Retro Bash V: "In The Mood"
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As part of our 30th anniversary celebration, a special award
will be presented at the Retro Bash to CEP Youth Leadership's founder,
will be presented at the Retro Bash to CEP Youth Leadership's founder,
Friday, April 25, 2008 6:30 - 11:00 p.m. Burke Beverage 4900 S. Vernon Avenue McCook
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Catherine Menninger
who spoke recently about youth services, the organization she launched, and more . . .
who spoke recently about youth services, the organization she launched, and more . . .
"When the Y decided in 1977 to discontinue its social-service program (CEP), a group of community members felt strongly that it should continue as an independent agency for youth.
“It was an exciting time for all of us involved in launching this new, independent organization: We were incorporated in February of 1978, we moved into our new home in the basement of the First Baptist Church and began operations in May of '78. We now had more freedom to try different
“It was an exciting time for all of us involved in launching this new, independent organization: We were incorporated in February of 1978, we moved into our new home in the basement of the First Baptist Church and began operations in May of '78. We now had more freedom to try different
approaches to youth, and all of us were excited about starting something from the ground up.
"Because our staff was so youth-oriented, and spent a lot of time hanging out with kids all over the community, we were sometimes criticized as being too 'alternative.' But when we received our first United Way grant in 1982, and then a grant from Chicago Community Trust soon after, we also gained a higher level of legitimacy throughout the community.
“It’s always been important for CEP’s programming to evolve in response to the needs of local youth. Although our initial focus was primarily on ‘troubled’ youth, we soon began reaching out to a larger, more diverse youth audience, teaching them all to build positive relationships with each other and grow into leaders.
"Because our staff was so youth-oriented, and spent a lot of time hanging out with kids all over the community, we were sometimes criticized as being too 'alternative.' But when we received our first United Way grant in 1982, and then a grant from Chicago Community Trust soon after, we also gained a higher level of legitimacy throughout the community.
“It’s always been important for CEP’s programming to evolve in response to the needs of local youth. Although our initial focus was primarily on ‘troubled’ youth, we soon began reaching out to a larger, more diverse youth audience, teaching them all to build positive relationships with each other and grow into leaders.
“It was a great ride. I enjoyed my years with CEP. I never minded going to work each morning, I knew there was always something interesting happening. Once you start working with kids you find you can’t give it up. It’s energizing, it’s hopeful and keeps you young. Plus, young people are funny, and fun to work with, even when the work is hard. And because they are young enough their problems can still be solved, you feel a sense of hope in working with them.”
“I got involved and stayed involved with CEP because my friends and I care about the ‘underdog’--in this case, the youth of our community who needed more support than they were getting. Remember, back when we started children were to be seen as little as possible and not heard at all. But our youth really need relationship skills, and they need to interact with non-authoritarian adults. That’s what we set out to give them.
“I got involved and stayed involved with CEP because my friends and I care about the ‘underdog’--in this case, the youth of our community who needed more support than they were getting. Remember, back when we started children were to be seen as little as possible and not heard at all. But our youth really need relationship skills, and they need to interact with non-authoritarian adults. That’s what we set out to give them.
"We also saw the need to treat young people with respect, and the rewards of doing so. Nearly every time we gave them some responsibility they handled it well, and I believe I know why: because we were acknowledging that they could do it, that they could go beyond what seemed to be their limitations. In the end I think they surprised themselves with their accomplishments more than they surprised the staff.
