Memo to the Mayor: A Youth Podcast

For the Chicago Community Trust’s On the Table 2019 (“Memo to the Mayor”), Urban Gateways young people did the talking. The Street Level Cyphers, a podcasting group based at our youth media arts center, sat down with members of the Teen Arts Pass (TAP) Teen Council on Tuesday, May 14 to create their own podcast memo to Chicago’s new mayor – discussing issues affecting them and their communities. Topics included gentrification and affordable housing, raising the minimum wage, Chicago Public Schools, LGBTQ visibility, and of course, giving all young people access to the arts. They covered a lot of ground in just an hour; listen below to hear for yourself.

Street Level Program Manager Matt Woods summed up why the Street Level team & program participants felt it was important to host an On the Table conversation:

“Our On the Table event was a great reason to bring two of Urban Gateways’ youth programs together, Teen Arts Pass and Street Level. A Memo to the Mayor from our youth is a memo from the future of Chicago. There isn’t any strategic plan that can be completed without prioritizing our youth. There isn’t any evaluation of our city that is accurate without their voice. This podcast is for the new mayor but it served as a reminder. It reminded us of our young people’s insight, their perspectives, and their need, their right, to be heard. Special thanks to our host and youth participant, Shane Calvin.”

Thanks to On the Table organizer and Urban Gateways funder, the Chicago Community Trust!