What We Do Public Allies envisions communities where people of all backgrounds, beliefs and experiences work together and share responsibility for improving their own lives and the lives of those around them. Public Allies identifies a diversity of talented young adults and creates opportunities for them to practice leadership and strengthen their communities in a new alliance with people from neighborhoods, non-profits, business and government. We build strong community leadership among young adults through leadership training and professional apprenticeships in community organizations. Public Allies is a source of leadership at a time when our community needs leaders who can bring people and organizations together to find creative solutions. Allies practice a new style of leadership that is perfectly suited to the challenges facing our city today.
Allies receive a living allowance, health and child care benefits, and an educational award.
We are creating new opportunities for apprenticeships in community minded businesses. Our Ally has helped us enhance our services and fulfill our mission by bringing in new resources and getting more people involved in our work. We put Allies in charge of creating innovative responses to local challenges through Team Service Projects - teaching them to mobilize resources in a community and work productively with people from all walks of life. The Public Allies Violence Prevention Team in Chicago created a conflict resolution curriculum and student organization against violence at DuSable High School in one of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods. The Public Allies Education Team in Washington, D.C. organized a new program for adult women to mentor teenagers in the public schools and help them deal with issues of self-image, reproductive health, and violence.