Evanston Leaders Gather at Curt's Cafe for Teen, Young Adult Issues

Community leaders from the City of Evanston, District 202, McGaw YMCA, Youth Job Center and other Evanston youth experts will be holding a panel discussion tonight at Curt's Cafe. 

Topics covered will include important issues young people face in today's world, and how resources in the community can better work together to support the city's youth. 

"We will be discussing the obstacles facing Evanston youth from being successful, and what community resources that may be lacking that could be beneficial to them," said Kim Hoopingarner, from Youth Job Center. 

Hoopingarner said more than 200 students at Evanston Township High School are classified as homeless, though that doesn't necessarily mean they are living on the streets. Many don't have permanent housing, and are living with friends or family. She added that 41-percent of those students are designated as low income and receive reduced or free lunches at school.

"We are trying to determine what else we can do to try and turn these statistics around," Hoopingarner said. 

There also will be a time to direct questions at the panel, which will include: 

• Bill Geiger, McGaw YMCA
• Kathy Lyons, The Moran Center
• Sacella Smith, Youth Job Center
• Kevin Brown, City of Evanston
• Melissa Carpenter, YOU
• Susan Trieschmann. Curt’s Cafe
• Dr. Eric Witherspoon, District 202, moderator

Curt's Cafe will host the event tonight at 6 p.m. and will be serving pizza and gourmet cookies.

The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. 

Please RSVP by contacting Kim Hoopingarner, Development Director, Youth Job Center: 847-864-5627 or khoopingarner@youthjobcenter.org

Information provided by Youth Job Center.