Awards

Partner in Justice Award (Lawndale Christian Legal Center, 2021)

IMPACT Award – Best 1:1 Mentoring Program in Illinois (Illinois Mentoring Project, January 2016)

Notable Leadership Award for service and devotion to the Latino community (Latin American Professionals Impacting Society, 2015)

Thomas A Demetrio Award for Excellence for mentoring program of the year (Lawyers Lend a Hand to Youth, 2014)

Community Partner of the Year award (Youth Outreach Services, June 2013)

Faith Based Partner of the Year (CeaseFire Illinois, 2011)

Press

Mark Interviews Matt DeMateo of New Life Centers (Interview on Let’s Talk, 2016)

Chicago police, Little Village athletes play softball for peace (Fox 32 Chicago, 2015)

In 2012 & 2013, ULS was asked by Cook County Juvenile Probation to train other Chicago churches on how to implement a gang intervention mentoring program

In January 2012, ULS was featured in PA Professional, a national Physician Assistant magazine for the work we do with our girls program

In 2011, Art Guerrero, a dedicated ULS mentor and lead court advocate, was featured in the award winning documentary, “The Interrupters”

In 2011, ULS was featured in the Chicago Sun Times as a program that is continuing the fight against violence despite budget cuts

In 2011, ULS was selected as the lead Reentry Program Organization in Little Village for the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative by IVPA (Illinois Violence Prevention Authority) to work with youth on parole.

In 2010, ULS was contracted by Chicago Public Schools to provide mentoring to Farragut High School Students through the Culture of Calm Program

In 2009, ULS was featured in the Casey Foundation’s CONNECTS policy issue and commended the program for its work among gang involved youth

Since 2009, ULS has been invited to lead workshops on gang intervention mentoring by CCDA, JDAI, and other cities across the country

In 2009, ULS was featured during ABC 7 Chicago News’ Stopping the Violence segment as an important piece in the city wide anti-violence efforts