Programs

About Little Village & Urban Life Skills

The Little Village (La Villita) community, located in Chicago’s South Lawndale neighborhood, is home to more than 90,000 residents and represents the largest concentration of Mexican and Mexican Americans in the city of Chicago.

Little Village has a population that is primarily working-class, Hispanic, first or second-generation in the U.S., Spanish-speaking, young, and male. The median income for Little Village families is 32% lower than the Chicago median of $38,625, with over one-fourth of our families living in extreme poverty (with incomes below $15,000).
 

Little Village has one of the youngest populations in the city, with nearly 70% of the population under the age of 35. The rising number of youth in the community creates a demand for more and better schools, parks, social services, and youth programs. Especially in a neighborhood with the least amount of green space per capita in Chicago, access to recreational facilities and open space is limited, forcing youth to play in streets and alleys. More than 2,000 neighborhood young people are gang members; the ensuing violence hinders community development efforts.

Gangs are a huge issue and are often declared the number one problem in the neighborhood. Youth have to constantly be aware of what side of the neighborhood they are on and the gangs took more than 15 lives in 2008 alone.

New Life Centers of Chicagoland seeks to create a gang intervention program that makes a true difference in the community.  Its name is Urban Life Skills.

Have You Visited Us on Facebook?
The most updated news and photos on Urban Life Skills and ULS Productions are posted to our Facebook page.  Visit us at "Urban Life Skills Program" and see the latest updates!