Standing Up With Westside Youth: Kobey Lofton

Kobey Lofton is no stranger to the experiences of young people on the Westside. 

At age 22, he has already lived longer than many young people on the Westside do – with many seeing their lives cut short by 21 years old or younger. As a young leader, youth activist, and nonviolence advocate, Kobey aims to change the future of young people. 

Raised on the Westside, Kobey confronts any assumptions or misconceptions about young people through his actions, his words and his commitment to advocating for what he – and other young people – needs. 

“I know how to articulate what it is that I want, and I articulate what it is that I need. I know the difference between what I want and what I need to create change on the Westside of Chicago,” Kobey said. 

Part of the change he aims to see is bringing more young people to the table, he said. Part of what they need is more opportunities to apply their skills and leadership; to be a voice like he has been. 

“There shouldn't be a bunch of adults having a conversation about what the youth need or what the youth can do and we're not there,” he said. 

When Kobey speaks, he speaks from experience. He is the son of a single mother, raised by his mother, his two sisters and his grandmother, who all had an influence on him. His oldest sister is a first-generation college student, setting an example of what is possible and becoming a resource for Kobey. 

In the hardships he has faced, he has found opportunities and a “fuel” to transform the Westside. 

A peace advocate, Kobey has more than seven years of practice in nonviolent conflict resolution, a journey he embarked on by joining the Peace Warriors, a student-led nonviolence group teaching conflict resolution based on Martin Luther King’s nonviolent principles. 

At age 15, Kobey was invited to participate in a nonviolence tour across 27 states and 150 cities, a “once in a lifetime opportunity” where he advocated for peace nationwide after a 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, claimed the lives of 17 people. 

This experience also provided a platform for young people in Chicago to raise awareness about the trauma and violence they experience, he said. 

He is a nationally certified Kingian Nonviolence Level 2 Trainer and Ambassador of Peace, working at North Lawndale College Prep, the same high school he graduated from.

As a behavior specialist at North Lawndale College Prep, he leads restorative conversations and bridges communication gaps between staff and students. He acts as a liaison for students while teaching skills and principles that can prevent “a lot of the struggles and trauma” they face. 

“I believe in prevention over intervention,” he said. 

Obtaining this certification is more than getting a credential: It means he can train others on the practices of restorative justice, conflict resolution and Kingian nonviolence. 

These practices offer a pathway to violence prevention that can save lives and reduce the harm of violence to families and loved ones of those who are directly impacted. 

At the high school, he is both advocating to eradicate violence and offering support to those affected by it. In this work, relationships are key – and Kobey aims to connect with the school community, not just the young students he directly serves. 

Nonviolence is a pathway to peace, Kobey said. It is also an antidote to trauma, a widely used word that aims to encapsulate the experiences of people who are witnesses to violence, experience the void of losing a loved one and have to grapple with this reality often. 

At school, Peace Warriors will show up for students who lost someone by delivering condolences and a bag of candy to their class while offering support. 

While it might seem like a small gesture, this act lets young people know their trauma is being acknowledged, there is someone they can talk to and there is an understanding of their needs – whether it is a moment alone or a listening ear. 

The Trace found Black and brown people on the city’s South and West Sides are more likely to die after being shot than in other neighborhoods in the city. 

In the midst of this reality, Kobey’s work does not go unrecognized, even if his mission is not to receive accolades but to bring change. He is nominated for this year’s Rising Star Award, a nomination that confirms he is on the right path, he said. 

His message is clear.

“Give the youth a chance,” he said. 

As he continues to do his work, he also pushes himself to achieve more. He is currently studying to obtain a degree in Human Services and Psychology at National Louis University, which he expects to complete by June 2027. 

The future could hold more leadership opportunities, but for Kobey, the time to act is now. 

While in high school, Kobey worked in the retail industry managing shoes and clothing stores in other Illinois cities. That experience exposed him to the disparities in access to opportunities, recreation, infrastructure and economic resources that exist in the Westside, reaffirming his commitment to see change, he said. 

If the realities of the Westside don’t change, he – and many other young people– may not see a reason to stay, he said. 

“They see it as a circle of life and if you get stuck in that circle, there is no getting out. We gotta change that,” he said. 

“I won’t stop until I see that change.”