Organizations throughout Chicago are responding to the city’s ongoing violence with gun violence prevention programs. One such program that stands far above the others because of its uniqueness, because of its effectiveness, and simply because it works, is the Building Better Futures (BBF) program.
The program, which provides a path to a better life for individuals whose lives have been negatively affected by gun violence, is the brainchild of Black Expo Community Development’s CEO, Suzanne Stantley. Like many gun violence prevention programs, BBF has a street outreach and victim services component overseen by Tio Hardiman of Violence Interrupters. Working in conjunction with community partners BBF connects victims of gun violence or survivors with a host of services, such as mental health counseling, burial assistance, food, clothing, housing, and other supportive services to help victims and their families get back on their feet. But there’s much, much more, because unlike most violence prevention programs (or any that I know of) BBF actually offers its participants a meaningful, tangible way out of the violence-filled life.
The program’s motto is, “Making a difference, one life at a time.” That’s exactly what the program does.
“We’re telling these young people to walk away from the violence, put down the guns and pick up the tools that could lead to a lucrative career in the construction industry,” says Stantley.
Stantley, who is also the CEO of Contractor Advisors Development, knows the construction industry and its players well, and she has the contacts and experience to make the program work like no other.
“We offer individuals 18 to 40 who reside in Chatham and Auburn-Gresham, a multi-faceted, multi-week training program in some highly specialized areas of construction,” Stantley says. The program consists of weekly hands-on classes in construction, under the instruction of the construction businesses, Allstate Concrete Cutting and Glasstek.
At the culmination of the program, these participants displayed what they learned in the construction training phase, by providing home repairs for seniors who otherwise may not have been able to afford them. The day was aptly named, “Give Back Day” and homeowners from the participating communities were awarded free home repairs.
“By helping to mitigate the violence we help make communities more livable and Give Back Day helps seniors’ homes become more livable as well,” says Stantley.
Under the supervision of their instructors from Allstate Concrete and Glasstek, the participants performed life safety repairs, painting, basic porch repairs, broken window glass replacement and much more. Besides the free home repairs, the recipients also received a hamper chocked full of home essentials. “We want the seniors who are the winners to know they are cared about and appreciated by organizations like ours, and the young adults who will make the repairs and the construction business owners who will guide the repairs. Life can deal a tragic blow to so many individuals who find themselves unable to manage basic repairs to their homes,” said Stantley.
On Sunday, June 30 twenty-four grateful and appreciative men and women received their certificates of completion, as their proud relatives and loved ones looked on. Armed with new skills and a new hope for a better future, Graduation Day symbolized the beginning of a new life for these young people.
Suzanne Stantley is a proven leader in business development, community engagement and collaboration and continues to be a vocal proponent of inclusion to open up the doors of opportunities for all who are prepared to meet the challenge and seek partnerships and alliances to solve problems. She recently was invited to the White House along with forty-nine other business owners from around the country to learn more about the Biden administration’s efforts in support of small businesses and communities around the country and was a guest on Yahoo! Finance where she discussed the visit.
