In The News

A renaissance is starting on the West Side of Chicago, and Columbia College Chicago is invested in making that happen. BUILD Chicago is a nonprofit organization based in Austin thathas been providing violence intervention and prevention programs for West Side youth for over 50 years. They unveiled a new $24…

The youth on Chicago’s West Side just got a new home away from home — at 57,000 square feet, it spans a city block and offers just about everything but a pool. There’s a gym, music studio, computer lab and a garden and greenhouses. It has washers, dryers and private…

CFF began a partnership with BUILD in 2020, and they quickly became integral to our place-based grantmaking focused on the Austin neighborhood. The culture of collaboration at BUILD runs deep. Staff are so adept at partnering with other organizations to create rich learning experiences for young people–whether that be Museum of Science and…

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — On a Monday afternoon in February 2023, something special occurred inside the Walnut Room at the Macy’s on State Street. It was the annual Black Table event, which West Side nonprofit Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development (BUILD) began hosting in 2017. Inside the wood-paneled room with…

Watch NBC 5’s follow-up story on our new campus. Last November, Sandra Torres stopped by BUILD to tour our new home while still under construction. Now that we have finally opened our doors to the public, we were so excited to show her and her team all we have to…

In 1995, Adam Alonso met a 15-year-old who changed his life. Alonso was working at Casa Central, an afterschool program operating out of a church basement. The teen came looking for a pastor, but there wasn’t one available. As the young man walked away, Alonso felt moved to call out and…

CHICAGO (WLS) — BUILD Chicago celebrated the opening of its new center in the city’s Austin neighborhood with a ribbon cutting Saturday morning. Residents and community leaders also got a tour of the new space that includes a computer lab and a peace and justice center in the 5100 block of…

Although he took a detour from an initial plan to become a doctor, Adam Alonso is saving, or at least changing, lives nonetheless. As CEO of BUILD, a West Side nonprofit focused on gang intervention, violence prevention and youth development, Alonso and his team serve more than 2,500 vulnerable youth…

CHICAGO (CBS) – In a time of crisis, admitting that you need help to manage your mental health is often the first step, but from there, without knowing where to go or who to contact, that is often where things stop. A community group in the Austin neighborhood is working to…

CHICAGO, February 25, 2023 – BUILD, a youth development anti-violence agency, today opened its renovated Austin campus to the public, bringing to life a long-time community dream. Over 18 months, BUILD’s former 10,000 square foot offices were transformed into a city block haven where youth on Chicago’s west side can…

CHICAGO (WLS) — Building connections between young people and prominent community leaders was the focus of ‘Build’s’ Black Table event Monday.  As we celebrate Black History Month, 20 of Chicago’s most prominent African American leaders engaged with young people over lunch to share what it takes to be successful and make…

Oak Parker Alonso heads BUILD, a violence prevention program Although he took a detour from an initial plan to become a doctor, Adam Alonso is saving, or at least changing, lives nonetheless. As CEO of BUILD, a West Side nonprofit focused on gang intervention, violence prevention and youth development, Alonso…