I have had the oppourtunity to work with the Urban Life Skills program for the past several years pursuant to my duties as a Juvenile Court Judge in the City of Chicago. In my 20 years as a judge in a delinquency courtroom, I have found it to be the most effective program in dealing with gang related minors in an area of Chicago with a very large gang population… I believe one of the reasons their program is so successful is because of the mentoring component… they have some of the most dedicated mentors I have ever encountered. Cook County is attempting to replicate this program in other areas of the city to provide all of our court involved youth with the support they need to become successful.

I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating directly with New Life Center’s Urban Life Skills programming for the past 3 years. New Life Centers is mission driven and has refined their model of mentorship over the past decade. They have a dedicated core of mentors who work tirelessly for the most at-risk youth and families in the Little Village Community. As a result of their long term efforts, New Life is widely known as the ‘mentorship experts’ in Little Village and beyond. School, community based organizations, law enforcement, and corrections all place their confidence in New Life’s ability to assist youth and families in crisis.

I am a witness to the valuable contributions of the Urban Life Skills program to the Little Village community. The ULS environment provides a structured and supportive atmosphere offering accompaniment by the mentors towards pro-social development. ULS staff skillfully establish a meaningful relationship with the youth to increase competency development. If my child was involved in the system and required a gang intervention program I would without hesitation trust ULS with my child.