Chicago Youth Centers

Introduction

Since 1956, Chicago Youth Centers (CYC) has been a trusted partner on Chicago’s South and West sides, with the mission to provide high-quality early learning and out-of-school time enrichment in under-resourced neighborhoods to holistically support children of all ages, their families, and their communities.

CYC leaders and staff work in a high-stress and trauma-filled environment on a daily basis. Paragon Performance Evolution was engaged by CYC’s Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Cherep, for a two-year program beginning in July 2022 and concluding in June 2024. CYC Leadership was looking to equip and empower their teams with real-time tools and techniques that could support the overall well-being of their staff, with the goal of enhancing individual performance, team dynamics, and community development.

Program Overview

In collaboration with CYC, Paragon delivered an innovative and experiential program tailored to meet CYC’s key objectives. This training integrated decades of executive leadership development experience with cutting-edge, evidence-based tools, including the HeartMath® System. The program featured ongoing group learning modules led by Paragon CEO Jeff Benton and Dr. Sandra Solano, along with private coaching sessions from other Paragon trainers to support CYC team members.

The two-year collaboration between CYC and Paragon has led to substantial improvements in individual and team performance, positively impacting the entire CYC community.

Key Teachings of the Program

• Identifying Subtle Stress Signals: Developing self-awareness and recognizing the impact of emotions on our physiology.
• Energy Management: Understanding how emotions drain or renew energy and managing our energy systems intelligently.
• Coherence and Resilience: Understanding coherence as an optimal physiological state that increases resilience, achieved by using the skills and tools learned, and relating these concepts to performance and our worldview.
• Team Dynamics: Shifting from discord, power struggles, and competition to harmony, collaboration, and shared success to improve interactions and relationships.

Reported Outcomes from the Program

• Decreased Stress and Anxiety: Reduced levels of stress and anxiety.
• Improved Mental Clarity: Enhanced focus and clarity in thinking and situational awareness.
• Enhanced Problem-Solving Abilities Under Pressure: Better handling of high-pressure situations.
• Improved Decision-Making: Clearer and more effective decision-making processes.
• Improved Communication Skills: Clearer and more effective communication.
• Better Sleep and Increased Energy: Improved rest and higher levels of energy.

Pre- and Post-Program Stress & Wellbeing Survey Assessment

Below is the aggregated data from the CYC–Paragon training program, derived from pre- and post-program stress and well-being survey assessments of the senior leadership team.

• 50% experienced a decrease in total stress.
• 75% experienced a decrease in stress due to social support.
• 75% experienced a decrease in emotional stress.
• 70% experienced a decrease in relationship stress.
• 25% decrease in high total stress.
• 150% increase in the number of people experiencing low emotional stress.
• 38% decrease in high or medium relationship stress.

Real-World Impact

The true impact of our collaboration was evident during extraordinary circumstances faced by the CYC team. A senior leader demonstrated remarkable composure during a campus lockdown at a CYC school partner location due to an active shooter threat. Using the coherence teachings, she guided parents and children through a Heart-Focused Breathing™ technique, creating tranquility amidst chaos.

In another incident on the same day, a shooting near a different CYC school partner location caused panic among parents and staff. A team member quickly led the group in Heart-Focused Breathing™, diffusing tension and anxiety and providing comforting support.

The skills and techniques taught as part of the Paragon program are designed to seamlessly integrate into everyday scenarios. With practice, they become natural responses, making it easier to access them under stress and pressure, empowering individuals to manage challenges and maintain composure in demanding situations. These instances at CYC highlight the effectiveness of coherence training during real-world crises, demonstrating how these tools can calm communities and provide clarity amidst turmoil.

About Chicago Youth Centers

For 67 years, Chicago Youth Centers has been the place Where Possibility Lives: a trusted partner in Chicago’s most divested neighborhoods, ensuring that kids have a safe place they can go to explore, to discover, to process, and ultimately to envision a bright future that they can create for themselves.

In early learning classrooms, afterschool programs, and summer day camps, youth ages 15 months to 18 years find joy in learning, grow socially and emotionally, and build skills for the jobs of tomorrow. CYC students are deeply engaged, with many attending hands-on clubs five days a week, 48 weeks a year. Together, with families, schools, supporters, and a network of extracurricular program partners, CYC envisions a Chicago where every child has equitable access to the resources, experiences, safe spaces, and mentors that they need to live each day as their best selves.

HeartMath is a registered trademark of Quantum Intech, Inc. (dba HeartMath Inc.).