D.O.Y. is proud to partner with Cradles for Crayons to ensure children in our communities receive essential clothing, school supplies, and personal care items, delivering these resources directly to the youth and families who need them most.

D.O.Y. is proud to partner with Dick’s Sporting Goods, whose generous support allows us to compensate our instructors while providing high-quality sports programming, mentorship, and skill-building opportunities for youth in our community.

D.O.Y. is honored to partner with the Chicago White Sox to provide game tickets to youth and families in our programs, creating memorable experiences that reward positive behavior, build community connection, and inspire our participants to engage and succeed.

D.O.Y. is grateful to partner with Good Sports to provide quality athletic equipment to our youth, supporting skill development, teamwork, and healthy competition while ensuring every participant has the tools they need to thrive in our sports and mentorship programs

D.O.Y. is proud to partner with Naylor Piping to provide apprenticeship opportunities through our workforce program, giving youth hands-on industry experience, mentorship, and pathways to long-term employment, while supporting the growth of skilled professionals in our community

D.O.Y. is grateful to partner with the Green State Foundation to support opportunities that empower our youth, strengthen our community, and create positive experiences that inspire growth, confidence, and brighter futures.

D.O.Y. is proud to partner with Harold Washing CPS School to provide our youth with educational support, mentorship, structured programs, and extra after-school assistance focused on bullying prevention and community safety, while enhancing academic achievement, building confidence, creating pathways to long-term success, and connecting us to additional students through their referrals.

D.O.Y. is honored to partner with Finkl Steel to equip youth with hands-on industry experience, mentorship, and career-ready skills through our workforce programs, transforming participants into skilled professionals and future leaders while strengthening the local workforce and community.

D.O.Y. is proud to partner with the Fire Department to ensure safe, supervised programming for our youth and community members, while promoting safety awareness, emergency preparedness, and stronger community engagement.

D.O.Y. is proud to partner with SCR Medical Transportation to raise awareness of the needs of disabled residents and elders in our community, while providing safe, reliable transportation and support services that ensure access to our programs, mentorship, and opportunities for long-term empowerment and inclusion.

D.O.Y. is grateful to have partnered with Rhema City Church, whose unwavering support empowers us to expand programs, serve more youth and families, and make a meaningful impact in the Burnside community.

D.O.Y. is proud to partner with Thunder’s Food, whose generous support provides essential resources and snacks, while we work together to keep public spaces safe, raise community safety awareness, and deliver mentorship that empowers local residents.

D.O.Y. is honored to partner with the court system to support justice-involved emerging adults through structured, community-based diversion and reentry services. Together with the courts, D.O.Y. helps create meaningful alternatives to incarceration while building safer communities and long-term stability for participants.

D.O.Y. is proud to partner with the Probation Department to support justice-involved emerging adults through structured accountability, supervision support, and community-based services. Our program also incorporates meaningful community service opportunities that promote responsibility, restitution, and positive community engagement. Together, D.O.Y. and probation partners work to reduce recidivism and support successful reintegration into the community.

D.O.Y. is an active community stakeholder in Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA) initiatives, participating in meetings, convenings, and community discussions focused on improving outcomes for justice-involved individuals. Through this engagement, D.O.Y. contributes community insight and lived-experience perspectives while continuing to deliver structured services including case management, mentoring, transportation support, employment readiness, housing referrals, and community service opportunities. This involvement strengthens coordination across systems and supports efforts to reduce recidivism and promote successful reintegration.

D.O.Y.’s Community Resource Center provides essential support to youth, elders, and community members in a safe and welcoming environment. Our services focus on meeting basic needs and fostering community engagement.

• Free clothing and personal hygiene items
• Pantry food items and hot meals
• Foster care support 
• Free delivery of food and essentials to elders (50+) and disabled community members directly to their doorstep
• Community service opportunities, including cleanups, internships, and local events

The center ensures participants and community members have access to critical resources while creating opportunities for engagement and civic participation.

• Serves up to 1,000+ individuals annually
• Elders and disabled adults receiving home deliveries: 200+ per month
• Youth and community members engaged in service opportunities: varies by program schedule

We track:

• Number of items distributed (clothing, hygiene, and food)
• Number of elders and disabled adults served through deliveries
• Participation in community service activities
• community surveys
• Number of internships and event participants

Participants and community members gain:

• Improved access to basic necessities
• Increased community connection and engagement
• Opportunities to participate in meaningful service
• Enhanced support for elders and disabled residents in the community

D.O.Y. operates structured Safe Zone sites Monday–Friday from 3:00 PM – 8:30 PM, providing a supervised and supportive environment during peak after-school hours.

Core components include:

• Structured after-school programming
• Tutoring
• Conflict resolution and decision-making workshops
• De-escalation and emotional regulation training
• Restorative justice circles
• Trauma-informed mentorship
• Organized sports and team development
• Positive behavior incentives and milestone recognition

Our goal is to provide consistent structure, accountability, and mentorship to reduce exposure to violence and high-risk situations.

• Youth ages 12–18 (violence prevention cohort)
• Young adults ages 19–26 (leadership and peer mentorship track)
• Priority given to high-risk, justice-impacted, and underserved youth

• Up to 400+ youth per site annually
• Multi-site expansion

We track:

• Enrollment and attendance consistency
• Mentorship hours delivered
• Completion of conflict resolution curriculum
• Parent/guardian engagement
• Participant goal progress reviews

Participants demonstrate:

• Improved decision-making skills
• Lower crime rates 
• Increased positive peer engagement
• Reduced involvement in high-risk environments
• Improved school participation and accountability

Mentorship is integrated across all D.O.Y. services.

