Bridging the Divide

Where Youth & Law Enforcement Come Together

This dynamic and important program was developed to help facilitate an understanding between youth, law enforcement officials, and other community members. Through this program, the YMCA and community partners offer opportunities for dialogue through cafés, peace circles, and the exchange of photos and stories.

How It Works

A mutual appreciation between law enforcement officers and young people saves lives. However, distrust between these two groups is a serious and persistent problem in many communities. The importance of healthy youth-police relationships is what continues to encourage the Y and local police departments to build and sustain effective partnerships through Bridging The Divide. We successfully work together as a unified team in order to improve young people’s lives.

Bridging The Divide Is Only Possible With Your Help

It is only through the support from our foundation, corporate partners, and private donations that we are able to do this important work.

How It All Began

Bridging the Divide was developed by the Youth Safety and Violence Prevention (YSVP) program at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago and the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) program of the CPD. Other initial contributors include Judge Colleen Sheehan, Universidad Popular, Enlace Chicago, Firehouse Community Arts Center, Claretian Associates, South Chicago Arts Center, and the North Lawndale Employment Network.

This effort is supported by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission, the Illinois Collaboration on Youth, and Allstate.