Fiscal Year 2012 Annual Report

Alternatives, Inc.
2011-12 Annual Report
A Note from our Executive Director
Dear Friends,
After more than 30 years as executive director of Alternatives, Inc., I have a very long
list of high points and amazing moments involving the young people who pass through
our doors. This year, I got to add a new highlight as we had the honor of hosting internationally renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma at the Alternatives, Inc. Youth and Family Center.
Following a performance by our breakdance performance group, Mr. Ma interviewed
one of the performers. The following is an excerpt from that remarkable interview.
Yo-Yo Ma: Tell me something. When you’re doing this, what are you thinking?
Freddie: Well, when I break, a lot of negative energy goes out of me and a lot of
positive energy comes back in to me. And I express my energy on the floor.
Yo-Yo Ma: Can you give me an example?
Freddie: In school, I go through a lot of stress, and when I break, I just let all that stuff
flow over me. When I break, I’m a new person. In school, I’m Freddie. When I break, I’m
the Alchemist.
Yo-Yo Ma: Wow. So when you break, you make magic?
Freddie: Yes. Yes.
Watching Mr. Ma watch our youth perform and seeing the ways in which they so
effortlessly impressed him simply by doing what they love and exhibiting the skills
they’ve honed here at Alternatives – not only their artistic skills but also public speaking, self-confidence, and dedication to learning – was a new high point for me, and a
great experience for everyone in attendance that night.
Whether it is through a school-based peer jury, a hip-hop arts program, an anger
management group, a girls-only research project, a first job learning to make digital
films, family counseling to address substance use, or any of our other youth-focused programs, Alternatives prepares young people to launch and lead successful, productive
adult lives. And I, for one, feel privileged to witness and help to make that possible.
Thank you for the part that you play in making these moments and so much more
possible for our young people.
Sincerely,
Judith M. Gall
Executive Director
2011-2012 Board of Directors
David Levine
Board President
Catherine E. Wilson, Psy.D.
Board Vice President
Darran Wee
Board Secretary
Keith Bevans
Michael Cramarosso
Larry Damron
Randall Doubet-King
Ozzie Godinez
Justine Knizeski
Sabrina Lee
Daniel Levis
Ellen Sadur
Laurence A. Sophian
Catherine S. Weidner
Yo-Yo Ma’s visit, along with the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Civic
Orchestra, to the Alternatives’ Youth
Center was an amazing experience
for all of our youth and staff.
88% of Youth across all
programs report getting
along better with others
who are different from
themselves.
82% of Youth in Tech Programs
said they have a clearer picture
of what they would like to be
doing in the future than before
participating in the program. 100% of Youth in Career and
Employment Services said they
set higher goals for themselves
than before participating in
the program.
92% of Girl World
participants said they
learned how to work in
a group or as a team to
accomplish a goal.
B’s Story
After being a referred “repeat offender” in his sophomore and
junior years, B became one of the best Circle Keepers in the
Restorative Justice program at Senn High School.
After finding himself in conflict with other students, B was referred for
peer mediation on more than one occasion. By senior year, he
decided to enter the circle in another capacity: he joined the
program and became trained as a student Circle Keeper.
Now B uses his past experiences as sources of wisdom and empathy
to guide his peers through similar situations. Not only has he heard
more cases than any other Circle Keeper this year, but he also routinely involves himself in after- and out-of-school RJ programming,
including supplemental trainings and related film screenings. He even
recruits friends to participate.
91% of Restorative Justice Peace
Keepers say they feel more
comfortable communicating both
with peers and adults than before
participating in this program.
91% of Youth receiving
counseling through our
Clinical department
report improvement in
their ability to resolve
conflicts with family,
friends, and/or teachers.
M’s Story
M, a 19 year-old Latino student at Roosevelt High School, is a client
whose story is typical of many youth we serve. M’s family has always
been gang-involved. After a close relative was killed, M decided to
join the gang as well. He stopped attending school regularly and began failing his classes. Following the deaths of several close friends,
and just before entering therapy with Alternatives, M decided to
distance himself from his gang-affiliated family members and made
the decision to leave the gang. He self-referred to the school-based
health center to receive support, working with a therapist to address
ongoing anger, grief and loss, and substance use. M often told his
therapist that his goal was to “get my life back on track.”
He has since stopped using marijuana and is working toward abstinence from alcohol as well. He began to create a positive community and engage in positive activities recommended by his therapist.
M participated in After School Matters, working as support staff at
a daycare over the summer and now participates in school plays,
sports, the Tech Crew and the Health Club. He is involved with ROTC
and plans to join the Air Force after graduating from high school.
While M lost an entire academic year’s worth of school credit, he
was determined to graduate “the right way,” even though it will
meant participating in both night and summer school. He graduated
in August of 2012.
We’re expanding to
serve youth across
the city of Chicago
Youth Served, By Program
Program
# of Youth Served
Career & Employment Services 409
Connect Force 301
Counseling 1,097
Family Intervention Services
63
Girl World79
Prevention Programs 580
Restorative Justice 449
2011-12 Total2,978
“Being able to express myself fully and
feel safe and comfortable.”
