This summer, the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) welcomed a group of dynamic youth interns for a transformative nine-week experience through its Power Over Programming (P.O.P.) Initiative. This wasn’t your typical internship — these young leaders weren’t brought in to run programs or stuff flyers. Instead, they embarked on an intentional leadership development journey designed to deepen their understanding of community organizing, relationship building, and the issues shaping their neighborhoods.

Over the course of the internship, the P.O.P. Interns explored each of SWOP’s issue areas — from education justice and immigrant rights to community safety and economic development. Through workshops, community tours, and 1-on-1 relational meetings with organizers, they gained firsthand knowledge of the work being done to uplift Chicago Lawn and the challenges still ahead.

Central to their journey was an important task: to listen. The interns engaged in honest, peer-led conversations about what young people in the community are experiencing and what changes they want to see. In total, the P.O.P. Interns surveyed 70 young people on the Southwest side, asking them about their quality of life, their hopes, and what would make them feel more supported and included in their neighborhoods.

These conversations shaped a set of powerful recommendations for the next SWOP Quality-of-Life (QLP) Plan. During a presentation to SWOP staff, community leaders, and residents, the P.O.P. Interns advocated for:

· The assignment of a full-time point person at SWOP dedicated to elevating youth voice and ensuring young people are consistently involved in every campaign and initiative.

· A commitment to building a culture of follow-through and ongoing engagement with youth who participate in SWOP programming, ensuring their contributions don’t end after a single event or meeting.

· The creation and reimagining of safe, accessible spaces throughout Chicago Lawn — identifying existing locations and exploring how they can be transformed to better serve and engage young people.

Their work was a testament to what happens when young people are given not just a seat at the table, but the tools and space to lead. The P.O.P. Internship reminded the entire

SWOP community that lasting, meaningful change in Chicago Lawn must include youth leaders as a key part of any work.

As SWOP continues to build out its Quality-of-Life Plan, these recommendations will serve as a foundation for deepening youth involvement and reshaping what safety, opportunity, and belonging look like on the Southwest side

‍