Communities United Supplies 150+ Backpacks to Families in West Rogers Park
Kimberly Brown and her family spent the day with Communities United, a 501c3 (no affiliation or endorsement or her campaign or political activities), to hand out backpacks and school supplies to families at Green Briar Park on August 17.
Communities United is a survivor-led, intergenerational racial justice organization that focuses on advancing affordable housing, health equity, education justice, youth investment, immigrant rights, and shifting resources from the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems into restorative justice alternatives.
The rain didn’t stop us or the community from coming out. Communities United leader volunteers and Kimberly Brown provided the human-power, smiles, and humanity to help the parents and children feel appreciated and comfortable. Alderman Silverstein, Senator Ram Villavalam, and Alderman Vasquez provided in-kind donations.
SUMMARY & IMPACT
Connected with more than 150 families
Ran out of supplies within 90 minutes
Still had families coming at 1pm who appreciated snacks and information even though we ran out of backpacks
Illustrates the incredible Community impact & opportunity to grow impact
Even something as simple as a backpack can change a young person's life as they start the school year
WHY THIS MATTERS
WHY THIS MATTERS
Every family deserves to enter school with critical supplies like a backpack, notebook, and folder. The schools in this area are not able to provide that level of fundraising support, so organizations like CU are critical. Public schools are for the public, though, and that level of foundational supply access should not be dependent on a nonprofit. We can and will do better.