Graffiti vandals tagged the side of our Bridge International School property on Foster Avenue, Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 11:27 PM. The incident was captured on our surveillance cameras.
The video revealed four individuals — appearing to be teenagers — wearing cargo shorts, t‑shirts, and ball caps, each carrying cross‑body or shoulder bags. One appeared to act as a lookout while the others approached the building and began spray painting on the brick wall facing the CTA overpass.
The suspected “lookout” wore a white t‑shirt with a bold black graphic and a black cap, with visible tattoos on his right arm. Another wore a rust‑colored t‑shirt and carried a distinctive two‑toned tote bag, bright green on the bottom half and white on the top half with brown handles. A third individual, seen actively spray‑painting the building with red paint, wore a gray shirt and white cap and carried both a black and an orange shoulder bag. The fourth wore a black t‑shirt, black cap, and a black shoulder bag.
Four youths caught on surveillance camera suspected to be involved in graffiti vandalism of SEAC property.
The entire incident lasted approximately five minutes. After vandalizing SEAC property and nearby CTA property, two individuals walked east along Foster Avenue while the other two headed south down the alley.
“This is an aggravating and disturbing incident,” said Peter Porr, Executive Director and founder of SEAC. “We make a point to be a good neighbor and maintain our property in a way that adds value and a positive aesthetic to the neighborhood. These vandals have no regard for their surroundings and give no thought to the cost involved in rectifying their damage. Several people driving by or within sight of them could see what was happening. I wish passersby would take the time to call 911 when they see something like this.”
SEAC has notified the alderperson for the area, the CTA, and the Chicago Police Department regarding the incident.
With the help of the Leni Mana-Hoppenworth’s office the city’s graffiti blasters were out on Tuesday morning to remove the vandalism. “This is a welcome service,” says Porr “But we still need to vigilant. Graffiti has a serious negative effect on how our community is perceived and how residents feel about their neighborhood.
Let’s Talk About This
This is a learning opportunity. We urge our parents, teachers and friends to discuss this matter with our students to be sure that they understand this is not a victimless crime and should not be tolerated.
“Art is great. Damaging someone’s property is not.”
Keep in mind that young people don’t respond to lectures, they respond to stories of fairness, consequences they can picture, and chances to express their own views. Engage them in a conversation on this topic. Be calm. Talk about how we take care of our neighborhood. Not that this is dangerous and terrible.
Invite their opinions. Kids love being asked what they think.
Questions that spark good discussion:
- “Why do you think people do graffiti?”
- “What would make our neighborhood look better?”
- “What’s the difference between art and vandalism?”
This builds critical thinking and ownership.
Key points kids grasp easily:
- Some graffiti is art, but graffiti on someone else’s property is property damage.
- People tag buildings because they want attention, want to belong to a group, or think it’s funny.
- It’s not about “bad kids,” it’s about bad choices.
What they understand:
- Someone has to clean it up and it costs real money that impacts your family through higher taxes and diverts funds that maybe could have gone to schools, playgrounds, or community programs. It is estimated that the city budgets between $6 million to $10 million per year to fund graffiti removal.
- It makes our neighborhood look uncared for, which can make people feel unsafe. “This is our neighborhood. We want it to look nice.”
- It’s a crime that can have serious consequences for those involved.
Children respond well to imagining how others feel.
Ask:
- “How would you feel if someone wrote on your backpack without asking?”
- “What if someone spray‑painted your house?”
This helps them understand why graffiti is hurtful, not just “against the rules.”
Action:
Kids need to hear what they can do, not just what they shouldn’t. One idea is to have them design posters about respecting community spaces. In this way they internalize the message and turns the conversation toward creativity and empowerment. Older kids can write a story or graphic novel that explains to their peers why this behavior is a poor choice.