MAY 2022
Summer Program to Launch June 20
YEMBA is excited to announce its first-ever summer program for incoming freshmen. The program, which will be based at YEMBA’s new building at 218 W. Lake Street, Oak Park, will be held June 20 – July 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Designed to help middle school students feel more comfortable with the transition to high school, the program will include high school tours, financial literacy workshops, field trips to local businesses, and recreational activities. The program is being developed by Amari Wilkerson, YEMBA’s program director, and Ashley Steward, intern. Students will receive stipends for participation.
Cheterra McCray: Aspiring Filmmaker
Our MEP students are reaping the benefits of Cheterra McCray’s love for filmmaking. A YEMBA Mentor since this fall, Chettera is working with students at Brooks Middle School to create a short film based on their interests and creative ideas. The film is scheduled to wrap up by the end of the month.
“The film has an inventive plot and is an action/comedy similar to the popular movie Spy Kids. I initially met with the students to get their ideas and then incorporated them into a 12-page script. But the students were active participants. They’ve gained on-camera skills, like learning how to express themselves through their eyes,” Cheterra said.
An aspiring actress and filmmaker, Cheterra is partnering with another YEMBA mentor, Jalen Knight, to create a six-episode web series, in which she plays the lead. She is also working on her own feature film, Common Ground, about a group of disparate college students who miss their midterms and are consequently forced to work together on an academic project, during which they learn that each of them is more than they initially seemed. The film has an underlying focus on mental health.
Cheterra has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Western Illinois University but decided to pursue her interest in filmmaking after graduation. In addition to YEMBA, she works with an after-school program in the Englewood neighborhood.
We look forward to following Cheterra’s forays into the film industry!
Waichler Foundation Provides Essential Support
YEMBA thanks the Waichler Foundation for its continuing support, most recently with a significant donation to the organization. The foundation, which initially connected with YEMBA in 2017 through the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation, provides an essential investment in the growth of our MEP program for middle school students.
Coffee Campaign to Debut at Day in Our Village
Based on the success of our coffee campaign last year, YEMBA is launching a second campaign, with a new coffee bag design by talented artist and YEMBA graduate Hasani Cannon. The new coffee bags will debut at Oak Park’s Day in Our Village on Sunday, June 5 at Scoville Park. YEMBA greatly appreciates Dark Matter Coffee’s partnership in this fundraising campaign.
YEMBA Celebrates BUILD Chicago’s Success
YEMBA Executive Director Edward Redd and board members Damon Brown and Jessica Mackinnon attended BUILD’s annual gala at Navy Pier on May 6. BUILD, a nationally respected gang intervention, violence prevention and youth development organization, has been a supportive partner and mentor for YEMBA since 2017, when the organization served as YEMBA’s fiscal agent for inaugural Community Mental Health Board funding. BUILD has also supported YEMBA’s special events and our plans for future growth.
The gala featured testimonials from young people who have benefitted from BUILD programming. Anthony Bush, assistant vice president of government affairs for the Bank Policy Institute in Washington, DC, received the Distinguished Alumni BUILDer Award and delivered a powerful speech about how BUILD changed his life.
Congratulations to BUILD for a successful gala—raising more than $953,000 for youth programming!
Save the Date For YEMBA Gala!
After a hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, YEMBA will present its annual gala on Wednesday, November 2 at the Nineteenth Century Club in Oak Park. Join us for what promises to be a joyful celebration.