Overview
- The Get Summer program was announced Wednesday and will run June 8 through Aug. 31, offering free YMCA memberships to Chicago residents ages 12 to 18 at seven city Y locations.
- To enroll teens must show proof of Chicago residency and be accompanied by an adult during registration, and existing YMCA members will receive complimentary admission in July and August.
- YMCA officials hope to serve roughly 5,000 teens through the program across Irving Park, Kelly Hall, Lake View, McCormick, Rauner Family, South Side and West Garfield Park Ys.
- Philanthropic support includes a $250,000 Summer Opportunity Fund from Mielle Cares to back youth-centered gatherings and programming tied to the initiative.
- The program responds to Memorial Day weekend gatherings that produced injuries, shootings and arrests, and city leaders say they will watch whether increased supervised space, outreach and jobs reduce unsupervised street gatherings while debate over curfews and enforcement continues.