Liana started attending ICI in junior high. Now, as a high school student, she has dedicated her life to the Lord and is committed to serving Him. She volunteers at church and mentors younger students at ICI, following the example set by those who invested in her.

Last year, a close friend of Caleb’s was shot and killed in a gang altercation. His mentor said, "That was a pivotal time, and I have seen Caleb’s growing desire to put distance between himself and that life."

Fourteen years ago, Erick walked through the doors of ICI’s very first club in Cicero. This fall, he stepped up in front of his church family to share what God did in his life before his baptism.

Through our Distance Learning Assistance Program, ICI provided school assistance for eight hours each day while public schools were closed. Providing families a safe place for kids while parents worked and providing a reliable internet connection for students who did not have one at home.

At camp, my counselor, Reegan, finally got through to me. She just wouldn’t stop loving me, encouraging me, and reminding me that Jesus was waiting to embrace me and change my life. That’s when I finally accepted Him and began to believe what Reegan had been telling me all week.

Along my journey, God put humble leaders in my life. Being around those people made me want to imitate them and I realized leadership isn’t about outward strength but about setting an example for others to follow.

“Till this day I miss ICI so much.”

Chris shares how his life was changed growing up in Humboldt Park and coming to Inner City Impact's youth programs.

ICI was Oscar's refuge as he grew up. ICI staff modeled healthy relationships and plugged him into a local church. Now, he is investing back into the lives of those who grew up in similarly challenging circumstances.

I came into my internship assuming that this summer would be a breeze! I grew up being a staff kid, so I figured that I had basically been “staff-in-training” my entire life and had all of the knowledge and skills to run things.

Before Christ, I had a lot of grudges and felt like everything had to be perfect. I tried to control a lot of things. Now I can leave things in God’s hands. When I am worried, I know I can trust God. I’m not angry anymore.

Joseph was the primary caregiver for his family by age twelve. Family members’ substance abuse and a lack of social support left him lost and alone. Staff at ICI provided support when there was no one else, which changed his life forever.

Sophomore year is when the teaching at ICI really got to me and I gave my life to Christ and changed the path I was on.

ICI started as a place where Brian could be a kid—it became so much more.

Deeply hurt by his father’s abandonment, Ricky remembers feeling lost and bewildered, wanting to reach out but having no one to turn to. Trying hard to shield him from the streets and to keep him from making the same mistakes as his father, Ricky’s mother kept him inside most of the time.

Already familiar with ICI’s programs because of her older sister, Mia couldn’t wait to start attending them herself. With both parents working and a younger brother to care for, Mia needed a safe, family-like environment where she could be free to be a kid.

Throughout my whole high school experience, I felt like I needed to change. After we got back from my last high school camping trip I was thinking about what the leaders had said. I decided to pray and give my life to Christ.

Gerald has been involved with ICI for as long as anyone can remember. The oldest of eight kids, he started attending the Humboldt Park programs when he was ten.

Juanita grew up in a busy and active part of the city. She says her neighborhood was known for a “lot of violence, brokenness, and dysfunction.” With both parents suffering from mental health issues and unable to care for her, she was adopted and raised by her great-grandparents, already in their 60s.

Dan grew up in Humboldt Park, a west side Chicago neighborhood that is notorious for its crime, gang activity, drug trafficking, and violence. Neighborhood reports income and housing values far below the citywide average; it’s rough, dangerous, and often in the news.