The Southland RISE (Resilience Initiative to Strengthen and Empower) has awarded $150,000 to support 15 community organizations delivering programs this summer for youth, teens and families across Chicago’s South Side and south suburbs. The funded programs — expected to reach up to 8,500 community members — include arts, sports, mental health services, mentoring, leadership development, trauma recovery and conflict resolution.
Southland RISE is a collaboration between the trauma recovery programs of UChicago Medicine and Advocate Health Care. Launched in 2019, the initiative strengthens community-led efforts to prevent violence and build resiliency among youth and families.
The Southland RISE Community Violence Prevention Grant Program has provided funding for seven consecutive years, awarding $950,000 to more than 80 organizations supporting violence prevention and trauma resilience across the South Side and Southland.
“Community programs like the ones supported by Southland RISE are vital to helping young people learn and thrive in safe spaces,” said Catina Latham, PhD, UChicago Medicine’s Senior Vice President for Community Health Transformation and Chief Equity Officer. “UChicago Medicine is committed to supporting grassroots organizations that address violence prevention and focus on the health of entire communities.”
2025 grant recipients serve residents across more than 30 Chicago neighborhoods and suburbs, with a focus on youth who are at risk or impacted by violence and trauma.
Read the full story on UChicago Medicine's website.
