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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING NEW LIFE CENTERS OF CHICAGOLAND ON THEIR 20th ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, New Life Centers of Chicagoland was created in 2005 to address the needs of communities surrounding New Life Community Church locations; and
WHEREAS, as neighbors approached the church with pressing issues-gang violence, teen pregnancy, justice system involvement, unemployment-New Life Centers of Chicagoland responded with custom-made center programs that fit the community; and
WHEREAS, New Life Centers of Chicagoland was founded by the New Life Community Church, a multi-site church operating at over 27 sites throughout Chicagoland and internationally; and
WHEREAS, New Life Community Church was founded as an 18-member church in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood. New Life (Nueva Vida) still exists under its founding pastor, Pastor Mark Jobe, and now hosts over 34 services weekly; and
WHEREAS, initial sites grew in the Little Village and Midway neighborhoods (2005); and
WHEREAS, New Life Centers of Chicagoland programs continued to expand at Humboldt Park (2008), Cicero, Jefferson Park, Oak Forest; and
WHEREAS, New Life Centers of Chicagoland's mission is to connect young people and their families with Christ and the Community through life-on-life relationships, and their vision is to create a beloved community together; and
WHEREAS, New Life Centers of Chicagoland offers various programs, including educational groups like La Semilla and The Vine, which serve as afterschool safe havens and summer activities programs; and
WHEREAS, New Life Centers of Chicagoland also offers various sports, including baseball, softball, La Villita basketball, soccer, Neighborhood Sports Little Village (NSLV), open gym, and running forward program; and
WHEREAS, peacemaking groups, such as Juvenile Justice, Resiliency Services, and street outreach, are offered; and
WHEREAS, community care programs such as Pan de Vida, Abundant Life, and New Vecinos are offered; and
WHEREAS, their street outreach team mediated 93% of critical incidents in their targeted area; and
WHEREAS, 95 community events were held in their service area with over 16,000 attendees; and
WHEREAS, 200,000+ people were able to benefit from their food pantry every year; and
WHEREAS, New Life Centers of Chicagoland had over 2,000+ participants in their mentoring program a year; and
WHEREAS, New Life Centers of Chicagoland has received multiple recognitions, including the Notable Leadership Award in 2015, the IMPACT Award for Best 1:1 Mentoring Program in Illinois in 2016, the Partner in Justice Award in 2021, and the Mayor's Medal of Honor in 2022; and
WHEREAS, to this day, New Life Centers of Chicagoland continues its culture of creating programs that address neighborhood needs and empower neighborhood involvement.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby recognize and honor the 20th Anniversary of New Life Centers of Chicagoland; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this text be spread upon the proceedings of this Honorable Body and that a suitable copy of this resolution is presented to New Life Centers of Chicagoland on their 20th Anniversary.
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