After School Matters’ Orleans Teen Center celebrates ribbon cutting

Mayor Brandon Johnson recently joined After School Matters CEO Mary Ellen Caron, Alderman Walter Redmond Burnett (27th), Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, and Chicago Department of Planning and Development (DPD) Commissioner Ciere Boatright at the ribbon cutting ceremony of After School Matter’s newly completed Orleans Teen Center at 1065 N. Orleans. 

“This new Cabrini teen center is more than a building—it’s a promise to our youth that their city believes in them,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “When young people are provided with opportunities and support outside of school they are better prepared for success as they progress through life. Today’s ceremony marks a momentous step forward in our mission to ensure every young Chicagoan is provided the opportunity to develop new skills and grow as individuals.” 

Designed by Eckenhoff Saunders Architects, the former Catholic school building has been transformed into the Orleans Teen Center which includes intentionally designed, program specific classrooms serving a variety of interests, including a culinary space, black box theater, dance studio, gymnasium, skilled trades lab, innovation lab, and outdoor space for urban gardening. The building reflects ASM’s broader strategy to develop spaces where young people have a say in their design and purpose, ensuring they feel safe, supported, and inspired to thrive. 

Programs offered by ASM pay participating students a stipend or an hourly minimum wage while fostering independence and personal growth. In 2025 alone, 17,017 teens were served through the 1,5645 programs implemented at 353 sites across 67 of Chicago’s 77 community areas. 

The Center will serve as a gathering space for providers in the broader youth development and out-of-school time fields, increasing the quality of youth development practices and programming throughout the city. 

The $25.9 million renovation was funded with a combination of private and public dollars, including $2 million in state funding, a $5 million Community Development grant, and a $14 million loan to pay for the renovations. UJAMAA Construction served as the general contractor on the project.