“Learning how to disagree.”
“I’ve learned to be patient, that’s one of
the best things! Alternatives helped me
set goals for myself in regards to eating
healthy.”
“The best thing was helping me solve problems that
couldn’t be solved.”
“To get the support needed at this
time of my life.”
“Working in groups and
solving real life problems.”
We asked youth “What is the best thing
you’ve done at Alternatives?”
“Working with other people and
having other people look up to
me as a leader and a role model.”
“Set specific goals that I intend
to reach.”
“I learn how to set goals for myself and respect the people around me.”
“Helping out my community.”
“Coping with anger.”
“The best part of Alternatives is that it’s a
safe place in my neighborhood and it’s also a
“Be able to express my feelings with safe place to be myself and the best thing I’ve
done is hopefully helped my community with
someone who won’t judge me.”
the things we did in our program.”
Thank you to our donors!
$50,000+
Anonymous
Charles E. Marks Jr. Charitable Trust
Michael Reese Health Trust
Polk Bros. Foundation
Topfer Family Foundation
Wallace Foundation
$25,000-49,999
Target Foundation
WGN-Neediest Kids Fund
$10,000-24,999
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
The Comcast Foundation
Eileen Fisher (Corporate office)
Friends of Northside College Prep
Ravenswood Health Care Foundation
Albert J. and Claire R. Speh Foundation
Whole Foods
$5,000-9,999
Chicago Office Technology Group
Caleb A. Drake
Justine Knizeski
Dr. Scholl Foundation
Toys R Us
Ventas Charitable Foundation
$1,000-4,999
Anonymous (2)
Associated Bank
BAT 11
Keith and Natasha Bevans
Larry and Char Damron
Peter and Lou Dickson
Randall and Sally Doubet-King
Dr. Scholl Foundation
Caleb A. Drake
George M. Eisenberg Foundation
David and Pamela Harrington
Jack Ringer Family Foundation
Ann Kennedy
Sabrina Lee Edelhauser
David Levine
PACO Communications
Simon Perutz
Carol Ryan
Ellen Sadur
Shefsky & Froelich Foundation
LaurenceSophian
Toys R Us
CatherineWeidner
JoshuaWendler
Steve Wilcox
Mary Wilson
$100-999
Alford Group
Jason Apple
Associated Agencies
Glenn Azuma
Julie Badel
Jeremy and Beth Beard
Geoffrey and Kirsten Belzer
Pamela Bergdall
SuzanneBessette-Smith
MarshallBlankenship
Jackie and Demetrius Bonin
Jean and Anthony Borrelli
Bridgeview Bank Group
Mindy and Steve Buecking
R. Peter Carey
Antonio Casillas
Tiffany Chiang
Chicago Foundation for Women
Wendy Cohen
Lindsay Cox
Cy Peiser Foundation
Joi Darcel Mitchell
Eugene S. & Elizabeth De Gryse Buino Charitable Fdn.
Darien DeLorenzo
Bill Dolnick
J. Scott and Rebecca Etzler
Fannie Mae SERVE Matching Gift Don.
Fig Media
Stephanie Frank
Denise Gardner
Meredith George
Michael Glass
Patrick Gleason
Thomas Goforth
Traci Hailpern
Ham Bingo
Joseph M. Higgins
Mary Hoffman
Hollywood Casino Aurora
John Holman
Richard and Judith Homer
Molly Horan
Lily Hwang
InterCall
Allana Jackson
Stephen Jensik
Jeffrey and Marianne Johnson
Adrianne and Paul Johnson
Darlene Johnson
Carolanne Joseph
Maribeth Joy McManus
Alexandra Kavalos-Horowitz
Harry and Theresa Kekatos
Marvin Korves
Kraft Foods Foundation
Nelia Ladlad
Daniel Levis
Ascher Levy
Priscilla Lizasuain
Bridget Lyons
Mindy Malecki
Kerri McClimen
David and Sarah McConnell
Ann & Tracy McCoy
Don McIntosh
David McLaughlin
Kathleen McLaughlin
Larry McLaughlin
Karen Mertig
Charles Michalek
Lindsay Miller
Ed Miller
SalvadorMireles
William Muenster
Chetan Negandhi
Barbara O’Brien Yale
Matthew and Barbara O’Hara
Linda Olson
Pauline Warren & Joan Castle Found.
