Better Boys Foundation - Chicago, Illinois

The Better Boys Foundation’s TEEN Program will reopen with the agency’s move to the new BBF Community Center.

How It Works

Academic-year programming hours will begin directly after school (2:30pm) and run into the early evening (8:30pm). During the summer months, the program will run from 12:30pm until 8:30pm. Enrollment is open to all North Lawndale teenagers who are currently attending high school. There are no participant fees. Van service home in the evenings is available at a cost of $5.00 per week.

With the resources available to us at the new BBF Community Center, we intend to increase service numbers across the range of our programs and to enhance those programs to prepare children and youth for success in the 21st century. Our TEEN Program is an agency focus, as we have had to limit dramatically our service offerings to teenagers while in our temporary quarters on 18th Street. We are all very excited about the new opportunities for available this age cohort. Among the new activities available to participating teenagers upon enrollment are the following:

Program Intake/Youth Interest & Asset Assessment
Art Classes
Voice Lessons/Youth Choir
MADD Rhythms Tap Dancing Academy @ BBF
Hip Hop Dance
Evening Book Clubs
TEEN Workshop Series
Summer Sports/Recreation

Programming

The bedrock of all out-of-school time programming at BBF has always been academic support. We will continue to offer Homework Help and Subject-Specific Tutoring to all participants in TEEN Program. Upper classmen who intend to pursue post-secondary education will also work directly with our BBF Memorial Scholarship Coordinator on College Planning and Preparation, including test preparation, school selection, school and scholarship application forms, and financial aid packages. We will also continue to offer Prevocational Training and Job Placement in the summer as well as a schedule of summer Field Trips and Cultural Excursions.

Our TEEN Program service delivery model is flexible and allows for individualized programming that aligns with commitments to school-based extracurricular activities and after-school and summertime job schedules. Teens can access those program offerings that meet their needs, interests and schedules.

For more information on TEEN Program or to make an appointment for pre-enrollment, contact Enna Jennings, Director, TEEN Program, at 773-542-7340 or enna.jennings@betterboys.org.