She grew up in West Lawn with roots in Little Village, where her grandparents settled after moving from Mexico.

For more than a decade, she has worked alongside young people in the neighborhood—as a teacher assistant at Eli Whitney Elementary, a resource coordinator at Madero Middle School, a substitute teacher, and through various roles with Beyond the Ball. Earlier this summer, she joined TA98.

We sat down with Covarrubias to reflect on her new role and her effort to show that success can be found in Little Village.

Q: What led you to TA98, and how has your experience in youth development shaped your work?

A: I’ve worked with multiple age groups in Little Village, and when you’re working with youth, you’re also working with parents. You have to build relationships and understanding; trust is so important to that process. I’ve been really lucky to build strong connections here and with partner organizations across the city. We’re very lucky in Little Village that we all work so well together and support one another’s events.

I also feel like I’ve been doing youth development work since I was young myself. Growing up in the Chicago Young Marines taught me responsibility early on; by the time I was 14, I was leading younger kids. Later, I joined a mentorship group in high school and helped organize Sueños Sin Fronteras, a college readiness program. As I grew up, I continued to find roles that similarly fit because I realized that I really enjoyed the work.

Q: How do you see TA98 impacting the Little Village community right now?

A: I think TA98 is doing a great job of activating Corkery, a public space in the neighborhood. In 2024, the youth serving committee surveyed about 336 young people, and they said they felt safer in spaces that were well lit, had art, and were actively used. TA98’s work gives families around the school something to look forward to and builds pride in the neighborhood. When we show that we care about the space, it helps young people adopt that same mindset. For example, before kickbacks, Amy has interns clean and organize the area; recently, the team cleared an overgrown section of weeds in preparation for the back-to-school bash.

Beyond activating spaces, TA98 is also creating local employment opportunities. Growing up, I didn’t know anyone who could find work in the neighborhood, and most people had to go downtown. It’s powerful for young people to see that jobs and internships can exist here and that their community has value.

Q: Why is TA98’s mission meaningful to you personally?

A: The mission of TA98 is very important because it’s helping youth—whether through employment or college access—see what’s possible for them. I see it as showing their potential and supporting them in achieving it to whatever level they choose. Not necessarily holding their hand on a path we create, but helping them see their own path and supporting them along the way.

We want young people to feel like staying in their neighborhood is a choice.

In a recent survey by the Youth Serving Committee, a sub-committee of the Violence Prevention Collaborative, the fewest respondents said they wanted to stay in Little Village when they grew up. That was eye-opening. Even if they leave and come back, we want to change that narrative and show there’s value in building a future here.

Q: As a director, what lessons do you hope young people take away from working with TA98?

A: I first met David at a Premier Skills event, and I’ve been grateful to partner with him since. I appreciate the environment he has created where it allows me to thrive and help the community without pushing me past my capacity. The same work environment is being created for young people here, and it’s important for them to see what a healthy workplace looks like. I’m glad they’re learning early on. It’s good to set your boundaries and avoid unnecessary burnout.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

A: We need to counter the mindset that the neighborhood is one to get out of. There’s so much talent and so many people who want to make change, but youth are often told that staying here means failure or that the mark of success is to leave. It’s so important for young people to have somebody who can acknowledge and help them recognize their potential. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, there are people setting the standards too low and not helping them see everything that they could be. Whether they choose to follow that path or not, it’s up to them, but just knowing that that’s an option is super important.

Learn more and connect with Jackie: Jackie@ta98.org