Youth-led program that breaks the cycle of violence is looking for donations after a loss of funding

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A program for mental health and violence prevention, serving South Side elementary schools, is now looking for donations, after a loss of funding.

Each year since 2017, mentors with the non-profit Rebels for Peace , have gone into South Side elementary schools to teach younger kids how to rebel against a normalization of anger and violence in their communities, said founder Prince Jimmar.

“I love working with the kiddos. They're my favorite part of my day,” Malina Navarete said.

She is a bilingual mentor with Rebels for Peace. Her eyes welled up with tears as she talked about the loss of grant funding that had for years allowed small teams of Rebels for Peace mentors to facilitate their community based brand of mental health outreach and violence prevention in CPS schools. The program has expanded to six South Side elementary schools, with a reach of about 700 children.

The Rebels for Peace mentors in their late teens and early 20’s, just like Malina have found ways to overcome the same day-to-day obstacles faced by the children they serve.

“I didn't have – there was no parents at home. So it was me raising my brothers and myself at the same time,” Malina said.

“So, I very much know that dynamic of being the only voice in your home and still having to go to school and still having to come back. And it was tough because you're going through things and you don't even know what to do. You're like lost.”

Ultimately, Rebels for Peace serves as that guide for youth who need it, helping them cope with their feelings in a healthy way and to make decisions that will help them reach their goals.

As school began this year, the program is now seeking new donors. The cost of bringing this Social Emotional Learning skills program running at about $50,000 per school, per year.

“They're going to be missing out on the consistency that the facilitators bring. They're going to be missing out on an opportunity to learn about their emotional intelligence, which enhances the decisions that they make on a day-to-day,” Jimmar said.

Donations can be made on the Rebels for Peace website here.

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