# Kids Off the Block

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kids_Off_the_Block
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kids_Off_the_Block.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_Off_the_Block
> Source revision: 1334797155
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Memorial of gun violence}}
thumb|right|300px|The Kids Off The Block memorial featuring hundreds of stones, one for each person killed by gun violence in Chicago

thumb|right|300px|The stones to memorialize the young people killed in Chicago, featuring the names, ages and date of death of the young people

'''Kids Off the Block''' ('''KOB''') was a memorial of stones of young people killed by gun violence. The memorial was located in [Chicago](/source/Chicago)'s  [West Pullman](/source/West_Pullman%2C_Chicago) neighborhood, with the mission "to provide at-risk low income youth positive alternatives to [gang](/source/gang)s, [drugs](/source/drugs), [truancy](/source/truancy), [violence](/source/violence) and the [juvenile justice](/source/juvenile_justice) system."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kidsofftheblock.us/|title=Kids Off The Block, Inc. (KOB)|accessdate=2012-02-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yelp.com/biz/kids-off-the-block-chicago|title=Kids off the Block - Chicago, IL}}</ref>

KOB was founded in 2003 by [Diane Latiker](/source/Diane_Latiker), a mother of eight, who opened her home to youth in her community to help steer them away from the negative influences of the streets.<ref name="about">{{Cite web|url=http://www.kidsofftheblock.us/aboutus|title=About {{!}} Kids Off The Block|website=www.kidsofftheblock.us|access-date=2016-06-20}}</ref><ref name="out of">{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/05/02/off-the-block-out-of-trouble/|title=Off the block, out of trouble|website=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|access-date=2016-06-20}}</ref> KOB works with youth, teens, and young adults ages 12–24 years old.<ref name="about" /> Latiker developed KOB's programming after talking with Roseland youth about their issues and concerns. "I found out that the kids don't even dream about tomorrow anymore", Latiker said in a 2006 ''Chicago Tribune'' article. "You ask, 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' They say, 'What?' "<ref name="out of" />

As a result, KOB offers homework help, mentoring, music, drama, sports, community service and a "safe place" to hang out.<ref name="about" /><ref name="out of" /> Starting out with ten children from the neighborhood, more than a decade later, KOB has serviced more than 2,000 participants since its inception.<ref name="about"/>

To shock people into action, Latiker set up a stone memorial at 11627 South Michigan Avenue<ref>https://www.facebook.com/dianekob {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref> in memory of all the young people who have lost their life to gun violence since 2007.<ref name="grandmother">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/04/07/cnnheroes.latiker.roseland.youth/|title=Grandmother helping Chicago kids 'off the block'|website=www.cnn.com|access-date=2016-06-20}}</ref> There are more than 600 stones lining the memorial, each representing a victim.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rainbowpush.org/page/-/Documents/PressRelease/Release061116.pdf|title=Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. announced his personal endorsement of Secretary Hillary Clinton. "You can trust her".|last=Terry|first=Don|date=|website=|publisher=Rainbow Push Coalition|access-date=June 19, 2016|archive-date=August 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812173823/http://www.rainbowpush.org/page/-/Documents/PressRelease/Release061116.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Through her efforts, Latiker has become a voice for local youth. "Our young people need help", she told CNN in 2011.<ref name="grandmother" /> "All of them are not gangbangers. All of them are not dropouts. But the ones that are, they need our help."

==Programs==
KOB provides structured programs and events for youth including Tutoring/Mentoring, Drama, Music, Sports, Community Service, Local/Out of Town Travel, Job Readiness, [GED](/source/GED) Preparation, Health/Fitness and Nutrition, Cultural Arts.

The following organizations have partnered with Kids Off the Block:
* [Roseland Safety Networks](/source/Roseland_Safety_Networks)
* CAPs (Community Assistance Programs)
* [St. John Missionary Baptist Church](/source/St._John_Missionary_Baptist_Church)
* [Nehemiah Restoration Coalition](/source/Nehemiah_Restoration_Coalition)
* [Illinois Healthcare Consortium](/source/Illinois_Healthcare_Consortium)
* [Phalanx Family Services](/source/Phalanx_Family_Services)
* Worldvision
* [Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce](/source/Greater_Roseland_Chamber_of_Commerce)

The organization maintains a memorial to children killed by violence in Chicago (pictured).

==History==
Kids Off the Block was started by [Diane Latiker](/source/Diane_Latiker) (called 'Ms. Diane' by KOB teens) in 2003. As of 2012, more than 2,000 kids have been assisted by the organization.

Diane Latiker was named one of the top 10 [CNN](/source/CNN) Heroes of the Year in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/2011/09/29/us/cnnheroes-latiker-top10/index.html|work=CNN US | title=New hope for Chicago community 'plagued by violence'| date=29 September 2011|accessdate=2012-02-19}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [Crime in Chicago](/source/Crime_in_Chicago)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://kidsofftheblock.us/ Official Website]
*[https://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/04/07/cnnheroes.latiker.roseland.youth/index.html CNN interview]
*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/08/diane-latiker-kids-off-block_n_846813.html Huffington post article]
*[https://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2012/01/09/cnnheroes-tribute-latiker.cnn short video from CNN about organization]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0LeTVgkSwE KOB Video about the organization]

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Chicago
Category:Crime in Chicago
Category:2003 establishments in Illinois

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kids Off the Block](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_Off_the_Block) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_Off_the_Block?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.