Youth Guidance Chicago

This Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month and Gun Violence Awareness Month, we’re lifting up a truth we see every day:

Violence prevention is mental health work.

In Youth Guidance’s Becoming a Man (BAM) program, young men are given something too many have gone without: a safe space to be honest about what they’re carrying, process difficult experiences, and build the skills to navigate life’s challenges in healthy ways.

Healing starts with being heard.

That’s why BAM creates space for young men to speak openly, support one another, and learn that strength isn’t about staying silent—it’s about knowing when to ask for help.

We don’t expect perfection.
We create opportunities for growth.
And we remind young men every day that it’s okay to not be okay.

Every young person deserves a trusted adult, a supportive community, and the chance to heal before hurt turns into harm.

What can horses teach teenagers from Chicago? Quite a lot, it turns out.

On a rainy April day, 16 students from Youth Guidance’s BAM and WOW programs at Noble Baker College Prep traveled to Rodeo for Lives in Crete, Illinois, where they met real-life cowboys and cowgirls, practiced roping, groomed horses, and discovered lessons in discipline, resilience, and care.

For many, it was their first time this close to a horse. For all of them, it was a day they won’t soon forget.

Our newest story, What the Horses Taught Them, explores how one field trip became something deeper: a lesson in slowing down, paying attention, and connecting to history, legacy, and themselves.

Thank you to Rodeo for Lives, the Hughes and Latting families, the Michigan State University Rodeo Club, the Vivo Foundation, and Youth Guidance counselors Andrei Heward-Mills and Desiree Sheppard for making this experience possible.

Read the story: https://www.youth-guidance.org/what-the-horses-taught-them/

Thank you to Senator Elgie Sims Jr. Sims for your continued support of Youth Guidance and your steadfast leadership for young people across Illinois.

From stepping inside a BAM Circle to engaging directly with our staff and alums during Advocacy Day, Senator Sims consistently shows up with a genuine commitment to listening, learning, and advocating for the needs of young people and communities.

We are grateful for leaders who understand that investing in youth mental health, mentorship, and supportive relationships helps create stronger futures for students, families, and communities across Illinois.

Flashback to Advocacy Day in Springfield 📸

Earlier this month, Youth Guidance staff and alumni traveled to the Illinois State Capitol to advocate for something we know changes lives: investing in young people.

We’re looking back with gratitude for the elected officials who took time to meet with our team and hear directly from young people about the importance of mentoring, youth mental health support, afterschool programming, and violence prevention.

These conversations matter. Every day, we see the impact that caring adults, safe spaces, and consistent support can have on a young person’s future. Continued investment in these programs helps students build confidence, strengthen relationships, and stay connected to school and community.

We are grateful to: Senator Elgie Sims Jr., Senator Omar Aquino, Senator Celina Villanueva, Mayor Brandon Johnson, Representative Michael Crawford, IDHS Secretary Dulce Maria Quintero, Senator Mary Edly-Allen, and Senator Graciela Guzmán.

Thank you for helping advocate for brighter futures for Illinois youth.

72 hours from now, there will be speeches, applause, powerful stories, probably a few tears…and at least one person pretending they’re not checking whether they won the silent auction. 👀

The Bright Futures Gala is almost here. ✨

This morning on Daytime Chicago on WGN TV, Shykira Richards and WOW alumna Kailee Roman shared what this work is really about: helping young people find confidence, community, and support during some of life’s most challenging moments.

As Youth Guidance celebrates 25 years of Becoming A Man (BAM) and 15 years of Working on Womanhood (WOW), Shykira spoke about the continuum of care our programs provide—from school-based mentoring and counseling to afterschool programming and parent and family engagement that supports students beyond the classroom.

Kailee, now a sophomore at DePaul University and a speaker at Thursday’s gala, shared how WOW helped her find her voice and confidence while navigating social anxiety and insecurity during high school.

Moments like these remind us that when young people have safe spaces, trusted adults, and people who believe in them, lives change.

🎥 Watch the segment: https://wgntv.com/video/youth-guidance-helping-chicago-students-navigate-obstacles-through-mentorship-counseling/11780518

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Since its founding by Mental Health America in 1949, this observance has been a national call to recognize the importance of mental well-being, reduce stigma, and ensure people have access to the support they need.

This year’s theme — “More Good Days, Together” — invites a simple but powerful question: What does a “good day” look like?

