Youthfront Neighborhood Archives

Making a Splash: Middle schoolers’ dream for pool equity propels change for local elementary kids

A greater portion of January was spent bundling up and covering every exposed appendage from the extremes of the polar vortex. But on Wednesday afternoons, the kids in Youthfront Neighborhood’s Adventure Academy afterschool program in Argentine donned swimming suits as they splashed around the pool during swimming lessons at the YMCA. Peals of laughter and delight ricocheted across the surface of the water from every corner. A handful of the kids demonstrated a comfortable ease twisting and turning about on the surface like river otters. A greater portion of the kids sported big smiles, but simultaneously maintained a clawed, death grip on the pool lip. And finally, a few of the kids approached the water in full-fledged panic, convinced that this day would be their last.

Faith for Generations

A historic church with an aging congregation made a generous act of faith recently. And as a result, their gift will allow God’s work to continue in the Argentine neighborhood for generations to come.

Turning Points

By Kurt Rietema

A Summer to Remember

As a kid, I was a decent enough student that the possibility of summer school was never a real one. Still, the threat of it loomed irrationally large in my mind. Nothing could be worse than to be locked indoors doing time knowing my friends were dallying in the sand and sun while I served my sentence for failing grades.

That’s Life

Kiké’s bus was departing at 10:20pm, the last time we would likely ever see him again. It would take him back to a family and a life in Mexico that he hadn’t known in more than 8 years. It’s a devil’s bargain, but one that nearly every immigrant family is confronted with. As one of my neighbor’s puts it: “In Mexico, you work all week to eat for a day. Here, you work one day and eat all week.” Yet in exchange for those higher wages, immigrants pay a steep price tag.

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