Safe Rides for Englewood Teens

For five years, BrownSugar’s Youth Entrepreneur Academy has been a lifeline for teens in Englewood, Chicago, helping them build brighter futures through job readiness, entrepreneurship, and career training. Every day, our youth work hard to overcome barriers, but one of the biggest challenges they face is simply getting to and from work or school safely. Public transportation in Englewood isn’t just inconvenient—it can be dangerous. Teens risk exposure to gun violence, harassment, and unreliable late-night service, often spending hours commuting or paying for costly rideshares that eat into their hard-earned paychecks. These daily struggles don’t just cost time—they threaten safety, stability, and opportunity.

We’ve seen firsthand how our programs change lives. Just this summer, a teen named K.A. took our security training class and, thanks to the skills and support gained, landed a security job. But for many, the journey to work remains a risk. That’s why we’re launching this fundraiser: to provide cars for our most committed and high-need teens. With safe, reliable transportation, they’ll not only get to work—they’ll move closer to independence, stability, and hope. Cars will be awarded through a careful application and interview process, prioritizing those with steady employment or education commitments. Recipients will complete responsible driving workshops, sign accountability agreements, and participate in ongoing mentorship. Our goal is to ensure every car is an investment in responsibility, leadership, and community impact—teens will even be encouraged to carpool and support their peers.

We’re ready to act as soon as we reach our first milestone. With your support, we’ll begin purchasing vehicles for teens most in need, aiming to place 5–10 youth in cars by Spring 2026 and expand to dozens more by year’s end. Every donation helps us create a safer, more hopeful future for Englewood’s youth. Join us in putting teens in the driver’s seat of their own success