PROFILE: :      Alfredo Reyes

       

 

 

 

                               

 

       

 

 

 

                               

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

                         

       

 

 

 

                               

     

       

 

 

 

                               

 

Al Reyes, volunteer, for La Causa Community Committee was born and raised in South Chicago on the far southeast side of Chicago.  His elementary years were spent at Philip H. Sheridan and J.N. Thorpe elementary schools.  As a young boy he joined the local church baseball little league and soon thereafter became what would be a life long member of the South Chicago YMCA.  Al finished his high school years at James H. Bowen High School.

 

Who would have known that Al’s career in youth work would begin with his first job at the South Chicago YMCA, at age 16, as the assistant swim instructor.  Al would continue to further his education at Chicago State University, and after 24 years he would receive his undergraduate degree.  A retired veteran of 24 years in the U.S Army, and U.S. Army Reserve, he encourages youth to serve in the armed forces as an avenue towards a career.

 

In 1976, he left the YMCA to work for the Chicago Area Project as a grant-in-aid youth worker.  He used his affiliation with the YMCA as a resource for those troubled youth who were referred to him.  He provided them with options to choose as alternatives to their disrupted lifestyles.  Three years later he became the director of the Title XX youth program at a neighborhood agency.  Through afterschool and day camp programs, he offered them alternatives to negative influences.

 

In 1987, he was assigned as a community service worker whose responsibilities were to collaborate with other neighborhood agencies in an effort to strengthen services for the agency’s youth.  Though, no longer his responsibility, he continued to work with troubled youth individually.

 

Al became a district supervisor in 1999. He is responsible for the management of district staff and for all facets of program implementation at district affiliates.  Some specific duties are: to promote CAP philosophy; to implement program planning policies; to monitor affiliates in fulfilling program contract  requirement, and to develop and implement action that address identified problems and or restore compliance.

 

For the past 33 years he has coordinated summer work programs for our community youth.  Over 2000 youth have been able to receive the benefits of summer employment because of his efforts.

 

Along with his job responsibilities, Al still finds time to volunteer with organizations and projects for the benefit of our community and most importantly our youth.

 

The organization dearest to his heart is the one he founded: La Causa Community Committee which is a constant reminder of his mission and passion he has worked towards his whole life.

 

He is also a member of the Southeast Chicago Anti-Gang Initiative and the Bowen High School Community School.

 

He serves as volunteer chairman for the South Suburban Area Project helping them carry out their mission of delinquency prevention.

 

He is a member of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life Southeast.  He serves on a committee which helps to coordinate our local relay.