Faith Leaders Donate to Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program

Members of the “Evanston Own It” initiative - a group of local faith leaders focused on reducing the amount of youth violence in the city - presented $13,500 in donations to the City of Evanston’s Youth & Youth Adult Division to help fund the 2016 Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program this week after raising the money from the June 19 choir concert “Evanston Sings.”

The donation was presented at the Evanston City Council meeting by Pastor Zollie Webb, Pastor Clifford Wilson and Reverend Patricia A. Efiom.

“We are committed to providing our youth with meaningful opportunities to come to know and be in partnership with the larger community. We believe that through ‘Evanston Own It’ we will help to create a stronger, safer Evanston,” said Rev. Efiom, of Ebenezer AME Church.

Throughout the year, faith organizations have hosted a series of educational and informational events and activities that encourage community involvement in reducing the amount of youth violence in Evanston. The faith organizations include Bethel AME Church, Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church, Ebenezer AME Church, Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, First Church of God Christian Life Center, Fisher Memorial AME Zion Church, Friendship Baptist Church, Mount Pisgah Ministry, Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, New Beginnings North Shore Church, New Hope CME Church, Second Baptist Church, Sherman United Methodist Church, and Springfield Baptist Church.