Waukegan’s Youth Conservation Corps Received $210,000 Grant

Waukegan’s Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a non-profit committed to providing Lake County’s young people with education, certification programs, and career development to build skills for life.

The program is tailored to young people ages 16-24 who have dropped out of high school and face other challenges, such as living in low-income homes, homelessness, and disabilities. Now, based on a track record of delivering success for Lake County residents, YCC has been rewarded with a $210,324 gun violence prevention grant.

According to YCC Executive Director Jennifer Yonan, the grant money will help young people make life choices to keep them safe. According to the Lake County News-Sun, Yonan said, “Many of our young people are living in fear. When people are living in fear, they turn to guns to enhance their feeling of safety.”

The YCC is now looking to hire a violence prevention coordinator as part of its initiative to support young individuals participating in its programs from Waukegan, North Chicago, and Zion. The aim is to empower these youths with the knowledge and skills necessary to make safe decisions and steer clear of hostile situations. The comprehensive effort will enhance essential life skills, such as stress management, effective communication, relationship building, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship.

The position of violence prevention coordinator is open to anyone with a high school diploma, but a college degree in social work is what the organization is truly looking for. Waukegan Watch lauds the efforts of the YCC in serving our community’s young people and congratulates them on successfully receiving such a significant grant to support a cause so vital to the community.