CHICAGO — Vaccination programs continue to work through the most vulnerable and highest priority populations. But many social service workers are still waiting, all the while continuing to support at-risk populations in their communities.

For 15-year-old Kenneth Tolliver, regular in-person meetings with his mentors have kept him tethered during the pandemic.

“In-person talking is better than over the phone because I know that they're really talking to me,” said Tolliver. “They really listen to what I'm saying.”

Since the seventh grade, Tolliver has been a part of the youth development program at UCAN Chicago on the city’s west side.

“Our vision is that youth who have suffered trauma can become future leaders,” explained Claude Robinson, UCAN’s executive vice president of external affairs and diversity.

For more than 150 years, the nonprofit has supported young people struggling in Black and brown communities to reach their untapped potential.

“Here on this campus, [we have] violence intervention, prevention our transitional teen services our alumni services, and then also, our therapeutic youth home, where we house up to 70 young people,” said Robinson.

When the pandemic hit, UCAN’s interactions with children increased. None were in school.

“We've had to adjust how we approach community,” said Robinson. “One of the ways that we did that was through becoming like a temporary food distribution site.”

They did what they could remotely, while also distributing PPE and raising virus awareness while continuing to work face-to-face with at-risk youth.

“It's always a risk,” said youth development counselor Isaiah Brooks, whose job is to engage with young people on the streets.

Brooks says it was a dangerous part of the job, even before the virus.

“You'd never know while you were walking up talking to them. It can be one of their guys who, they’re ‘opps,' could come through shooting,” he explained.

For Toliver, though, his connection to Brooks during the pandemic has helped him weather the storm of isolation and helped him stay out of trouble.

“Isaiah is always here for me every time I need him. I know I can call for anything I need,” said Tolliver.

It took some lobbying to get the state to acknowledge that the services UCAN provides are essential. They’ve recently been bumped up on the vaccine priority list.

Robinson says amid a push for equality in America, the COVID-19 crisis has only increased its resolve to support the community.

“It illuminated our purpose and our mission and vision even more, that we needed to be in community, in service, at the time when it's needed the most.”

CHICAGO — Courage and persistence are just two qualities that embody the grit and determination necessary for success. For the last 25 years, a youth development program has been teaching thousands of children these core values in a unique way.

With their safety pads strapped and bright green helmets in place, a group of 11 to 13-year-olds learn the basics of skateboarding.

But administrators say it’s more than just that.

“Our mission is to help kids overcome challenges through board sports,” said Spencer Cotton, a program coordinator for the Chill Foundation in Chicago. “So, we do skateboarding, we do surfing, stand up paddleboarding, and as well as snowboarding.”

Each year, 3,000 children around the world take part in the Chill Foundation’s unique youth development program.

“We have different youth that comes from all different backgrounds. So, this may be even their first time experiencing a board sport,” said Cotton.

The aim is to help them focus their energy positively and to find ways to overcome personal obstacles.

“A lot of the things I'll focus on with them is making sure that, A, the confidence is going to be present there and that that grit is also present,” said program mentor Karina Campos.

Chill currently offers programs in 24 cities in 10 countries throughout the world, including in Denver, Salt Lake City, Baltimore, Grand Rapids and Chicago.

Through board sports, they focus on six core values.

“Respect, courage, persistence, patience, responsibility, and pride,” said Cotton.

A lot of times that means falling but not giving up.

“Having that courage is definitely vital to helping them get through the skateboarding program and also throughout life,” he said.

“That's super important for me that they understand that they are not failing,” said Campos. “They're overcoming that small little challenge and if they're falling, it's because they're progressing.”

Jalaya Williams has taken several tumbles on this day.

“From the ramps itself, probably four to five.”

But the rambunctious 11-year-old has no intention of yielding to the halfpipes or the boards, and she wants to learn more tricks.

“Definitely, learn more tricks. I learned how to do like the one you like, flip the skateboard over when you jump. I learned that one. Haven't done it in a while due to COVID and stuff.”

The program is also about cultivating camaraderie.

"Being with the other girls is fun because we all help each other out and none of us laugh at each other when we fall,” said 12-year-old participant Eryn Gibson. “So, if we do fall, it's not sad because we'll just pick each other up again.”

Noble life lessons we all could learn from.