For the young people and communities we serve at Youth Guidance, a good day might mean:

• Feeling safe enough to show up as your full self
• Having a trusted adult who listens without judgment
• Finding your voice—and knowing it matters
• Learning how to navigate challenges without being defined by them

But “more good days” don’t happen by chance. They happen when we intentionally build environments where people feel seen, supported, and connected—in schools, in communities, and in everyday interactions.

Across all of our programs, that’s the work: Creating space for healing. Strengthening relationships. Equipping young people with the tools to manage emotions, make decisions, and build a future they can believe in.

Because mental health isn’t just about responding in moments of crisis. It’s about what we build every day to prevent those crises from happening.

This month, we invite you to reflect:

👉 What does a “good day” look like for you?
👉 And how can we help create more of those days for everyone?

More good days. Together.

We’re two weeks away from the 2026 Bright Futures Gala on May 14—and the momentum is building!

We’re proud to recognize GCM Grosvenor as a Premier Sponsor.⁠

GCM Grosvenor demonstrates a deep commitment to strengthening communities—investing not just capital, but time, talent, and resources to expand opportunity for young people and families. From supporting education and workforce readiness to engaging in volunteerism and nonprofit leadership, their approach reflects a belief that when communities thrive, we all do.⁠ ⁠

That commitment aligns powerfully with Youth Guidance’s mission to ensure young people have the support they need to overcome obstacles and succeed in school and life.⁠ ⁠

We’re grateful for GCM Grosvenor’s support and for their leadership in helping create brighter futures for the next generation.⁠ ⁠

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

At Youth Guidance, we recognize that for too many young people, experiences of sexual harassment, abuse, and gender-based violence are part of their reality. These experiences can shape how young people see themselves, their relationships, and their sense of safety in the world.

Through our Community Connections program and school-based work, we create spaces where young people can speak openly, build trust, and begin to heal—on their own terms.

Healing doesn’t happen all at once. It happens in moments:
• When a young person feels heard without judgment
• When they learn to name their emotions and set boundaries
• When they begin to rebuild a sense of safety and self-worth

This month—and every month—we stand with survivors. We commit to listening, to believing, and to building environments where young people feel safe, seen, and supported.

If you or someone you know needs support, resources are available through the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE).

Youth Guidance offers free, trauma-informed gender-based violence (GBV) trainings for institutions serving clients in the city of Chicago.

These sessions help teams:
• Understand different types of GBV
• Recognize how GBV impacts young people and communities
• Identify and respond to signs of GBV
• Connect clients to critical resources

Trainings are offered at no cost and include post-training consultation support. Request a training today: https://wkf.ms/42PKaih

Prevention starts with connection. Healing starts with trust.

Chicago’s youth are facing real challenges. The question is—who’s equipped to speak into it?

On May 6, Michelle Adler Morrison will take the stage at Breakfast with PEAK.

As CEO of Youth Guidance for the past 15 years, Michelle has led the organization’s growth from a local Chicago agency to a nationally recognized leader in youth programming. Under her leadership, programs like Becoming A Man (BAM) and Working on Womanhood (WOW) have expanded into cities across the U.S. and internationally.

A licensed clinical social worker with deep expertise in adolescent development and youth mental health, she has spent her career proving one thing: consistent mentorship and strong relationships with caring adults can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.

She has been recognized as Illinois Social Worker of the Year by the NASW and honored as a Champion of Hope at the Strides for Peace Conference.

At Breakfast with PEAK, she will share:

• What today’s youth are truly up against
• Why mentorship matters now more than ever
• How programs like PEAK are creating real, measurable impact

Your ticket is more than entry to an event—it directly supports scholarships, mentorship, and opportunities for youth who need it most.

Purchase your ticket today and be part of what’s shaping the next generation. https://aesbid.com/ELP/PEAK/Tickets

We’re three weeks away from the 2026 Bright Futures Gala on May 14 and the countdown is officially on!

We’re proud to shine a spotlight on Hilco Global, a Premier Sponsor of the 2026 Bright Futures Gala.

Hilco Global is committed to creating meaningful impact—supporting organizations that expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and help individuals reach their full potential. Their hands-on approach, from financial support to employee volunteerism and mentorship, reflects a deep belief in investing in people and the communities where they live and work.

That commitment is what makes this partnership so powerful.

At Youth Guidance, we see every day how consistent support and strong relationships can change the trajectory of a young person’s life. Partners like Hilco Global help make that possible, ensuring young people have the guidance they need to build confidence, stay on track, and succeed in school and beyond.

We’re grateful for Hilco Global’s leadership and partnership in helping create brighter futures.

Join us: 🔗https://give.youth-guidance.org/campaign/658960/donate