In 2011, Crystal Dyer lost her grandson, Devin, to Chicago gun violence just a few days after his 18th birthday. Since then, Crystal has worked tirelessly to steer young people away from a life of crime and into a bright future. In 2015, she founded Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures (CAYTA) to introduce young people to travel, culture, and history. Her goal was to take kids outside the neighborhood to see something new. She recently returned from the fifth journey to Ghana, West Africa, with seven youth from the South and West sides of Chicago. State Representative LaShawn K. Ford also accompanied the group.

CAYTA’s programming has grown and even garnered citywide attention with features on and in WGN News, Chicago Sun-Times, ABC7,