groups of young people engaging in violent and destructive behavior, have highlighted the urgent need for practical solutions.
In March, a 46-year-old woman was shot during a takeover near the AMC River East 21 movie theater in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood. At another takeover, a 15-year-old boy was grazed by a bullet near Columbus Drive and Illinois Street. These events, along with a large gathering in Millennium Park that led to injuries including a stabbing, underscore the severity of the issue.
The city’s response has included curfew enforcement, barricades, increased police presence and innovative technologies. While these actions may help mitigate immediate risks, they do not address the underlying problems and will not stop the takeovers. The city, county and state must do much more to invest in youth.
City and state governments should direct the same financial support to youths that they have committed to migrants. Since July 2022, Chicago has spent more than $600 million on migrant assistance, with much of that funding going to private companies managing shelters and lease agreements. In contrast, the city expects to spend $40 million on migrant services this year. At the state level, the government has allocated $139 million for migrant welcome centers in its 2025 budget. This money should be earmarked immediately before the summer to invest in our youths.
The statistics on Black youths in Chicago remain alarming, according to university and media reports. Nearly 25% of youths under the age of 18 live in poverty, with rates exceeding 90% in some neighborhoods, according to a report released this year by the venture philanthropy A Better Chicago. Two-thirds of youths have witnessed violence, and 25% report seeing violence weekly, the report revealed. Last year, 41% of Chicago Public Schools students were chronically absent, which research has shown affects academic success. Additionally, 94% of youths cite mental health as a significant issue for their age group, and youths have concerns about inadequate services.
Chicago’s Black youth unemployment rate remains higher than the national average and continues to be a challenge compared with what other major cities experience. In 2022, 17.5% of Black Chicago teens 16 to 19 years old were out of school and unemployed, up from 9.4% in 2021. In comparison, for example, Houston had a Black youth unemployment rate of 11.5%, with strong vocational training programs improving employment rates.
Chicago faces unique challenges, with South and West Side neighborhoods having the highest concentration of Black youths who are jobless, with some areas exceeding 90% unemployment. Post-pandemic recovery has been slower for Black youths, thanks to disrupted education and job pathways. There is limited access to high-paying industries compared with cities such as Los Angeles and Houston, where tech and energy sectors provide more opportunities.
Mayor Brandon Johnson has expanded youth employment programs, particularly through One Summer Chicago, which aims to provide 29,000 summer jobs this year. This program has successfully reduced youth unemployment and offered valuable work experience. However, the funding for these programs is significantly less than what has been spent on migrants. In 2024, $41 million was paid in wages to youths through One Summer Chicago, a fraction of the $600 million spent on migrant aid since July 2022. This disparity is unacceptable.
We must invest in our future by investing in our youths. A mind is terrible to waste, but we are not investing in our young people.
The city, county and state must prioritize youth investment. By redirecting funds from migrant aid to youth programs, we can provide meaningful opportunities for young people, reduce unemployment and prevent future takeovers.
The time to act is now before the summer kicks in.
Tio Hardiman is the founder and executive director of the nationally recognized Violence Interrupters, Inc.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.