South Side Summer Surge: 50K in Youth Grants Reaches Oakland and Neighbors Through Southland RISEBy Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Oakland ·
Big news for South Side youth and families this summer: UChicago Medicine's Southland RISE program has just announced
50,000 in grants awarded to 15 community-based organizations offering summer programming across Chicago's South Side — and Oakland is among the communities tapped by this landmark initiative.Southland RISE (Resilience Initiative to Strengthen and Empower), led by UChicago Medicine since 2017 and jointly funded with Advocate Health Care since 2019, has now crossed the
million milestone in cumulative investment across nearly 100 organizations in more than 30 South Side and south suburban communities — Oakland included. The 2026 grant cohort funds programs spanning sports, the arts, mentorship, paid internships, workforce development, and mental health support. Standout grantees include Sneakers to Scrubs, which pairs a summer sports and wellness camp with healthcare career exposure for South Side youth, and Jackson Park Golf Association, which certifies teen caddies in CPR, AED, and First Aid.For Oakland residents, this is a powerful reminder that the neighborhood's young people are plugged into a growing network of South Side investment and opportunity. As summer heats up along the lakefront, Southland RISE is making sure Oakland's next generation has somewhere to thrive. Do you know a local youth program, summer camp, or community organization serving Oakland families this season? Share your tip with Socialhood — your neighborhood deserves the spotlight!
Sources:
1. https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/community-articles/southland-rise-2026
By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Oakland ·
Big news for South Side youth and families this summer: UChicago Medicine's Southland RISE program has just announced
Southland RISE (Resilience Initiative to Strengthen and Empower), led by UChicago Medicine since 2017 and jointly funded with Advocate Health Care since 2019, has now crossed the
For Oakland residents, this is a powerful reminder that the neighborhood's young people are plugged into a growing network of South Side investment and opportunity. As summer heats up along the lakefront, Southland RISE is making sure Oakland's next generation has somewhere to thrive. Do you know a local youth program, summer camp, or community organization serving Oakland families this season? Share your tip with Socialhood — your neighborhood deserves the spotlight!
Sources:
1. https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/community-articles/southland-rise-2026