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Giving hope to 11th District youth
n BY ERIKA WURST
Reduce crime. Give hope.
This is the goal of officers in the 11th District, and one they strive to live by daily. Which is why two years ago, the District created a Cotillion/Botillion event that aims to inspire local youth to be their best selves.
For five weeks, 11 teenage girls and 10 teenage boys visited the 11th District’s station to learn how to waltz gracefully, eat properly, interview exceptionally and build self-esteem. The course culminated in a beautiful Cotillion/Botillion formal ban- quet held on May 19 at the Refectory in Chicago.
“A lot of youth in our area are not privy to this type of event. It’s a low-income area, and they don’t get to do things like this,” said Community Policing Sergeant Daniel Allen. “We want to give them the opportunity to get dressed up and get involved. We want young men to be gentlemen and for these young ladies to be treated like queens.”
The initiative is part of a citywide endeavor to “Bridge the Divide” between youth and law enforcement. The Cotillion is a tool that the 11th District decided to use to gain a rapport with local teens with two goals in mind: reducing crime and inspir- ing teens to be the best versions of themselves.
“When you have young people coming from this environ- ment and they finally get the feeling that they can be something special in life, it spreads like wildfire amongst their peers,” Allen said.
Only in its second year, interest in the Cotillion/Botillion event grew to more than 60 teens who have taken courses and danced the night away at the program’s culmination.
But the program’s completion doesn’t keep the kids from coming back. They stop by the station after school and inquire about upcoming events. They get involved in the Explorer pro- gram, peer juries and community policing initiatives.
Considering the frequency of crimes committed throughout the city by people between the ages of 11 and 21, this is a step in the right direction.
“The kids have been really excited about it. They get to see that a young African-American can have a great relationship with law enforcement,” Allen said. “The police and youth often have a bad relationship with each other.”
Not only are teens now fostering positive connections with their local officers, they’re building positive relationships with themselves. They get training in “21st-century qualities,” have to write essays about what they want to be in life and engage in résumé writing. They take etiquette classes and learn to dance like ladies and gentlemen.
“Everyone was extremely excited about it,” said Allen of the class participation.
He’s hoping that the concept attracts the attention of other West Side districts, which might collaborate on the program and Cotillion event.
“The success we’ve have had in the first two years has been incredible,” Allen said. “When it comes down to the various as- pects of how it impacts young people, the success is immeasur- able.” d
11th District Officers Martin Darryl (center) and Officer Wilma Santana (right) attended the event.
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JUNE 2018 55