WEST LOOP — Former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan expressed concern for the current state of the city while commending the YMCA for creating more opportunities for children and teens at A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new organization's new center at 1030 W. Van Buren St. in the West Loop.
"Coming back here has been difficult," said the former Chicago Public Schools CEO. " I didn't think it could get worse, but it has. The level of fear, anger, and mistrust is high."
Now managing partner of the Emerson Collective — an organization focused on improving public education — Duncan has spent the last few months reacquainting himself with the city, particularly the South and West sides. He sees the new YMCA facility as a chance to improve the quality of life for Chicago's most vulnerable residents.
"I don't think the mayor, or the old police chief, or the new police chief, can fix this problem," said Duncan. "We can't arrest our way out of this. Young men who don't have hope have no reason not to pick up a gun. This isn't a problem for the police to solve."
Pointing out that the U.S. ranks 28th in the world in education, Duncan said that the YMCA's mission to provide and expand access to quality early childhood education programs makes all the difference.
"The average child from a poor family starts kindergarten a year to 18 months behind," said Duncan. "The fact that we allow this to happen in our nation is staggering."
The new $22.5 million YMCA Center will serve as a "living laboratory" and innovation hub, allowing the organization to test programs before implementing them in other facilities. The site will host an Early Childhood Demonstration Center, a learning institute, a Healthy Living Demonstration Kitchen, a fitness center, and a Teen Opportunity Center focused on adult mentoring and peer group activities.
The site, once home to the Jane Addams Hull House Association, was donated to the YMCA in 2014.
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