State of Our Youth 2026

Chicago can be a challenging place to grow up.

Too many youth — especially in communities on the South and West sides — live with high rates of poverty, violence, unemployment and homelessness. These historic inequities are evident in every measure of youth achievement and well-being, from kindergarten readiness to grade-level reading and math proficiency, to high school graduation rates and ultimately, to career success. Yet youth remain optimistic about their future, and it's on us to help them succeed.

Join A Better Chicago for a special event exploring the latest data trends and insights that shed light on what it means to be a young person living in Chicago.

Reception: 4-5PM

Program: 5-6:30PM

Moderator: Dr. Janice Jackson, Former CEO of Chicago Public Schools and Current ABC Board Member

Panelists:

• Hedy Chang, CEO of Attendance Works
• Barton Dassinger, Principal of Cesar Chavez High School
• Khari Viltz, Senior at George Westinghouse College Prep

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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