Here are some interesting stats about Chicago's south side from Steven Levitt's book Freakonomics:
- 56% of children are below the poverty line
(vs. an 18% national average)
- 78% come from single-parent homes
- 5% of the parents have college degrees
- 1 in 3 adult men are working
- the median annual income is $15k
i.c. stars is a Chicago training center for inner-city (i.c.) young adults looking to become stars in the areas of business, leadership and technology. I was at their office on Superior street downtown earlier this week and met the current cycle of interns -- what a great group! Every one of them is engaged and interesting and hopeful.
Here are some of the stats I heard from them:
- graduation rate - 78%
- job placement rate (2005) - 92%
- increase in average income - 192%
This morning was the second big i.c. stars event of the year (The Big Bang!) and packed out the house at the Northern Trust office on LaSalle with over two hundred supporters. Take a look at their web site to see an organization that is changing the future for these young people one cycle at a time.
