A youth program in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood is relocating its operations after two separate shootings occurred outside its community center, raising renewed concerns about safety for young people and staff in the area, according to Fox 32 Chicago.
According to community members and local reports, the incidents happened just steps away from the facility over a short period of time, prompting leaders to make the decision to move programming to another nearby location. No injuries inside the center were reported, but the proximity of the violence left families and staff shaken.
Latanya Johnson, founder of Latanya and the Youth of Englewood, said her year-round nonprofit program has served children ages 5 and up for 13 years, offering recreation, mentorship, meals, field trips, and a consistent safe space for working families. Johnson said the organization ultimately moved about a mile away to Ogden Park following the shootings.
She added that while the relocation has helped children feel safer, the program now faces new challenges without a dedicated indoor facility. For now, participants are spending much of their summer programming outdoors, even during stretches of extreme heat, as staff work to maintain normal activities under difficult conditions.
Program organizers emphasized that the decision to relocate was made out of an abundance of caution, prioritizing the safety of students who rely on the center for after-school support, mentorship, and structured activities. Despite the disruption, they say continuing services remains critical for the Englewood youth who depend on the program daily.
Parents and residents have voiced ongoing concern about repeated gun violence near youth-serving spaces, saying it undermines efforts to create stability and safe environments for children in the community.
Local advocates are again calling for stronger violence prevention strategies and increased protection for community-based organizations operating in high-risk areas.
Even with the move, Johnson and her team say their mission remains unchanged: to provide Englewood youth with safety, consistency, and opportunity—no matter the location.
