Program Director Yolanda Ratliff is shining a light on a reality many people miss: the South suburbs of Chicago are facing the same youth challenges as the city’s South and West sides – they’re just quieter.
In this Village Talks conversation, Yolanda shares how Chicago Wall of Fame, a nonprofit public charity founded in 2022 by CEO Stephen Anderson, is working with youth and families in Country Club Hills and across the Southland.
Yolanda and host Damian Howard unpack:
Why 57% of students in parts of Country Club Hills are failing reading and math
How daily attendance rates between 83% and 92% leave many kids out of school and exposed to neighborhood risks
The rise of teen takeovers in Dolton, Harvey, Markham, and Country Club Hills
Fights being scheduled in group chats and the fear of retaliation that keeps bullying underreported
Yolanda also explains why she believes school should not feel like a prison, and how Chicago Wall of Fame designs hands-on, arts-infused programs where youth are the drivers and adults are the passengers. From making math feel like Roblox to centering youth voice in every session, her approach is all about making school and support spaces somewhere kids actually want to be.
She closes by sharing how their Bridging the Gap gala grew from 50 attendees to over 300, honoring community leaders, educators, and young artists who are quietly making a difference.