Saralyn Peritz
Revelle Peritz
Susan Peters
Valerie Pierce
Mary Pounder
Laura Reed
David Rosen
Richard Rutschman
David Satin
Sid and Elizabeth Schenkier
Ken & Marilyn Schroeder
Kenneth Schroeder
Gordon Schulz
Amanda Seward
Sally and FrederickSgrosso
Ed and Laurel Shapiro
Shirley Shechtman
Rita Simo
David Single
William Spence
Joyce Stadter
Heather Steans
Greg Stiener
Ginny Sykes
Tax Pros
Ana Tharakan
Carl Tisone
Andrew and Lisa Tonachel
Ernie Toth
Matthew Trager
Laura Tucker
Gordon and Mary Vance
VOA Associates Incorporated
Michelle Vos
Judson P. Vosburg
Darran Wee
Betty and Stanley Weinberger
Blair Wellensiek
Richard W. Westerfield
Constance and Hugh Williams
Catherine Wilson
Wendy and Stuart Witzel
$25-$99
K.E. Bethel
Bruce Buchholz
Laurie Buchholz
Kyung Hee and Seong You Byun
Carolina Caligiuri
Katie Chiu
Janice Collier
Teresa Cortas
Lynne Cramer
Lynn Danford
Jane Dewey
Sarah Dlouhy
Nancy Ebert
Dorcas A.Edge
Robin Fine
Laura Fransen
Sylvia Garcia
Marcy Hackbarth
Colleen Harrington
Jeannie and Kenneth Helgesen
Vivian Hernandez
Rebecca Hernandez
Andrew Hilsberg
Lynn Hyndman
Bharathi Jayaram
Heidi and Mitchell Kiesler
Bruce Krippner
Philip and Judith Kuebbeler
ElizabethLaundy
Robert and Carol Lifton
Kerry Lisman
Robert Mertig
David and Clarice Mittelman
Gloria Monroy
Marjorie Morrissey
Naoki & Leah Nakamura
Gail Nelson
Carl and ConstanceNelson
Danny Nelson
Emma Nowacki
Brad Obermeyer
Leslie Ostrander
Norman Patinkin
Jessica Paulsen
Beth and Bernard Raap
Kristen Roberts
Nancy Rose
Robert Rubenstein
Sarah Ruey
Thomas Schneider
Sally Sharp
Allen Shechtman
Joe and Elizabeth Silverman
Roderick Simms
Marcia Smith
Jennifer and Jeremy Titus
Karla and Clint Twedt-Ball
Karen Villanueva
Katrina Weimholt
Sean Wilhelm
Jonathan Yancey
Susan Zeigler
Lois and Edmond Zisook
Contracts & Public Grants
After School Matters
Banner Education Group
Chicago Area Project
City of Chicago
Board of Education, Chicago Public Schools
Department of Family and Support Services
Neighborhood Arts Program
Friends of Northside College Prep
Heartland Health Centers
Howard Area Community Center
Illinois Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention
Illinois Department of Human Services
Division of Community Health & Prevention
Division of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse
Illinios State University
Illinois Violence Prevention Authority (through
Albany Park Community Center and Organization of
the Northeast)
Lurie Children’s Hospital
The Night Ministry
One Economy
Serve Illinois Commission on
Volunteerism and
Community Service
Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services
Administration (SAMSA)
University of Illinois (through
Simpson Academy for
Young Women)
Youth Network Council
In-kind donations
3639 Wrigley Rooftop
Annoyance Theater
Awesomely Creations
B3 Terrariums
Laura Berger
Betsy Design
Bloom Yoga
Brew Camp
Brixen Ivy Rooftop
Cafe Selmarie
Ceres Table
Chicago Architecture Foundation
Chicago Children’s Museum
Chicago Creations
Chicago Office of Tourism & Culture
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Cisco Computer Systems
Rachel Claff
Clever Days
Court Theatre
Crumbaugh Ceramics
Curves Uptown South
Sabrina Lee Edelhauser
Angela Fegan
Judith M. Gall
Gooch Too Photography
PC Gooden-Smiley
Jennifer and Jeremy Titus
Johnathan Breitung Salon & Spa
Juliet Jewelry
Melissa Jordan
Richard Kewitz
Kopi Cafe
Language Stars
Lehman School of Dance
Lillstreet Art Center
Lilypop
LuxCamena
Lynfred Winery
Magnolia Cafe
Microsoft Corporation
Millennium Garages
MoMoPics
Tina Moran
Music Box Theater
Nancy Nikko Design
Bruce Nelson
Oceanique
Old Town School of Folk Music
Megan Owdom-Weitz
Rich Panico
Saralyn Peritz
One Stinkin’ Petunia
Posh Pipsqueak
Prince Chicago Design
Ravinia
Ritz-Carlton Hotel
Mary Scott
Story Studio Chicago
The Rosenthal Group
Too Cute by Davey Dreamer
Trader Joe’s Lake Zurich
Trixy Xchange
Uncommon Ground
Uptown ACE Hardware
Victory Gardens Theater
WBEZ-FM Chicago Public Radio
Catherine Weidner
Whole Foods
Catherine Wilson
WillOaks Studio
Women And Children First
Barbara O’Brien Yale
Rebecca Zemans
Alternatives, Inc FY12 Financial Summary
Fiscal Year 2012 Totals
Revenue: $2,974,917
Expenses: $2,697,643
Merry Music Makers, Inc.
Established in direct response to the needs of
area youth, Alternatives, Inc. has stood as a
model for Chicago’s youth services field since
1971. Our mission is to facilitate personal
development, strengthen family relationships
and enhance the community’s well-being.
For more information or to donate, please
visit us at www.alternativesyouth.org.
Alternatives, Inc.
4730 North Sheridan Road
Chicago, Illinois 60640
773-506-7474