While most of the nation was enjoying the Labor Day weekend, Chicago marked its 500th homicide for the year thus far.

The Black lives that really matter in Chicago are the ones that are taking ownership of their communities and spearheading real change. 

Here are some things you can do to

1. Mentor a young person in your community
2. Buy a home
3. Start a business
4. Create a community nonprofit
5. Volunteer to teach financial literacy to youth in your community -- Operation HOPE's Banking On Our Future
6. Volunteer to be a business mentor to youth in your community -- Operation HOPE's HOPE Business In A Box Academies
7. Advocate for quality education in your community -- start a charter school or take back your public school
8. Volunteer with local organizations
9. VOTE
10. Parent your children
11. Support community businesses
12. Report crime in your community to police
13. Create a Block Club
14. Own every community problem
15. Launch a crowdfunding campaign to create public greenspaces in your community
16. Advocate for community gardens and access to healthy food within your community
17. Lead a community cleanup project
18. Create a house of worship to serve your community 

19. Create a job or an internship for a young person 

20. Join the "Silver Rights" Movement--bringing financial literacy, access to capital, and equity of opportunity to Chicago, by establishing Operation HOPE's free financial dignity and economic empowerment programs throughout the city. 

Sign the petition to help foster real change in Chicago . Tell us which of the steps listed you're committing to!