1) An upstart nonprofit organization called Icarus-E held a rally to protest social service cuts, focusing on their programs that help homeless students and at-risk youth through initiatives like urban farming. 2) The story of Deirdre Dangerfield, a 15-year-old student who was at risk of dropping out, highlights how Icarus-E's quick response saved her by providing housing, education, and other support through their programs. 3) Icarus-E argues that cuts to social services will have negative impacts on disadvantaged communities and youth, and calls on state lawmakers to take action to address these needs.

1. State Cuts Rally 1
Upstart Nonprofit Rekindles Flame of Dreams Deferred
FROM: Icarus-E Nonprofit Organization
6229 S. Justine St., Chicago, IL. 60636
CONTACT: Jeffery Massey, Sr., Executive Director (Phone: 773-476-9049)
For Immediate Release Wednesday, July 15,
2009
Icarus-E Rally Protest Social Service Cuts
Today at noon, an upstart nonprofit organization located near 63rd and
Ashland held a social service cuts policy rally in front of its vacant lot turned
memorial site named for recently slain 7th District Police Officer Alejandro
“Alex” Valadez. As a part of Icarus-E’s Urban Farming and violence-free
homesteads, prospering vegetable-flower gardens, tended to by participants
in their Homeless Student’s Initiative, now represent the hope for a better
tomorrow.
The face of promised hope is reflected in the story of Deirdre Dangerfield, a 15-year-old student
at Gage Park H.S., who began in January 09‟ dropping out of school after the imprisonment of
her single parent mother for drugs and prostitution. With no other able family members
available to give shelter and food, she turned to doubling up with another friend whose gangaffiliated lifestyle began to lure her towards a life of crime and habitual homelessness.
Right before she‟d totally given up hope, outreach workers from Icarus-E became aware of her
plight after school officials involved with our education liaison designated her with an „at-risk‟
status. Within days, Deirdre was assessed, processed and initiated into our homeless student
initiative programming. As well, the friend‟s family unit was encouraged to also begin entry into
our family intervention support unit.
Today, Deirdre is a perfect attendance student actively engaged in our „Urban Farming’,
„Quasar‟ school curriculum assistance, housing assistance, urban post traumatic stress
interventions and healthcare well-being programs. Deirdre credits Icarus-E‟s quick response
crisis management units for “…coming on in to places no one else cares for and saving me,” she

2. said.
With a unique and innovative approach to viewing homelessness and poverty
conditions as immediate public health emergencies Icarus-E vies to get positive results in a
pessimistic environment. “Morale in this neighborhood is the first major casualty affecting atrisk students in Englewood‟s crime-ridden, impoverished ghetto,” said Assistant Executive
Director Ronald Barnes. „Most kids,” he reflected “have given up hope of ever participating in
the „American Dream.‟ But now the spark of hope and
–morepromise of support and guidance,” he admonished “allows youngsters to chase their dreams and
become citizens with constructive contributions, as with our new Urban Farming program, to
their community and families.”
“The nation cannot prosper long,” President Obama stated during his
inaugural speech, “when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our
economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic
product, but on the reach of our prosperity, on the ability to extend
opportunity to every willing heart—not out of charity, but because it is the
surest route to our common good.”
With swift and wise actions from state policymakers at stake, Englewood’s
Nonprofit upstart Icarus-E prompted the public to shout its outrage and
declare the need for immediate action by an Illinois General Assembly that
remains deadlocked on approving a state budget. The nonprofit, which
carries out its mission to give social service support in one of Chicago’s most
dangerous areas, to Chicago Public School students impacted by poverty,
homelessness and third-world dropout rates, specifically asked leaders to
address the community’s needs.
There are 661,871 people or 8.0% of Illinoisans, according to Heartland Alliance‟s “2009
Chicago Poverty Report” living between 150% and 200% of the federal poverty threshold. A
startling 10,642 homeless students, the report said, were identified in Chicago Public Schools last
school year. This was a 35% increase in 5 years. “Homeless children experience disruptions in
their education, leading to irregular school attendance and poor academic achievement” the
report stated.
For more information, you may contact Icarus-E Executive Director Jeffery Massey, Sr. (773476-9049 or E-mail: jmasseysr7@aim.com).
-30Course Project Press Release-Module 12 MSNM
Writing for the Professions-Dr. Karin Baird & Prof. Sally Chapralis
Jeffery Massey, Sr. & Ronald Barnes