Chicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson Cuts Ribbon At After School Matters’ Orleans Teen Center In Cabrini-Green
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CHICAGO — Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at After School Matter's newly completed Orleans Teen Center in the Cabrini-Green community on the Near North Side. The City-backed project transformed a former Catholic school building into a world class youth programming center that will provide approximately 2,100 Chicago teens paid out-of-school time opportunities annually. Mayor Johnson joined After School Matters (ASM) CEO Mary Ellen Caron, Alderman Walter Redmond Burnett (27th), Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, and Chicago Department of Planning and Development (DPD) Commissioner Ciere Boatright to mark the occasion.

"This new Cabrini teen center is more than a building—it's a promise to our youth that their city believes in them." said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "When young people are provided with opportunities and support outside of school they are better prepared for success as they progress through life. Today's ceremony marks a momentous step forward in our mission to ensure every young Chicagoan is provided the opportunity to develop new skills and grow as individuals."

"For nearly 35 years, After School Matters has provided safe, engaging spaces where teens can discover their potential and be themselves," said After School Matters CEO Mary Ellen Caron. "With the opening of the Orleans teen center, we're deepening that commitment—bringing more opportunities, creativity, and connection to the heart of Chicago."

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Today's ribbon cutting marks a crucial step forward in the revitalization of the Cabrini community and surrounding Near North Side community. The teen center will create new community amenities and youth employment opportunities within the heart of the neighborhood.

"As we open the Orleans Teen Center, we're delivering a new possibility for the residents of Cabrini-Green and the Near North Side," said Ald. Walter Redmond Burnett. "The resources and opportunities the center will provide will impact families across the neighborhood, creating new educational pathways to personal growth and success for the next generation of our young people."

The project was awarded a $5 million Community Development grant from DPD which supplemented funding provided the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and local philanthropic partners.

"DPD was proud to support this transformational project which will offer learning opportunities to thousands of bright young minds," said DPD Commissioner Ciere Boatright. "The project shows what's possible when public and private partners come together to make a lasting impact for our city's youth and reflects our commitment to creating equitable opportunities for every neighborhood."

The Orleans Teen Center includes intentionally designed, program specific classrooms serving a variety of interests, including a culinary space, black box theater, dance studio, gymnasium, skilled trades lab, innovation lab, and outdoor space for urban gardening. The building reflects ASM's broader strategy to develop spaces where young people have a say in their design and purpose, ensuring they feel safe, supported, and inspired to thrive.

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Programs offered by ASM pay participating students a stipend or an hourly minimum wage while fostering independence and personal growth. In 2023 alone, 15,135 teens were served through the 1,519 programs implemented at 362 sites across 69 of Chicago's 77 community areas.

The Orleans Teen Center will compliment ASM's three other teen-dedicated facilities—Gallery 37 Center for the Arts in the Loop, the Michael and Karen Lutz Center in Belmont Cragin, and After School Matters at Gately Park in Pullman/Roseland.

The programs are led by industry experts, exposing teens to projects that help them gain technical and critical skills while building their sense of belonging. ASM found that at least 3,000 of participating teens were from communities that immediately surround the Orleans Teen Center.

The Center will serve as a gathering space for providers in the broader youth development and out-of-school time fields, increasing the quality of youth development practices and programming throughout the city.

ASM is a crucial City partner in the work of uplifting Chicago's youth. This past summer ASM hired 8,891 young people to summer jobs through the One Summer Chicago youth employment program.

The project created 150 construction jobs, 15 Full Time Equivalent positions, and 55 part time jobs while meeting City's requirement that at least half of all construction hours be filled by Chicago residents. All construction workers received the area prevailing wage.

The building was renovated to be 100% accessible, allowing teens of all backgrounds to benefit from the facility. In line with the City's commitment to equitable development, subcontracting exceeded the City's goals of ensuring participation of 26% by minority-owned business enterprises and 6% by woman-owned business enterprises.

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