IDJJ educators, security and program staff and youth from IYC Pere Marquette and IYC Warrenville visited Springfield on May 30 to participate in an interactive civics lesson and meet with Governor Pritzker. The team also met with legislators and enjoyed a tour of the Governor's Mansion.
On April 16, 2019, DJJ hosted its Annual Volunteer Banquet to honor those who give selflessly of their time and energy to serve our youth. This year's DJJ Volunteer of the Year is Jason Boulware, who volunteers at IYC Chicago. Jason is a professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has built a partnership for his students to work with youth at IYC Chicago. This includes a semester-long class where youth write, direct, act in, shoot, and edit short films. Additionally, Jason has developed a course for DJJ youth to learn photography. Jason cares about all his students, including DJJ youth, and invests in them as a teacher and mentor. Congratulations, Jason!
DJJ's Washington Cottage Special Olympics Fundraising Team joined forces with a great group of community and family members to participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Lewis University Plane Pull on Saturday, April 27th. The team battled rain and even some snow to show great spirit for this wonderful cause. The team raised over $1400 towards our DJJ fundraising efforts for Special Olympics. Knowing that this year Special Olympics has a mission of inclusion, the team includes a very dear friend, James, who is a Special Olympian himself. James' parents were overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from all the DJJ staff that participated in this event on Saturday. Way to Go DJJ!
As part of celebrating IDJJ's new Mission Statement in June 2019, IYC Harrisburg hosted a series of events, including a Youth vs. Staff Family Feud, a concert performance by Quail Springs Baptist Church, and a barbeque for youth and staff.
Security and Dietary staff started the game of family feud on Sunday June 2nd throughout the facility. Each day a game was played until the top 2 winners (Units 3 & 8) was determined. On June 5th Units 8 & 3 played against each other in visitation and the winner (Unit 8) played against staff. On that day Unit 8 also received their "No fight" PBIS party and enjoyed pizza, ice cream floats (orange/root beer) and cookies before Family Feud began. Unit 8 also beat staff at Family Feud and we had the pleasure of having JJS Farris be Steve Harvey. Both youth and staff really enjoyed the day.
In the six months since Project FLEX began delivering physical education and leadership training to young men incarcerated in the Illinois Youth Center of St. Charles, many eyes have been opened.Jenn Jacobs and Zach Wahl-Alexander, professors in the NIU Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education who deliver that programming with graduate student Tim Mack, certainly count themselves in that group.They also include dozens of young men they’ve encountered at the facility, where such an extracurricular activity is a privilege for the earning. As many as 70 already have participated, and between 10 and 20 are on the waiting list at any given time, hoping for their chance.