From CBS News Chicago:
Games, swimming, and summer fun!
That's what nearly one hundred 15-year-olds living in Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) residences are experiencing as part of a Counselor-in-Training Program in partnership with the Chicago Park District.
And as CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reported Friday, life lessons are being learned among the fun.
For counselor-in-training Xavier Tarver, it's all hands on deck for this tie-dyeing project with kids in the summer camp program at Rainbow Beach Park.
"It's been a good experience with being around kids. Makes me feel good to have them learn something out of it. They can come here and they learn something."
Among the activities: indoor ball playing and swimming at Rainbow Beach. The Counselor-in-Training program is designed to get young people living in CHA housing into the workforce at an early age and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
"Every time I see these young people, I'm inspired. I try not to show tears in front of them because they would be tears of joy," said CHA CEO Tracey Scott, who explained the tears.
"Because often we focus on the negative, and there's so much possibility when you look at a young person, and we just want to support them, discovering that within themselves."
Read CBS News Chicago's article "Summer program for city teens: Counselor-in-Training project for CHA residents."