• Trained ambassador mentors
• Weekly one-on-one mentorship sessions
• Group leadership workshops
• Saturday structured  programming (1 PM – 6 PM)
• Leadership development track for ages 19–26

We document:

• Mentor matches completed
• Mentorship hours logged
• Individual development plans created
• Leadership workshop participation

Youth develop:

• Emotional regulation skills
• Leadership and accountability habits
• Goal-setting and long-term planning skills
• Stronger community engagement

D.O.Y. operates through a structured progression model:

Safe Zone Engagement
→ Mentorship & Skill Development
→ Workforce & Economic Training
→ Employment & Entrepreneurship
→ Leadership Development
→ Community Reintegration

Each participant follows an intentional pathway designed to reduce violence risk and increase long-term stability.

At D.O.Y., our Ambassadors are young adult leaders dedicated to creating safer, stronger communities. Each Ambassador is assigned to a specific area, ensuring consistent presence, accountability, and direct support for residents.

Our flagship program focuses on early intervention, conflict resolution, and youth mentorship as cost-effective violence prevention. 

What Our Ambassadors Do:

• Outreach: Regularly connect with residents to provide guidance, check on community needs, and build trust.
• Wellness Checks: Visit elders, disabled residents, and youth to ensure safety, provide support, and identify urgent needs.
• Resource Delivery: Distribute free clothing, hygiene items, pantry goods, and hot meals directly to residents’ doorsteps for free.
• Conflict Resolution & Problem-Solving: De-escalate disputes, address safety concerns, and mediate community issues proactively.
• Event Coordination & Community Engagement: Organize and support cleanups, youth internships, local events, and civic engagement initiatives.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Serve as role models for high-risk youth, reinforcing accountability, positive behavior, and career-minded choices.
• Community Advocacy: Report neighborhood trends, help connect residents to resources, and ensure everyone has access to services like legal navigation or reentry support.

Where They Serve:

• Team Structure: Multiple Ambassadors are assigned per area, actively engaging residents daily.

Impact of Ambassadors:

• Increased safety and trust across assigned areas
• Consistent support for elders and vulnerable residents
• Early intervention in potential conflicts, reducing violence exposure
• Improved youth engagement and leadership development
• Measurable outcomes in wellness checks, community service participation, and resident satisfaction

Our Ambassadors Are More Than Safety/Outreach  — They Are Leaders Who Transform Their Community.

D.O.Y. integrates economic empowerment directly into violence prevention and reentry services.

Programs include:

• Financial literacy education
• Entrepreneurship labs
• Micro-enterprise project guidance
• Job readiness certification
• Paid incentive stipends tied to participation milestones
• Business development exposure (cleaning services, service enterprises, food ventures, etc.)

• Youth ages 15–26
• Safe Zone graduates
• Returning citizens

• 75–100 participants complete workforce or financial literacy training

We track:

• Financial literacy course completions
• Workforce certifications earned
• Job placements verified
• Micro-enterprise projects initiated

Participants demonstrate:

• Improved budgeting and financial planning skills
• Increased workforce participation
• Income-earning opportunities
• Entrepreneurial readiness

D.O.Y. provides structured reentry support to returning citizens ages 18+ to support stability and reduce barriers to employment.

Services include:

• Individual case management
• Workforce readiness and resume support
• Job referral connections
• Identification and document recovery assistance
• Court compliance navigation referrals
• Life skills training
• Housing referral assistance

• Weekly case management check-ins
• Monthly workforce readiness workshops
• Ongoing employment referrals and employer outreach

• 50–75 returning citizens supported per site annually

We document:

• Case plans created and completed
• Workforce workshops delivered
• Job referrals made
• Verified job placements
• ID/document recovery completions

Participants demonstrate:

• Increased employment readiness
• Improved income stability
• Greater compliance with court obligations
• Stronger reintegration into the community

D.O.Y. provides legal navigation assistance to help individuals understand and access available legal resources.

Services include:

• Expungement referral partnerships
• Court date reminders and compliance support
• Victim advocacy referrals
• Youth legal rights workshops
• Family support guidance

D.O.Y. does not replace attorneys — we bridge the gap between community members and legal systems.

• Up to 100–150 individuals supported annually

We track:

• Legal navigation cases opened
• Expungement referrals submitted
• Compliance support contacts completed
• Workshops conducted

Participants gain:

• Increased awareness of legal rights
• Improved court compliance
• Progress toward record relief when eligible

What We Do
D.O.Y.’s Athletic Development Division provides structured sports programming every Saturday, fostering teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness while reinforcing mentorship and positive behavior. Our program emphasizes skill development, leadership, and healthy competition in a safe, supportive environment.

Sports Offered

• Basketball – Skill drills, team play, and tournament preparation
• Football – Flag football fundamentals, teamwork, and strategy
• Baseball – Hitting, pitching, fielding, and game simulation
• Cheerleading – Technique, routines, and team-building exercises

Who We Serve

• Youth ages 5-18 
• Young adults ages 19–26 (leadership and mentorship track)
• Priority given to high-risk and underserved youth in the community

Schedule & Structure

• Saturdays, 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Led by trained D.O.Y. ambassadors and coaches
• Small group and one-on-one coaching to ensure skill development and personal attention
• Integration of mentorship and positive behavior reinforcement

How We Measure Impact

• Attendance and participation tracking
• Skill progression assessments
• Teamwork and leadership evaluations
• Engagement in mentorship and safe zone programs

Intended Outcomes

• Improved athletic skills and physical fitness
• Strengthened teamwork, discipline, and accountability
• Increased youth engagement and mentorship participation
• Development of leadership, confidence, and long-term goal-setting skills