By: Ashmar Mandou

Families, CPD, and neighbors gathered for a Gameday Kick-Off Parade to launch the inaugural season of the Police/Youth Baseball League in North Lawndale, funded by Get IN Chicago. For the remainder of the summer, approximately 200 kids ages 9 to 12, will be coached by CPD officers in games, practices, and workshops meant to foster leadership, sportsmanship, and conflict resolution skills aimed to create better trust between inner-city youth and police officers. In 2016, Get IN Chicago awarded grants for the police/youth baseball leagues to BBF Family Services in North Lawndale, which is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year and Teamwork Englewood in Englewood/West Englewood. Get IN Chicago is a private funder with a public mission, dedicated to discovering the most effective ways to reduce youth violence. We focus our energy on acutely high-risk youth in Chicago’s most vulnerable communities through funding, measurement, and thought leadership. To learn more about Get IN Chicago, visit getinchicago.org.