Marcus Flenaugh (he/him) - South Side Help Center

Marcus Flenaugh is the impassioned Youth Development Director of South Side Help Center. He has served in this community for 25 years. Under his leadership, he has guided the youth programs to expansion into multiple schools and hosted a collection of afterschool programming for youth 10-18 designed to prevent youth violence and delinquency.

His expertise led him to become the Dean of students at a local area high school. Under his leadership, suspensions dropped 320 percent in one year by implementing several restorative justice strategies including peace circles, school-wide and classroom agreements, and peer jury to reduce suspensions.

His professional career was assisted when Former South Side Help Center Youth Development Director Valerie Smith booked Marcus for speaking engagement at a state sponsored ATOD Prevention youth leadership conference in 1996. In 2010, Marcus was selected to lead the YRC Community Council, working with organizations within the 6th Region. Marcus volunteered with the Black and Latino Achievers program with YMCA Metropolitan Chicago for 12 years and was selected as Volunteer of the Year in 2010. In 2013, Marcus completed coursework at North Park University to obtain a professional certificate in Nonprofit Management. In 2014, he completed the Executive Director training with ESC.

His professionalism and dedication to improving the quality of life for others is further demonstrated by his active involvement and networking with other service organizations. Marcus has served on the Local School Council and is currently the Vice-Chairperson for the Far South CAC.