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Life could have very easily turned out quite different for Carlos. At 12, Carlos faced a pivotal moment when his father passed away, leading to declining grades and a loss of interest in life. His school suggested he engage with YOS, but initially, Carlos was reluctant. This changed when he met Xavier, his mentor, who

In discussing the challenges of Chicago’s toughest neighborhoods, Christi, YOS Program Manager of Prevention Services, pointed out the scarcity of resources and support for local youth, saying, “There are not as many resources and not too many people that will come in and work with the youth in the area.” Christi has seen the significant

Peer pressure played a positive role in Dajah’s life when her friends encouraged her to join the YOS Teen Reach Prevention Program in Austin, a safe haven for youth after school. Initially reserved, Dajah gradually became more engaged, thanks to Brison, the YOS Teen Reach Coordinator, who involved her in group discussions, cooking lessons, and

Referred to YOS for counseling after his girlfriend was involved in a shooting, Armando initially found it difficult to express his emotions, explaining, “Where I grew up, you can’t open up to people because you can’t trust everybody.” As a former gang member, he was familiar with the dangers of street life, including being shot

Tyson’s life began to unravel at 12, feeling out of place and eventually succumbing to the challenges of substance abuse, homelessness, and theft, which led to multiple incarcerations. His turning point came during one of his stints in juvenile detention, where he decided to pursue his GED and aim for a better life. Upon release,