Chicago teens are getting to be kids again.

After more than a year with severe limits because of the pandemic, this summer has been about regaining some freedom.

Teens can now spend less time watching TV or playing video games in their bedrooms and more time at skate parks, basketball courts and the beach shaking off the stress and boredom brought on by the pandemic.

WBEZ visited La Villita Park in Little Village on the Southwest Side and the Jackson Park football field on the South Side to capture the sights and sounds of 2021 teen summer life.

A SKATE PARK COMES TO LIFE

A group of middle schoolers warm up before hitting the skate park at La Villita Park on July 21 during a skateboarding class. Instructor Spencer Cotton watches as his students laugh during a team-building exercise. Cotton is a program coordinator for the Chill Foundation, which connects young people across the U.S and other countries with outdoor activities.

Instructor Karina Campos gives student Jalaya Williams some pointers about how to push off. Campos, also with Chill, grew up in Little Village. She says this summer La Villita Park is coming alive again with more teens and kids showing up to play and skateboard.

Karina Campos gives student Mya Ambrose some pointers. Mya said being inside the house during the pandemic got her upset and left her feeling moody. Now that she can be outdoors, she says she’s feeling better.

On the same day as the Chill Foundation skateboarding class, other teens rolled through the park. They showed off their moves, giving the beginners some ideas about what may come next. Some of the teens said last school year was a blur. They were distracted with their video games, had a hard time focusing and completing school work.

Nathan Shoop watches as Mya Ambrose manages to roll down the ramp on her own during class.

The post How Chicago Teens Are Shaking Off Pandemic Stress This Summer appeared first on Chill Foundation.

This story is by Ash-har Quraishi, and was published on abcactionnews.com on July, 21, 2021. You can view the original HERE.

CHICAGO — Courage and persistence are just two qualities that embody the grit and determination necessary for success. For the last 25 years, a youth development program has been teaching thousands of children these core values in a unique way.

With their safety pads strapped and bright green helmets in place, a group of 11 to 13-year-olds learn the basics of skateboarding.

But administrators say it’s more than just that.

“Our mission is to help kids overcome challenges through board sports,” said Spencer Cotton, a program coordinator for the Chill Foundation in Chicago. “So, we do skateboarding, we do surfing, stand up paddleboarding, and as well as snowboarding.”

Each year, 3,000 children around the world take part in the Chill Foundation’s unique youth development program.

“We have different youth that comes from all different backgrounds. So, this may be even their first time experiencing a board sport,” said Cotton.

The aim is to help them focus their energy positively and to find ways to overcome personal obstacles.

“A lot of the things I’ll focus on with them is making sure that, A, the confidence is going to be present there and that that grit is also present,” said program mentor Karina Campos.

Chill currently offers programs in 24 cities in 10 countries throughout the world, including in Denver, Salt Lake City, Baltimore, Grand Rapids and Chicago.

Through board sports, they focus on six core values.

“Respect, courage, persistence, patience, responsibility, and pride,” said Cotton.

A lot of times that means falling but not giving up.

“Having that courage is definitely vital to helping them get through the skateboarding program and also throughout life,” he said.

“That’s super important for me that they understand that they are not failing,” said Campos. “They’re overcoming that small little challenge and if they’re falling, it’s because they’re progressing.”

Jalaya Williams has taken several tumbles on this day.

“From the ramps itself, probably four to five.”

But the rambunctious 11-year-old has no intention of yielding to the halfpipes or the boards, and she wants to learn more tricks.

“Definitely, learn more tricks. I learned how to do like the one you like, flip the skateboard over when you jump. I learned that one. Haven’t done it in a while due to COVID and stuff.”

The program is also about cultivating camaraderie.

“Being with the other girls is fun because we all help each other out and none of us laugh at each other when we fall,” said 12-year-old participant Eryn Gibson. “So, if we do fall, it’s not sad because we’ll just pick each other up again.”

Noble life lessons we all could learn from.

The post Youth development program builds character one board at a time appeared first on Chill Foundation.

A skateboarding program that kicked off during the COVID-19 pandemic is giving young Chicagoans a chance to learn new skills and valuable life lessons.

Last fall, the Chill Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 1995 by the company Burton Snowboards, launched the program with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, a local youth organization that focuses on academic success, healthy lifestyles and civic leadership.

“Our overall mission is to teach children how to overcome challenges through boardsports,” said Spencer Cotton, Chill Foundation’s Chicago program coordinator. “We understand that in Chicago there may be a lot of challenges, different economic situations and socioeconomic things that may be challenging, but here at Chill, our goal is to help them push through that and if they can see that they can do that on a board, then why can’t they do that in regular life?”

