Latest news with #HopeHammond
CBS News
27-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
New Community Outreach uses peace circles to help young people in Bronzeville build relationships
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to gun violence in Chicago, but New Community Outreach is trying a less traditional technique that has seen growth and success. The bell that sounds and the lessons taught on the third floor of the Bronzeville Scholastic Institute aren't exactly traditional. "In the beginning of the year, some students were very apprehensive about what this space was," said circle keeper Hope Hammond. Instead of textbooks you'll find a nesting doll, baby Yoda and magic wand. "These are our talking pieces," said Sonia Wang, executive director of New Community Outreach. Her nonprofit's Knowledge Empowers Youth program, known as KEY, utilizes peace circles to show young people how to build relationships. They learn to trust each other, resolve conflicts, remain open to different perspectives and more. "Coming out of the pandemic, I know we talk about that a lot, these were skills that were missing," said Dr. Demetria Richardson-Starks, principal at Bronzeville Scholastic Institute. "They didn't know how to have face-to-face conversations or disagreements if that came about. They didn't know how to deal with those things." Richardson-Stark said the KEY program has filled a void at her school. Senior Janessa Savage agrees. "By the time you're done with your program for the first year, you're more vulnerable, you got a better connection, a better community with the people that you're around," she said. Savage is now a peace circle intern. "You're going through all the emotions: happy, sad, love. it feels like you feel seen in the circle," she said. In 2022, CBS News Chicago showed you the peace circle process happening inside the church that houses New Community Outreach. Since then, donations have helped the KEY program, which also includes bond-building games, expand into multiple high schools. They are focusing, very intentionally, on the Bronzeville neighborhood. "Community violence and systems of oppression has kind of been the undergird of its story," Wang said. "And in order for the people in that community to be able to move forward to flourish, I think it's important that we activate the power that's within us." The restorative justice approach is why this class looks and feels different than others. "It's symbolic of like, unity and we are here in this space together," Hammond said. The hope is to create more meaningful moments starting at a younger age. New Community Outreach recently ran a pilot with third graders that went so well, the plan is to add second graders to the roster next year. CBS News Chicago has partnered with Strides for Peace as the media sponsor for Chicago's Race Against Gun Violence in Grant Park on June 5. Click here for more information on the fundraiser, how to sign up and our coverage of participating nonprofits.
CBS News
12-02-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Cleanup underway in Delaware County after winter storm dumps 4 inches of snow
Residents in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, are digging out from Tuesday night's snowstorm. It was the fourth storm this winter with more than half an inch of snow. Upper Chichester resident Hope Hammond spent part of her Wednesday morning brushing snow off her car. She said cleaning up after snowstorms is starting to become routine. "I think we've had more snow this year than the last two years put together," Hammond said. The storm dumped almost four inches of snow in Upper Chichester. George Needles, Upper Chichester Township Manager, said crews worked overtime to plow the roads. "We put down about 56 tons of salt on the township roads," Needle said. "We've got quite a few township-owned roadways here, so that was pretty good." How many inches of snow did Philadelphia get? See which areas have the highest totals. Upper Chichester has already chewed through half of its salt supply, but Needles said there's still enough salt to get through the next few snowstorms. Albert Billinger is the owner of A&R Small Engine Repair, a company in Upper Chichester that repairs snow blowers and lawnmowers. He said he has been getting a lot more business this winter. "Last year we fixed probably in the range of 300 snow blowers," Billinger said. "This year we've gotten several more. We're probably in the 400 to 500 range." He said snow blowers break down when people use ethanol-blended gasoline, which causes corrosion. That's why he recommends ethanol-free gasoline. While the snow may be a headache for some, for 11-year-old Skyler Tascone from Aston, it was an excuse to have a great time. He and his 8-year-old sister went sledding on a hill near the Upper Chichester Municipal Building. "I still do have school today, but I just came out here so we could have some fun," Skyler said.
