Organization makes an impact in the summer and all year long

Organization makes an impact in the summer and all year long

BY SARAH LIPO

By The Hand Club is an after school program that serves children from dangerous and under-resourced neighborhoods in Chicago. The organization is continuing its programming for kids this year at various locations for 5-6 weeks during the summer months.

The bulk of the programming is done during the school year, said Allison Daze, director of fund development for By The Hand. “We also recognize we want to be in the lives of our students all year long,” she added.

Lamont Washington is the site director at the By The Hand Moving Everest site. This site is the newest location. “The summer program is a continuation of what’s happening during the school year,” Washington said. Programming includes field trips, a focus on literacy, and a spiritual component. Programming also varies depending on the age group. Participants usually have a theme each summer for their programming.

“This coming summer focuses on career preparedness,” Daze said. Daze describes the summer programming as a “safe and positive community.” The program was first located in Cabrini-Green and included 16 enrollees. Today, that number has shot upwards to 1360 with four locations throughout the city and Daze said the goal is to keep growing.

The goal is to love children holistically, Daze added, and offer underserved kids throughout the city a chance to live a more abundant life.

Lamont said the vision of By The Hand is important to him. “I really love the faith component and the opportunity to teach our children... I’ve never seen a mission, vision and goals anywhere close to how By The Hand Club has theirs structured,” Washington said.

Daze said she hopes that children who participated in By The Hand continue to be productive individuals and that they continue “giving back in whatever career they are called to.”

By The Hand is making an impact not only on students, said Lamont, but on the entire community. “I think we are making a major impact on the people who live in the surrounding area... But of course, if you touch the students, you have no choice but to touch the families, and if you touch the families, you have no choice but to touch the entire community,” he said.

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