Partners
CeaseFire uses a Public Health model to stop shootings and killings. Urban Dolorosa and CeaseFire are partnering to bring clergy and high risk youth together, to build trust between youth and adults, and to encourage mentoring and outreach to youth. Read about our Peace Tables.
Steppenwolf Theatre for Young Adults
This outreach program engages teens through theatre, creating opportunities for youth to perform and collaborate at the highest level, and using the arts to engage social issues that impact young adults, including youth violence. The program’s director, Hallie Gordon, is providing artistic direction for our memorial events.
Marimba Ensemble & Youth Choir of Holy Cross / IHM Parish
Both the marimba ensemble and youth choir are part of our memorial events. This parish in Back of the Yards uses music, visual art, theater, and creative writing to mentor to youth. The Marimba Ensemble performs throughout the year and frequently at mass. Youth respond to “the universal language of music” and flourish with creative opportunities for personal expression in the midst of caring, supportive community.
Johnson College Prep Choral Program
The youth choir from this Noble Street Charter School in Englewood is participating in our memorial events, under the leadership of Cicely Jackson – who is also a conductor for the Chicago Community Chorus.
The Chicago Community Chorus reflects the diversity of Chicago and provides an advanced choral experience to anyone who loves to sing, performing a diverse repertoire that includes classical choral literature, spirituals, gospel music, jazz, folk music and show tunes. They are providing many of the singers for our memorial events, and Dr. Keith Hampton is the adult choral director for Urban Dolorosa.
North Park University Chamber Soloists
In keeping with the Evangelical Covenant Church’s commitment to Compassion, Mercy and Justice, the orchestral accompaniment for our memorial events will be provided primarily by the Chamber Soloists of North Park University, under the direction of David Yonan.
Chicago Child Trauma Center at La Rabida Children’s Hospital
and National Child Trauma Stress Network (NCTSN)
Dr. Bradley Stolbach at La Rabida and Dr. Melissa Brymer with NCTSN trained our pastoral volunteers in child trauma and psychological first aid so that we could better understand the mental trauma of urban youth violence.
Faith Community of Saint Sabina
Saint Sabina has long been a prophetic voice calling Chicago to acknowledge the crisis of youth violence. Fr. Michael Pfleger spoke at Urban Dolorosa’s inaugural event last fall, and a video of this address is available on our Resources page.
Too Young To Die Photo Documentary Project
Carlos Javier Ortiz is providing the photography for our memorial events, banners, and publicity, as well as valuable artistic insight, and his own project documenting the personal cost of urban youth violence was recently featured in The Huffington Post.
New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church
New Mount Pilgrim operates affordable housing, provides Safe Haven to youth, and community and educational development in West Garfield Park, and partnered with CeaseFire to reduce violence 67% in the community. As part of Governor Quinn’s neighborhood revitalization program, New Mount Pilgrim currently mentors and employs 80 high risk youth, trains parents, facilitates juvenile ex-offenders reentry, and offers mental health services to young people exposed to violence.
First United Methodist Church at Chicago Temple
One of the first sponsors of our memorial events, Chicago Temple is providing financial and musical support. Erik Nussbaum is our Assistant Music Director, and Chicago Temple is providing several professional voices.
Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation
Precious Blood ministers to youth and families through peace circles, mentoring, and the arts. This ministry of restorative justice and reconciliation seeks to end the cycle of violence and retaliation, ministering to victims and perpetrators, and to families traumatized by violence. This includes regular ministry to youth in the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center.
The Peace and Education Coalition is a community-based approach in Back of the Yards that organizes public schools, churches, parks, businesses, law enforcement, elected officials, and not-for-profits to work together to promote the safety and well-being of youth and children. Coalition President Paul Lopez has been instrumental in promoting community involvement in our memorial events.
American Baptist Home Missions Societies
Our memorial project began with a generous donation from the ABC’s Home Missions Societies (formerly known as National Ministries) and continues to benefit from Rev. Dr. Aidsand Wright-Riggins’ concern for urban youth.
Franciscan Province of the Sacred Heart
Fr. Vaughn Fayle’s leadership throughout this project has been invaluable, and we are grateful to the Sacred Heart Province for lending Fr. Vaughn, and his considerably musical gifts, to our memorial events, as well as their financial support and ongoing promotion of the arts.
Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy
A two-year career focused media arts program in downtown in Chicago, Flashpoint has provided valuable input for our audio/visual needs, and their students are filming our memorial events.
With special thanks for financial contributions from…
First United Methodist Church at Chicago Temple
North Shore Baptist Church
St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church
St. James Cathedral
Fourth Presbyterian Church
Hedroom Productions and Fast Signs
