Driven and Empowered Youth, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) educational organization located in the Northwest Side of Chicago. Our mission is, “to provide youth and families educational services and access to resources that will empower them to improve their present and future socioeconomic conditions.” During the last three years, through funding from the Illinois State Board of Education, 21stCentury Community Learning Centers Grant; Driven and Empowered Youth, Inc. has been able to provide after-school programs to students attending the following high schools: Amundsen, Foreman, Kelvyn Park, Mather, Steinmetz and Sullivan.

Through this grant, over 2,100 low-income, at-risk youth have been able to receive tutoring, homework assistance, mentoring and innovative arts programming. Furthermore, this after-school program has empowered youth ages 14-19 with the resources needed to make academic improvements while decreasing at-risk behaviors. At this time, the Illinois State Board of Education has released a Request for Proposal for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant, for which Driven and Empowered Youth, Inc. will be applying for. The goal is that students attending Amundsen, Foreman and Sullivan High Schools could continue to have access to an after-school learning center in their community. In addition, Driven and Empowered Youth, Inc. will also submit a proposal to provide after-school programming to youth attending Senn High School in Chicago. If you are interested in helping Driven and Empowered Youth, Inc. to empower your local youth through a possible partnership, volunteer work and/or make a donation to a local Learning Center, visit www.drivenandempoweredyouth.com.