Chicago's South Shore Sees Sudden Drop in Homicides, But Funding Shortfalls Threaten Progress.
Mayor Brandon Johnson recently took a walk through the troubled neighborhood to highlight its recent decrease in homicides, part of a broader citywide trend that has seen killings fall to their lowest level in decades. However, during his stroll on Tuesday morning, Johnson was met with a stark reminder of the area's long-standing issues and the need for more funding.
Social service workers and community leaders gathered with Johnson, expressing their concerns about the lack of funding for programs like mentorship initiatives that have been instrumental in reducing violent crime. LaVonte Stewart, executive director of Lost Boyz Inc., a sports and mentorship program, was particularly vocal about his organization's struggles to find city funding.
"We need funding, proper funding, sir, so we can do what we need to do and keep the work going," Stewart said during the meeting with Johnson. "We're hurting over here, Mr. Mayor." Stewart revealed that he had to lay off 60% of his staff after pandemic stimulus funds ran out last year.
Johnson pointed to the Greater Grand Crossing police district as a model for community-led efforts to reduce violent crime, but critics argue that this success is not sustainable without increased funding. The district saw a 53.9% decrease in homicides last year compared to 2024, according to Chicago police data. Johnson emphasized the need for continued investments in youth employment programs, mental health services, and small-business opportunities.
However, community leaders are worried that much of the existing city funding may not be reaching the South Shore area effectively. Lawrence Hall's Sean McGinnis expressed concern about losing a successful mentorship program after the city rejected their grant application.
The source of increased funding for these initiatives remains uncertain, with Johnson having previously called on Springfield and local philanthropists to step up. While Johnson acknowledged issues with funding distribution, he stressed his commitment to addressing the needs of South Shore and ensuring that investments in public education and critical services continue to drive progress in reducing violence.
Mayor Brandon Johnson recently took a walk through the troubled neighborhood to highlight its recent decrease in homicides, part of a broader citywide trend that has seen killings fall to their lowest level in decades. However, during his stroll on Tuesday morning, Johnson was met with a stark reminder of the area's long-standing issues and the need for more funding.
Social service workers and community leaders gathered with Johnson, expressing their concerns about the lack of funding for programs like mentorship initiatives that have been instrumental in reducing violent crime. LaVonte Stewart, executive director of Lost Boyz Inc., a sports and mentorship program, was particularly vocal about his organization's struggles to find city funding.
"We need funding, proper funding, sir, so we can do what we need to do and keep the work going," Stewart said during the meeting with Johnson. "We're hurting over here, Mr. Mayor." Stewart revealed that he had to lay off 60% of his staff after pandemic stimulus funds ran out last year.
Johnson pointed to the Greater Grand Crossing police district as a model for community-led efforts to reduce violent crime, but critics argue that this success is not sustainable without increased funding. The district saw a 53.9% decrease in homicides last year compared to 2024, according to Chicago police data. Johnson emphasized the need for continued investments in youth employment programs, mental health services, and small-business opportunities.
However, community leaders are worried that much of the existing city funding may not be reaching the South Shore area effectively. Lawrence Hall's Sean McGinnis expressed concern about losing a successful mentorship program after the city rejected their grant application.
The source of increased funding for these initiatives remains uncertain, with Johnson having previously called on Springfield and local philanthropists to step up. While Johnson acknowledged issues with funding distribution, he stressed his commitment to addressing the needs of South Shore and ensuring that investments in public education and critical services continue to drive progress in reducing violence.
its kinda weird how much of a difference some funding can make in places like south shore... like i remember reading about gentrification happening in chicago back in 2019 
and now its making waves that programs like lost boyz inc are struggling to stay afloat 
the thing is though, even with all this progress, theres still so much work to be done & i'm not sure if we should be relying too heavily on philanthropy for change... 
what do u think?
. seems like we're just patching holes in the system rather than solving the root cause of the problem 
. why can't they just find a way to make sure funding gets where it's needed without all these mixed messages 
?
Like, 60% of staff had to go because stimulus money dried up? That's not cool at all 