The first session started in November in East Garfield Park after Louis Vuitton artistic director and Off-White fashion label founder Virgil Abloh donated 25 custom skateboards and protective gear to Boys & Girls Clubs members for use during the program.

READ: Go Grind! Chicago Skateboard Camp Shows Kids the Basics in City Skate Parks

The spring session, which wrapped up Wednesday, took place at the Louis L. Valentine Boys & Girls Club in Bridgeport. Temaris Dennis, the club’s art instructor, was learning alongside students last week.

“They do look to adults for inspiration and just seeing me be brave enough to attempt getting on the board,” Dennis said. “I wouldn’t say that’s the first thing that got them on the board, but it’ll definitely have them getting back on the board, like, ‘Oh, Temaris is trying it, then I’ll try it too,’ like there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

While instructors from Chill and the Boys & Girls Clubs offer specific lessons — like learning how to pop the skateboard while riding it and grinding the board along a low rail — they also instill values of perseverance, respect and kindness.

Toni, a 9-year-old student, said she’s catching onto the sport and its spirit.

“It helped me a lot to become more brave,” Toni said. “Because at first, I kept on falling off the skateboard and I was kinda scared, but one of the teachers told me that falling is part of learning, so I feel good now and I know how to skateboard properly.”

More on this story

Spencer Cotton said this summer, the Chill Foundation will host a skateboard program at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Club in East Garfield Park and plans to return to the Louis L. Valentine club in Bridgeport and other Boys & Girls Clubs in Chicago.

Follow Evan Garcia on Twitter: @EvanRGarcia

Below, more photos from our visit to the program.

The post Young Skateboarders Gain Their Footing Through New Chicago Program appeared first on Chill Foundation.

This story is by Gavin Evans, and was published on complex.com on Oct 26,2020. You can view the original HERE.

As part of a partnership with the skateboarding company DGK, as well as the youth development program the Chill Foundation, Virgil Abloh (and those companies, obviously) are providing custom skateboards, skating lessons, and protective equipment to children who are members of select Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago.

According to a press release, 25 custom DGK boards and sets of protective gear have been provided for free usage at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Club and the Louis L. Valentine Club. As for the role being played by the Chill Foundation, they’ll provide free outdoor courses for groups comprised of members between the ages of 10 and 18.

This program is set to launch on November 12.

Abloh and DGK’s founder, Stevie Williams, first joined up with a limited run of boards that donated proceeds to Saved by Skateboarding.

DGK was started by Williams back in 2002 to give opportunities to potential skaters from less advantaged backgrounds. Similarly, the Chill Foundation defines itself as “a positive youth development program that inspires youth to overcome challenges through boardsports.”

As for Abloh, note that the Off-White CEO is an alum of the Boys & Girls Club, and that this donation was motivated by a professed desire to “ensure youth in underserved local communities can experience [the] fast growing sport” of skateboarding.

The post Virgil Abloh, DGK, and Chill Foundation to Launch Skateboarding Program for Chicago Youth appeared first on Chill Foundation.

Virgil Abloh is in the mood to gift more skateboards.

The Off-White founder and Louis Vuitton men’s artistic director partnered with DGK founder Stevie Williams and the Chill Foundation to provide skateboards, skill and safety lessons and protective gear to members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago.

They are providing 25 custom DGK skateboards and 25 sets of protective gear for the youth to use for free at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Club and the Louis L. Valentine Club. In addition, the Chill Foundation will provide free outdoor courses for small groups of members ages 10 through 18. The program will launch on Nov. 12.

Abloh and Williams first teamed on a limited run of skateboards, with proceeds being donated to Saved by Skateboarding. Williams started DGK in 2002 in tribute to skaters who come from less advantaged backgrounds, and he’s an alum of the BGCC, which has served families in Chicago since 1902.

Chill Foundation also helps families in 16 global cities through boardsports, which is used to inspire the youth to overcome challenges.

This year, Abloh launched or took part in different charity initiatives, including his I Support Young Black Businesses quarterly fund and partnership with “Englewood Barbie” Aleta Clarke for her nonprofit HugsNoSlugs. Together, they raffled the Off-White x Air Jordan IV “Sail” sneakers at Chicago shop Notre to raise money for the nonprofit.

The post Virgil Abloh, DGK, Chill Foundation Donate Skateboards to Boys & Girls Club Chicago appeared first on Chill Foundation.