International Children’s Book Day Recap

C.H.I.C.A X Back 2 School

We are so excited to support scholars as they kick off the 2022-2023 academic year.

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5 Compton Scholars awarded for their academic performance

CHICA President and Marshall IS graduate, Toiyea Shaw, recently surprised five Marshall Senior students with laptop computers at a socially-distanced celebration at the headquarters of Compton Unified School District. The students were: Marlyn Guzman (Marshall/Dominguez), Jeremiah Hall (Marshall/Compton), Fernando Policarpo (Marshall/Compton), Areiell Rivers (Marshall/Centennial), and Fallon Walker-Brown (Marshall/Centennial).
Shaw founded non-profit organization Chics Helping Inner City Adolescents (CHICA), in October of 2014, when she rose to meet a need in communities. “I saw first-hand the need to improve the programs and resources available to the youth, including simple things such as school supplies. I always wanted to give back and provide resources for children like myself,” said Shaw.

CHICA’s mission is to prepare the youth for the coming challenges in life by providing them with educational resources and teaching them to become future leaders.
​Shaw has a very personal connection to her organization’s mission, one made clear in her personal life story. She began attending Thurgood Marshall Independent Studies during the Fall of 2004. At that time, she had missed a semester of school and was behind 30 credits. However, she also had a strong desire to be the first college graduate in her family and decided to enroll in El Camino College, while at Marshall. She worked diligently to maintain her dual enrollment status until her graduation from Thurgood Marshall IS in the Spring of 2007. That fall she began studies at California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) and a career with Nordstrom. She graduated CSUDH in May 2011 with a degree of Bachelor of Science Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing. She is currently the Divisional Manager for Beauty and Men’s Grooming.
​The laptop donation truly brings Shaw full circle to her days at Marshall. “As someone who was a struggling inner city adolescent, it is such a pleasure to give back to Thurgood Marshall IS, a place I hold so dear to my heart; a place where a young girl with agoraphobia was able to fulfill her quest of graduating High School on time.”

​​Youth Program Update

Message from our President
We are so excited to kick off our fundraising efforts to support the disenfranchised youth in underserved communities across Los Angeles, but specifically in Compton, California. The R.E.A.D.Y program is the capstone of our mission. The program seeks to involve students of all ethnicities and backgrounds to attend several series of workshops and activities to develop life-long skill and improve academic performance.
We recognize the truth in the age-old quote, “ it takes a village to raise a child”, and in that we cannot execute this on our own. We are hoping through community participation, grants, and fundraisers we are able to provide a consistent program designed to positively affect the whole child, while bridging cultural gaps.
I would like to thank you all for your on-going commitment to bettering our youth. 

Toiyea Shaw
​President/Director

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About us

Chics Helping Inner City Adolescents ( CHICA) was  founded by Toiyea Shaw, a Retail Manager and Community Organizer, in  October 2014. As a struggling inner city adolescent, Toiyea saw first hand the need to improve the programs and resources  available to the youth. She always wanted to give back and provide resources for children like herself. CHICA focuses on the disenfranchised youth in the inner cities of Los Angeles County.Our Mission is to prepare the youth  for the coming challenges in life by teaching them to become leaders and successful members of society.
Our vision is to cultivate a generation of inner-city youth, with essential life skills and  knowledge  to ensure the success of the future.
​CHICA provides mentorships health workshops and  tutoring programs to  help students navigate through the college experience and real world problems. To date CHICA has a fed over 2500 people, hosted  a college preparedness workshop collaboration with Compton Girls Club, and provided over 50 families with basic necessities, including school supplies.

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