About Us
Vision
The Peace For Preston Foundation aspires to contribute to the improvement of the City of Chicago to build a safe, sustainable, equitable and more secure future for all.
Mission
Peace For Preston Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and enrichment to the City of Chicago for youth and communities through established programs. Our mission is to uphold the legacy of Aréanah Preston, and her effortless work to inspire youth, empower communities and protect the future of the next generation.
THE NEED
According to the Office of Juvenile and Delinquency Prevention, violent crimes by youth occur most frequently in the after school hours on school days and in the evenings on non-school days. “On non-school days, the incidence of violence committed by youth increases through the afternoon and early evening hours, peaking between 6pm and 9pm. Consequently, efforts to reduce offending by youth after school would appear to have greater potential to decrease a community’s violent crime rate than curfews” (OJJDP, 2022).
Four Chicago teenagers are responsible for Aréanah’s murder. While we are troubled by Aré’s murder, it is even more troubling that this was done at the hands of youth in our very own community. We can’t help but wonder the support these youth had, or the lack thereof, that caused this tragedy.
Fueled by the pain of losing such a phenomenal being and the statistics impacting our youth, the Peace For Preston Foundation is committed to establishing a community center on the city’s South Side to provide a safe haven and quality programs and enrichment.
The Peace For Preston Foundation seeks to build a Community Center to offer supports and services including, but not limited to:
Open Gym, Before & After School Programs to Allow Children a Safe Haven to Play Off of the Streets
Girls & Boys Mentorship Opportunities
Community Outreach Events such as Back to School Picnics and Giveaways
Gun Violence Prevention Walks and Sporting Events
Collaboration with the Chicago Police Department for Safety Promotion & Community Awareness
Scholarships, with an Emphasis on Forensic Science, Criminal Justice or Law
Mental Health Awareness Programs and Support
Full Kitchen Access to Feed the Community
Trade School Courses to Produce Job Opportunities in STEM
Community Courses related to Parenting, Arts, Painting, Entrepreneurship, Homeownership, Financial Literacy and Etiquette
Summer Camps
Career Building
Move Your Body, Dance Courses for all Ages
Tutoring
Delivering Sustainable Health Care
Medical and Dental Events to Promote Community Health
Food & Blood Drives
GED Courses and Testing
Spirituality and Faith Based Learning
College Planning Support and Tours
Prom Wear Giveaways
OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/offenders/qa03301.asp?qaDate=2019. Released on April 18, 2022.
