St. Agatha Family Empowerment (S.A.F.E.) was founded in 1991 by community residents with the support of St. Agatha Catholic Church to give the African American at-risk youth who live in North Lawndale on the West Side of Chicago a positive alternative to gangs, drugs, and violence. S.A.F.E. operates from 3:00pm until 6:00pm, the most dangerous hours for inner city youth according to the Justice Department. Each day more than 175 young people participate in 90 minutes of a positive activity followed by 90 minutes of study time. Activities range from Choir to African Dance and Drums; from Male/Female Responsibility to Tap & Stepping; from poetry workshops to arts & crafts. www.faceofsafe.org
The program also incorporates teen employment and job training. In North Lawndale, the drug trade is the number one employer. S.A.F.E. is number two. When a child is S.A.F.E., everyone is safe.
(773) 522-1354 | www.faceofsafe.org