These early years at R CITY have been incredible ones for sure. We have experienced extraordinary provision through so many and favor from funding sources willing to trust our young organization and the work we accomplish in the community. The first quarter of 2022 has been marked by grant funding awarded from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), a state agency that identifies critical issues faced by the criminal justice system in Illinois proposing and evaluating policies, programs, and legislation to address those issues.

The addition of ICJIA funding allowed R CITY to double our staff in order to implement a small group model across our after school programs. We hired a junior high program coordinator and 5 new adult mentors and we are already feeling the impact this team is making. They have gone above and beyond in caring for the children and youth of their mentor groups both in and outside of program time, as our new model includes mentor group outings and field trips designed to provide even more positive and enriching experiences for our young people. They have had fun together at the movies, roller skating, visiting a boxing gym and learned and played at the Museum of Science and Industry and the Kohl Children's Museum.

With the additional funding we also added programming for young adults in our neighborhood with open gym times now offered on Friday nights as well as events for the whole community with House of Hope's No Kids Die in the CHI Peace March in February, hosting a Violence Prevention Workshop in March and in April offering an Opportunities and Job Fair for our neighborhood featuring several local organizations and businesses offering employment and career training- even our youngest children prepared resumes to share with our guests. We are thankful for all who participated and partnered with us for these events!