Youth-Led Tours

My Block My Hood My City is proud to bring our Youth-Led Community Tours back for a sixth year! The program empowers local youth to share the rich civil rights history of North Lawndale while highlighting modern hidden gems in their own community.

Join us for a walk through history, guided by the young people who call North Lawndale home. All proceeds from ticket sales support the part-time employment of our teen tour-guides!

Real youth. Real impact. Real community Investment.

Tours are available Wednesdays through Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. during the summer months.

Youth-Led tours are a fantastic opportunity for corporate sponsors and nonprofit partners seeking a unique experience that allows them to support an enthusiastic group of teens in a historically divested community while learning about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s history in the North Lawndale neighborhood as well as modern stories of social justice and renewal.

 $50 corporate sponsor ticket / $25 nonprofit partner ticket includes:

  • 120-minute, fully youth-led experience

  • My Block My Hood My City t-shirt

  • Bite-to-eat in the community

  • Social media shout out/tag

Ticket prices are per person with a minimum of 10 tickets required

Highlights from a 2024 tour attended by Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Tours begin at Green Tomato Café on 3750 W. Ogden Ave. in North Lawndale.

  • Tours are typically two hours and cover roughly two miles of walking.

  • The safety of our youth tour guides and attendees is our top priority. In the event of extreme weather—such as temperatures of 90 degrees or higher and/or a high likelihood of thunderstorms—we proactively reschedule tours.

  • We hold select dates for public tours if there is interest. Please reach out to nathaniel@mbmhmc.com for more information.

Testimonials

Building a better, stronger, safer Chicago can only be realized through the experiences of our young people... I’m so grateful that My Block, My Hood, My City has been championing the full expression of the beauty that exists on the West and South Sides of Chicago.
— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of the City of Chicago
I was very glad to explore a new Chicago neighborhood—with experts! The tour guides were knowledgeable, articulate, poised, friendly, and enthusiastic. I’ve lived in Chicago for more than 25 years and I had never been to North Lawndale. Your tour represented just the invitation I needed to feel welcome.
— Monica, North Center Resident
To the young people, thank you so much for helping us out. If law enforcement is going to get this right, we’re going to have to interact more and more with young people in the community.
— David Brown, Former Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department
Last summer, working with M3 was amazing. It opened my eyes and brought many opportunities for us.
— TJ Hines, 2024 Youth Tour Guide