WHY we're here...

Maywood, IL. -- Three 18-year-old men were killed and another man was injured in a shooting early Saturday in west suburban Maywood.

Police responded at 12:16 a.m. to a call of shots fired in the area of 19th and Harrison streets and found four young men shot in a parked car, according to Maywood police.

The four men were taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood where three of them died from their wounds.

Kent Flowers, of 1901 W. Harrison St. in Maywood, was pronounced dead at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood at 12:29 a.m., Oscar Pritchett, of 1010 S. 10th Ave. in Maywood, was pronounced dead at Loyola at 2:20 a.m. and Devin Stokes, of 1222 S. 16th Ave. in Maywood, was pronounced dead at Loyola at 1:41 a.m. All three were 18-years-old, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, which said the shooting took place at 1900 W. Harrison St. in Maywood.

A motive for the shootings is also not known and Maywood police are conducting a homicide investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (708) 450-4472.

Source: MyFox Chicago

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This was only one of several articles this weekend alerting us of the youth violence taking place in our fair city. This is why we're here, in all honesty and sincerity.

We here at Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection CARE about giving these children (the culprit as well as the victims) an outlet in which to learn, grow and express themselves by way of one-to-one mentor pairings, and interactive learning clubs such as art, technology, writing, video and dance in hopes that they receive what they need emotionally so that they may turn to better activities and live better lives than the ones they think are predestined to them. At 18 years old, the students in the prefacing story had barely gotten the chance to live. We aim for, and result in, more positive outcomes for our Chicago youth.

Many stories this weekend and over the last week called out for parents to volunteer their time at their child's school for after-school programs that focus on wholesome activities like art (drawing, painting, handcrafts,) dancing, sports and chess. EUREKA!! That's only what we have been doing here in these walls since 1993. And what we've been trying to build and expand upon with our database of other tutor/mentor programs across the city.

We thrive on the outreach, of parents being able to send their child SOMEWHERE that is safe, where they and their children can volunteer their time, gather, learn, have fun and LIVE. But these places, especially the approximate 400 programs we have listed in our Program Locator need funding. But once they have the monies, they need continued support, and a foundation of concerned citizens to create a board of directors, a president and hopefully passionate employees.

Please use our Zip Code Map to see what's available to kids in your area, and help us continue to create these outlets of outreach in efforts to save our children's lives.