The new agency will provide a more equitable, integrated, and holistic system of services for young children and families in Illinois.

Read the whole article here.

All award recipients will be honored and speak on behalf of their ministries and services during UVC’s virtual event: Raising Our Voices Through Resources: A Bridge for the Gap (Part 1) on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, from 11:00 am to Noon.

Video invitation here!

Experts from the UMC and community services will focus on mental well-being, anti-racism, equity, and accessibility. An extensive resource list will be made available following the event. Both clergy and laity, and new this year, community-wide agencies are invited to participate.

Dear friends,

I write this note as my sixth year of service with United Voices for Children comes to an end. What a remarkable journey and privilege it has been to serve on your Board of Directors and as Treasurer. Our faithful, dynamic leadership team has remained steadfast to one another and to UVC’s mission: to speak and act on behalf of children, youth, and their families. 

We are pleased to report that UVC made disbursements of $18,000 to our three agency partners in 2021: Kids Above All, Rosecrance, and MYSI. This is twice the amount disbursed in 2020 when the pandemic began. We are supremely grateful for the generous giving by individuals and local churches during this difficult and challenging time. 

Do you have a heart for advocacy? Would you like to be a catalyst for positive change in the lives of vulnerable children and youth? Reach out! Discover how your life might be enriched by connecting with United Voices for Children.

May you and your beloveds be blessed and a blessing in 2022. Peace be with you.

Jacki Bogolia
Treasurer, United Voices for Children 

In an article published in “Chalk Beat Chicago,” writer Mauricio Pena explains what Chicago has done to help students. Pena explained, “Chicago Public Schools will spend 7.5 million dollars to expand an anti-violence program for teens in “high-risk situations’ and connect with them weekly therapy and dedicated mentors. The program, called Choose to Change, will reach 1,000 students this school year.”[1]

A partnership between Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. and Children’s Home & Aid, Choose to Change provides young people with a trauma-informed, six-month program to help them develop healthy decision-making tools. This program can potentially assist in changing the culture of violence throughout Chicago by helping those most susceptible.

By supporting this program and educating others about its impact, we can help Chicago’s most vulnerable children and youth. Tell your local congregation and other constituencies about Choose to Change. Encourage your stakeholders in your community to support this new program. And contact your state lawmakers and tell them more similar policies and programs are needed throughout Illinois to protect our children and youth.   

Rev. Beverly Dukes
Policy Coordinator, United Voices for Children

[1] Mauricio Pena, “Chicago to expand anti-violence youth program that reduces arrests in a pilot” Chalk Beat Chicago, accessed November 29, 2021, https://chicago.chalkbeat.org/2021/10/25/22745286/chicago-public-schools-choose-to-change-antiviolence-program-pedro-martinez

 A press release issued on November 3, 2021, on the “Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America” website noted that “Governor J. B. Pritzker had announced a $250 million investment for gun violence intervention programs. Over the next three years, the funding—a combination of federal and state money—will direct support violence prevention and interruption initiatives in Illinois neighborhoods as part of the Reimagine Public Safety Act.”[1] As such, many communities of color, who historically have experienced increasingly more incidents of gun violence compared to their white counterparts, will benefit significantly from these violence prevention programs. In addition, these programs can assist children and youth who are “high risk.”

Therefore, as advocates for all Illinois’ children and youth, we encourage you to support this $250 million dollar investment in gun violence prevention programs. Be sure to spread this information throughout our local and church communities so that those most in need can receive these resources. Click here for more information on this new policy and share!

Rev. Beverly Dukes
Policy Coordinator, United Voices for Children

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[1] Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, “Governor J. B. Pritzker Commits $250 Million Towards Violence Intervention Programs-Illinois Moms Demand Actions, Students Demand Action Applaud Commitment to Gun Safety, accessed November 29, 2021, https://momsdemandaction.org/governor-j-b-pritzker-commits-250-million-towards-violence-intervention-programs-illinois-moms-demand-action-students-demand-actdion-applaud-commitment-to-gun-safety/