In The News

BUILDing Strong Young Women

By Daniel Perez | September 25, 2018

“It’s not safe like it used to be,” Keshayla said of growing up in of Chicago. “It’s like everybody’s just dying and getting killed.” At 19, she has experienced the violence first-hand, and she is not alone. Now, Keyshayla is one of 60 pioneers in BUILDing Girls 2 Women (BG2W),…

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BUILD Chicago’s Female Mentoring Program Highlighted in NBC 5’s “Making a Difference” Series

By Daniel Perez | August 29, 2018

“Local Program Helps Empower Teens To Escape Community Violence” BUILD Chicago is an organization that helps empower at-risk youth in the Chicago area, helping thousands of teens escape the violence in their communities on a yearly basis. NBC 5’s Anayeli Ruiz reports. (Published Tuesday, Aug 28, 2018)  See news piece…

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BUILD Wins $1 Million Grant from MacArthur Foundation

By Daniel Perez | August 27, 2018

BUILD is proud to be part of the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation‘s $26 million strategy. Thriving communities require strong, resilient, generative, and compassionate organizations that are tackling barriers and working to increase the confidence, stability, power, and effectiveness of the community as a whole. Community Capital grants…

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Decrease in Austin homicides credited to community involvement

By Daniel Perez | August 22, 2018

Once it was a hot spot for gun violence and drug trafficking, but now Hubbard Park is teeming with drum circles, barbecues and community bonding. What’s happening at Hubbard Park is happening elsewhere in Austin – which has seen a drop in homicides so far this year compared to 2017. As of…

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“Summer of Opportunity” Street Festival Unites Austin

By Daniel Perez | August 21, 2018

BUILD’s second annual Summer of Opportunity street festival was a great success as more than 2,500 Austin residents, community leaders, anti-violence groups and community organizations came together for an exciting day of celebration. Activities included live entertainment, art projects, 3-on-3 basketball, a climbing wall, bounce houses, Project Exploration STEM Fair,…

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No Summer Sliding at BUILD

By Daniel Perez | August 20, 2018

When the final bell of the school year rings, some kids flip the switch and power down their brains until autumn – the dreaded “summer slide” sets in. Nine months of mental exercising goes out the window in the blink of an eye. Not at BUILD! With a new school…

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BUILD Celebrates 40th Annual Peace League All-Star Game

By Daniel Perez | August 20, 2018

It was a hot day at the ballpark on August 2 when BUILD celebrated its 40th edition of the Peace League Softball All-Star Game. The tradition lived on at Little Cubs Field in Humboldt Park this year and served as the culmination of BUILD’s summer long softball league, known as…

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BUILD Executive Director interviews with The Crime Report

By Daniel Perez | August 15, 2018

Chicago Violence Toll Tied to Poor Neighborhoods In an analysis of Chicago crime data, Axios reports that while the city’s homicide rate is not the highest in the U.S., Chicago has consistently had more total killings than any other U.S. city, with 27 people killed since the beginning of the month. Racial…

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BUILD’s Executive Director, Adam Alonso brings fresh ideas to reach Chicago’s youth through sports

By Daniel Perez | August 7, 2018

At age 24, Adam Alonso realized his calling. It was a chance encounter in 1995. Alonso was working at Casa Central, which used the basement of Vida Nueva church near Kelvyn Park. One day, a 15-year-old showed up to the church looking for the pastor. He wasn’t there. Alonso was.…

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BUILD’s Summer Peace League Featured in the More in Common Show

By Daniel Perez | July 25, 2018

In one of Chicago’s most violent neighborhoods, ex-gang members and police officers now play friendly games of softball together in this summer’s Peace League by BUILD Chicago. “It brings us closer to each other.”   Watch entire video here

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Blues Lights the Night in Hubbard Park with BUILD

By Daniel Perez | July 25, 2018

“Betcha didn’t know hiphop came from the blues,” said the 60 year old bluesman to the school-age rapper Saturday in Hubbard Park. “No, I didn’t know, ” said the boy, who had just showed his talent for rhymes and responses. “You know now.” Generations did not seem so far apart…

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BUILD hosts Town hall to discuss creation of community court in Austin

By Daniel Perez | July 25, 2018

Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin hosted a town hall meeting Monday to gather community input on the creation of a community court in Austin. About 40 residents, local leaders, judges and several others discussed the functions of a community court and the logistics of how one could be established in the…

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