Chicago Youth Centers (CYC) is Chicago's largest independent, locally based, multi-site youth services organization. It was founded in 1956 by two visionaries, Chicago businessmen Elliott Donnelley and Sidney Epstein, who wanted young people living in poverty to have an alternative to the streets.
CYC was born out of three boys' clubs that had fallen – more... on hard times. With the merger of the American Boys Commonwealth Club and the Boys Brotherhood Republic in North Lawndale together with the South Side Boys Club (later renamed the Elliott Donnelley Youth Center) in Bronzeville, a new city-wide agency was formed:
Chicago Youth Centers.
From the very beginning, girls were admitted to all programs, a first in the city.
In 1960, Fellowship House, a long-time immigrant settlement agency located in Bridgeport, joined with CYC and, two years later, CYC acquired a former YMCA camp in southwestern Michigan, Camp Makisabee (later renamed Camp Rosenthal), so that inner city children could enjoy a residential summer camp experience.
The Young Men's Jewish Council Youth Center located in South Shore became part of CYC in 1977 as the South Shore Community Center, later renamed the Rebecca K. Crown Center.
Centro Nuestro was the first new center opened by CYC, in 1979, offering programs in Humboldt Park to the Latino community. Other centers were added according to neighborhood needs as the years went on and, as neighborhoods changed, locations were consolidated or closed.
Today, CYC offers services to children and youth ages 3 - 19 in seven neighborhoods (Bridgeport, Grand Boulevard/Bronzeville, Humboldt Park, North Lawndale, South Shore, Riverdale/Altgeld and Roseland) through eight community centers and at CYC-Camp Rosenthal in Dowagiac, Michigan.
Make a Gift Today! – less – More from ZoomInfo »
Chicago Youth Centers Jobs
Chicago Youth Centers Employer Reviews
Chicago Youth Centers4.0
Productive Workplace
Youth Worker (Current Employee), 3947 South Michigan Ave. – January 30, 2012
Chicago Youth Centers3.0
Love the Kids
Youth Worker (Current Employee), North Lawndale – November 15, 2011
Working at Chicago Youth Centers
Do you work at Chicago Youth Centers? How did you find the job? How did you get that first interview?
Any advice for someone trying to get in?
What do you think - will Chicago Youth Centers grow fast? Are they expanding their staff? How does Chicago Youth Centers stack up against the competition?
It's always hard to know what to expect when going in for that interview -- and preparation can make all the difference. What is the interview process like at Chicago Yout...
Every business has its own style. What is the office environment and culture like at Chicago Youth Centers?
Are people dressed in business casual, jeans and t-shirts, or ...
What are the average starting salaries, bonuses, benefits and travel requirements like at Chicago Youth Centers?
What do you like best about working at Chicago Youth Cente...
