In The News

New Community Campus Hopes to Bring Gathering Space, Activity Hub to Austin

By Daniel Perez | December 20, 2022

A massive community campus will soon welcome hundreds of kids and families from South and West Side neighborhoods.  It’s a major project the organization Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development, or BUILD, is taking on.  It might look like an ordinary gym but for Juvon Crawford it’s more than that. “I know…

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‘It’s a Game Changer’: New Youth Community Center Set to Open on Chicago’s West Side

By Daniel Perez | November 30, 2022

A new youth and community center will soon open its doors on Chicago’s west side. It’s a major project by non-profit organization BUILD that could become a game changer for youth in the area. The facility is taking shape on the corner of Harrison Street and Laramie Avenue in the…

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Annual Turkey Bowl flag football takes over Chicago’s Columbus Park

By Daniel Perez | November 28, 2022

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without football. On Wednesday, some Chicago kids kicked off the holiday with a little friendly competition. The annual Turkey Bowl Flag Football game took over Columbus Park on the West Side. The big game was put together by the violence prevention group Build, along with support…

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ABC7 Eyewitness News at 4: BUILD Turkey Bowl

By Daniel Perez | November 28, 2022

Check out ABC7’s Coverage of BUILD’s 8th Annual Turkey Bowl on Eyewitness News at 4pm – November 23, 2022.

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Cook County to invest in violence prevention programs in Austin, Chicago’s West Side

By Daniel Perez | September 9, 2022

Several Chicago’s West Side organizations – including BUILD Chicago, New Moms and Manufacturing Renaissance – will benefit from $75 million in funding from Cook County that will support programs working to reduce and prevent gun violence. The local organizations were awarded multi-year grants ranging from $1.2 million to $15 million that will be disbursed in…

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Austin violence drops between holiday weekends as BUILD, Inc. devotes funding to young people

By Daniel Perez | September 7, 2022

    CHICAGO (WLS) — The renovation of BUILD, Inc. in Austin is nearly done. Chicago police reported that homicides were down 64.7% and shootings were down 54% in Austin from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Citywide, during the same time, homicides down were 23.3% and shootings were down 24.9%. But,…

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Shootings in Austin down this summer

By Daniel Perez | August 23, 2022

The number of people shot this summer is down by almost 72% in Austin compared to last year, Chicago Police 15th District’s Commander Andre Parham said at this month’s 15th District faith-based meeting. The number of people shot in the 15th District is down to 19 from 67, between May 30 and…

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BUILD Works to Develop Chicago’s Youth

By Daniel Perez | July 26, 2022

Building a Better Chicago is an ongoing series of ABC7 Eyewitness News reports spotlighting the people and groups working toward solutions and improvements across Chicago. On July 25, 2022, Mark Thornton, Manager of Sports Programs, and  BUILD youth Juvon Crawford joined the program to discuss BUILD and the many services…

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Meeting the Moment: 3 Nonprofit Leaders Reflect on Serving More

By Daniel Perez | July 7, 2022

At IFF’s 2022 Investors Meeting, held virtually on May 24, three nonprofit leaders from the Midwest = joined a panel discussion – moderated by IFF Managing Director of Resource Development Nakea West – that explored how IFF’s continuum has enabled their organizations to meet the moment in their communities by…

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Building a Brighter Future for Chicago’s Youth with BUILD, Inc.

By Daniel Perez | June 23, 2022

In many communities across the US, youth violence and gang recruitment are an epidemic — driving young people toward aggressive behavior and participation in risky, violent and often illegal activities. BUILD, Inc. — or Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development — is working to change this. Founded in 1969, the nationally respected…

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How Gun Violence Affects Chicago’s Youth

By Daniel Perez | June 10, 2022

BUILD mentor Dominque ‘Domo’ Young appeared on Chicago Tonight with youth leader Indya Pinkard from Communities United and Strengthening Chicago’s Youth Communications and Community Outreach Manager Dion Mcgill, to discuss how gun violence affects the mental health of Chicago’s Youth. Learn more and watch their discussion at https://news.wttw.com/2022/06/07/how-gun-violence-affects-chicago-s-youth

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Community members protest against gun violence

By Daniel Perez | June 9, 2022

Kaylah Ester, a student at Michele Clark Prep Magnet High School, marched Friday with at least 100 others to protest gun violence that occurs in Austin and throughout Chicago’s West Side. “It’s important because I feel children should have a future,” Kaylah said. So far this year, 48 shootings have been…

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