New Life Centers of Chicagoland

Community Care: In 2023, El Mercadito, our indoor fresh market, along with our mobile pantries provided food provision to the families in the communities we serve. We opened a new indoor fresh market in Midway. In 2023, our distribution hubs across the neighborhood served 133,280 individuals. Our food pantry operates 5 days a week throughout our service areas. We offered English literacy classes for community members and case management for families that visit our pantry through partnerships with other community organizations. In response to the migrant crisis, we launched our New Vecinos program in 2023. Through the New Vecinos program, we provides essential support and resources to individuals and families in need, focusing on sustainable housing solutions. In the 2023, we moved over 4,000 families and 16,000 individuals into apartments throughout the city, averaging 55 moves per day. We distributed 240,000 emergency items, including jackets, hygiene kits and diapers within 24 hours of request. We assisted the state and local governments in opening the Little Village shelter and caring for 225 shelter residents, including providing programming and resources to help stabilize families to successfully exit the shelter. Our Landing Zone support and intake center welcomed and supported 100-300 new arrivals daily, offering emergency supplies and winter gear.

Mentoring: In 2023, NLC served 2,116 youth through mentoring services and/or weekly programming. Of those 723 were assigned to a mentor and received one on one mentoring sessions. We provided weekly in-school programming to 5 local schools. We partnered with other agencies to provide cognitive behavioral therapy in the schools as part of our programming. In 2023, NLC also expanded our entrepreneurship mentoring program to serve young ladies in Little Village in addition to Humboldt Park. We served 66 young ladies through our entrepreneurship program.

Peacemaking: NLC continued to provide street outreach, crisis response, mediation, hospital response, violence interruption, victim advocacy, case management, and mentoring services for young people in Little Village, Far East Side, Brighton Park and Humboldt Park. Our team engaged young people in small groups, one on one sessions, and programming. In 2023, 441 youth received mentoring services throughout the year. Approximately, 580 engaged in both mentoring and/or weekly programming with our restorative justice department. The Street Outreach staff responded to 100% of all critical incidents in our service area and spent 3,394 hours canvassing the streets working with high-risk key individuals. Our victim advocates provided services to 83 individuals that were either victims of violence or family members of those who were killed due to gun violence. They assisted families and victims in submitting 31 victim compensation applications and supported with 15 funerals.

Sports: NLC offers 16 hours of sports-based programming weekly throughout the year. During the school year, we lead the Neighborhood Sports Little Village League that includes volleyball, basketball and soccer. We partner with local schools and community organizations to facilitate competitive sports leagues for students. In addition, we offer weekly sports programming that include open gyms, basketball, baseball, boxing and running. Overall, we had 1,281 total people participate in our sports programming throughout 2023 the year. In the summer we led our annual Playing for Peace Summer Softball League in both the west and east side of Little Village. In 2023, we served 790 young people through our different sports leagues. We held 77 Light in the Night events with 19,904 attendees.

Education: During the 2023 school year, NLC provides Out-of-School Time programs, which includes both The Vine After School Programming and La Semilla After School Programming. During the summer we offered summer camp options in both The Vine and La Semilla. The Vine programming is for youth in grades K-8th in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. It continues to be a space of hope, teaching, tutoring, and physical activity Monday through Friday year-round. We provide support and resources for 5 local elementary schools and have served over 123 students during this past school year and 103 students last summer. La Semilla continues to be a safe space for students in grades 1st - 8th in Little Village. During the school year we serve 65 students who attend local elementary schools and 32 in our summer camp. Our focus is on building connections with young people through educational support, social-emotional learning, health/wellness, and physical activity.