Youth CrossOver to Success
CrossOver is a basketball program that helps teens build ball-handling skills, teamwork, and work experience while preparing to cross over from high school to success. The objectives of Crossover are to use the game of basketball to spur students on to a physically, emotionally and mentally disciplined life. Through the program students learn the important values of teamwork, hard work, leadership, punctuality, goal setting, and peer encouragement. This is emphasized throughout program through open discussion, drills, competitions, etc. in order to give teens different perspectives as to their application in life and the value of keeping each other accountable to accomplish a common goal.
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Running Forward Enjoys Peaceful Run on Lakefront Trail
Running Forward youth enjoyed a 4 mile run on the Lakefront Trail this past week. It was a nice change from running in the busy neighborhood of Little Village. We had a debriefing session afterwards and youth shared that they really enjoyed the experience and that they would love to do it again. All smiles and content hearts after a great run on the Lakefront Trail!
Urban Life Skills Receives Award for Innovation in Mentoring
On May 18th New Life Centers was recognized by Mentor Illinois with the 2018 Innovation in Mentoring Award. This was given for all the mentoring innovations we have implemented in the Urban Life Skills Program. Thanks to our staff for all their hard work!
Little League Kicks Off the Season With Record Amount of Players
Little Village Little League has officially started! Our opening day was May 5th and it was a huge success. We have 185 youth participating in our baseball league which is the most we have ever had since Little League started 7 years ago. It was a beautiful day with lots of games and good food that families brought to share with everyone.
Many thanks to volunteers and sponsors who make this league possible!
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Youth Clean Streets in Little Village
During Spring Break our youth involved in our Open Gym nights engaged in caring and serving their community of Little Village by taking to the streets and helping clean our neighborhood. Our youth were accompanied by other youth from New Hope Community Church and from New Life Community Church- Lawndale campus. Youth served together to help clean Lawndale Avenue from the historic 26th Street to 31st street which included both Little Village Academy Campus and Gary Elementary School Campus, where many of our youth attend. This event helped edify the youth by bringing the community together and showing them the strength that youth have in order to make a visible difference in Little Village.
Celebrating Our Volunteer Mentors
We are very thankful for all the volunteers that play a role at New Life Centers. Volunteers are key to the work that is done. Their faithfulness was celebrated at our annual Volunteer Spring Brunch, earlier this month.
Our volunteers serve in a variety of capacities from tutors, program support, sport referees, to volunteer mentors.
They each bring giftings and passions that add uniqueness and depth to our programs.
We are always looking for qualified volunteers to help support the work. With summer around the corner there will be openings for new volunteers to join the team.
The Vine Students Make a Awesome Mural!
The Vine, which is our after-school program in Humboldt Park, has been digging into art and exploring different concepts to express our creativity. Last month we brainstormed, planned, and completed a classroom mural that incorporated Dr. Seuss’ birthday with everything we have been learning about Heaven. The mural started out as a land straight out of Dr. Seuss books, then it expanded into what we think Heaven will look like. There were many helping hands, lots of cooperation and teamwork that went into this project. Discussion about what they are looking forward to in Heaven and how bright and brilliant the colors need to be to show God’s perfect place for us was like music to our ears. The process was simply beautiful.
Running Forward Participates in their First 5K Color Run
Running season has officially started and our first run was the Fun Run in Color in Wheaton, IL. The youth had a blast and the cold weather didn't stop them from enjoying the event. For many of the Running Forward youth, this was their first race and they are encouraged to participate in more throughout the year. Enjoy the pictures!
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Circle Up!
Every person has a need to belong to someone and something. We were designed and placed on earth to live and thrive in community and with every community there are values. Over these last few weeks we have been spending our time at Biedler and Piccolo middle schools teaching our young men this truth. During our time together, the community phrase “Circle Up!” has emerged as a battle call for us to return back to our intended design of live in community with shared values. With the charge “Circle Up!” came a set of values that we have called our C.A.U.S.E. - Character, Awareness, Unity, Sacrifice, and Eternity. Our young men are quickly adapting to the rally of our C.A.U.S.E. with an innate intuition of someone and something bigger calling them together and upward. They are embracing that we can go farther, faster and longer together as a unit and have committed to “Circle Up!” in order to do so. Stay tuned as we venture to bring the power of our unity to the community of Garfield and Humboldt Park.
La Semilla Teaching Students to Trust in God
This semester at La Semilla After-School Program the students have been learning about the life and ministry of Jesus. One week they focused on the story of Jesus calming the storm on the lake, and the students re-enacted the story with boats they had created. They also drew a picture of a moment when they were afraid, and on the other side of the paper, wrote a Bible verse about trusting God - to help them conquer their fear. The students were encouraged to take the verse home so that they could have a daily reminder to rely on God when they are afraid. The next day one of the 3rd graders excitedly shared with the leaders, “You know that verse you had us do? It really helped me last night when I felt afraid!”