Choose Respect Illinois (CRI)

Funded through the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority (IVPA), CRI is a $100,000 3-yr, statewide mini-grant initiative aimed at preventing teen dating violence by providing youth between the ages of 14 and 21 with the skills necessary to build and sustain health relationships. The ILAACP served on the CRI Statewide Steering Committee which included representative from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (author of the Choose Respect curriculum), Illinois Center for Violence Prevention, Illinois Attorney General's Office, Chicago Department of Public Health, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.The ILAACP also provided culturally-competent technical assistance to grantees, advised IVPA on strategies for enhancing program deliverables, and launched the CRI E-Zine, a youth-friendly online publication that promotes the themes and practices of Choose Respect.

Year 1 CRI grantees included Chicago Area Project, Youth Service Project, Youth Guidance, Holy Family Parish, Marshall Area Youth Network, Highland CUSD #5, and Corazon Community Services.

To learn more about Choose Respect Illinois, please contact Chris Sang, ILAACP Youth Initiative Coordinator, at 312.850.4444 ext. 221.

To learn more about Choose Respect, please visit www.chooserespect.org.

Youth Advisory Board (YAB)

The Illinois Violence Prevention Authority's Youth Advisory Board (YAB) provides a diverse core of youth between the ages of 14 and 24 a structured learning opportunity to actively guide the state's strategy for reducing and preventing interpersonal forms of violence.

Fifteen (15) YAB members from across the state met on a quarterly basis and received training and resources on violence prevention areas that impact youth. YAB also advised IVPA on the design, coordination, and evaluation of a statewide Youth Summit on Violence Prevention scheduled for the latter half of 2010.

For more information, contact Chris Sang, ILAACP Youth Initiative Coordinator, at 312-850-4444 ext. 221

YIP FY 10 YIP Mini-Grant Initiative

In its second year,the ILAACP Youth In Prevention Mini-Grant Initiative proposes a $36,00 statewide, grant-making initiative providing 12 grassroots organizations with a mini-grant of up to $3,000 to design and implement an innovative, youth-led advocacy project, which addresses one area of substance abuse impacting African-American communities - i.e. underage drinking, tobacco abuse, or drug abuse.

This Year's ILAACP Youth In Prevention Grantees are:

For more information, please call 312.850.4444.

Healthy Relationships TaskForce (HRT)

The Illinois Violence Prevention Authority Selected the ILAACP to manage the work of the Healthy Relationships Taskforce (HRT), one of 3 taskforces it convened to assist with its strategic plan. The HRT's work focuses on identifying objectives, action steps, resources, and key implementation partners to promote healthy relationships and community connectedness among youth through school and communities.

For more information, contact Malik Nevels, ILAACP Executive Director, at 312-850-4444 ext. 222 or mnevels@ilaacp.org

Clergy & Lay Leadership Summit

Now in its sixth year, the Clergy & Lay Leadership Summit on HIV/AIDS Community Outreach provides a space for clergy and lay leaders to identify the tools, resources, and support faith-based organizations need to provide sustained leadership in HIV/AIDs prevention, education, and awareness in black communities.

Sponsors for this event include McCormick Theological Seminary, ILAACP, and the National Black Church Initiative.

For more information, please contact Breon Baker, ILAACP's Special Project Coordinator, at 312.850.4444 ext. 225 or bbaker@ilaacp.org.

Established in 2005, the Illinois African American Coalition for Prevention (ILAACP) is a statewide, membership-based 501(c)(3) that strengthens early intervention and prevention systems, policies, and programs in African-American communities through culturally-relevant research, training, and advocacy.

_______________________________________

View Our Latest Newsletter:

For general information about the ILAACP, please contact 312.850.4444 or ilaacpinfo@ilaacp.org