Chicago, IL — Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. and the University of Chicago Crime and Education Labs co-hosted a dinner celebrating young people previously in trouble or in crisis who are turning their lives around. Collaborating for Change: Celebrating 20 Years of Unlocking Positive Futures for Youth and Families in Trouble and Crisis marked the national nonprofit’s two decades in Chicago. The June 3 event at the Union League Club of Chicago brought YAP®’s Chicago-area government, philanthropic, education, and community supporters together to meet individuals benefiting from their efforts and generosity.
Featured speaker, LaVail, a Kankakee barber, shared an emotional account of how his YAP® Advocate Antoine McNutt adhered to the nonprofit’s “no reject, no eject” approach when he “had one foot in and one foot out” of his former life. McNutt provided services to hundreds of Chicago youths before he passed away in 2022. LaVail said McNutt, whom he affectionately called, “Big Homie,” was there for him when he completed his time at a state youth facility and had nowhere to call home. He said McNutt connected his aunt to resources needed to become his legal guardian. Fighting back tears, LaVail said, “Big Homie took me to classes to earn my high school diploma, took me to church, and got me a job sweeping floors at a barber shop.” LaVail said when he expressed interest in cutting hair as a career, “Big Homie enrolled me at Larry’s Barber College.”
LaVail is among nearly 20,000 Chicago young people served by YAP®, a national accountability-focused, family-centered nonprofit that recently celebrated five decades of giving communities across the U.S. a safer, more effective, and less costly alternative to youth incarceration and residential treatment. YAP® also supports partner organizations in Ireland, Guatemala, Sierra Leone, and Australia.
The 20th Anniversary celebration honored Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and other leaders and partners who share the nonprofit’s commitment to empowering the greatest risk young people and families with tools to make positive individual change and making neighborhoods safer. In addition to serving youth referred to the nonprofit by youth justice, child welfare, and behavioral health systems, the nonprofit partners with community and school public safety systems to reduce violence.
In Chicago, YAP® partners with Brightpoint to deliver Choose to Change®, a program found by the University of Chicago Crime and Education Labs to reduce violence among some of the city’s highest risk youth. The model combines YAP®’s intensive individual and family “wraparound” services with Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) therapy. Congratulating YAP® on its 20 years in Chicago, University of Chicago Crime and Education Labs Founding Executive Director Roseanna Ander said evaluators find during the six-month program, Choose to Change® reduces both the number of violent arrests and the likelihood of arrest for a violent offense by 47 percent.
During the Chicago event, YAP® President and CEO Gary Ivory recognized Ander, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Heidi Mueller, and national justice activist Bill Ryan, as honorees at the nonprofit’s 2025 50th Anniversary YAP® Making Change Happen awards gala. Ryan, who in 2006 connected YAP® to Lutheran Family and Child Services of Illinois and the state’s Department of Children and Family Services, received a second award at the Chicago event, which recognized dozens of supporters of the nonprofit’s work in the city.
“At the federal level, we are honored that U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin secured $1.5 million to expand our youth justice and violence prevention work,” said YAP® Chief of Programs David Williams, as he recognized Durbin’s Chicagoland Director of Outreach Christian Huerta, who attended the event on the senator’s behalf.”
Among the honorees were Bright Star Pastor Chris Harris, New Life Center’s Matt Mateo, and Autry Phillips at Lifeline to Hope, Inc., leaders of community-based organizations that deliver Choose to Change-informed services. Accepting his award, Harris expressed his gratitude for YAP®’s two decades of service and made a $15,000 donation to the nonprofit.
The Chicago YAP® team also recognized Illinois Rep. Justin Slaughter, who helped the nonprofit secure $200,000 to continue its Washington Heights aftercare and other community-based neighborhood violence reduction services, and Chicago 21st Ward Alderman Ronnie Mosley, a longtime supporter of YAP’s work who frequently attends the nonprofit’s community events.
The celebration included a conversation with former YAP® participants and a parent. “T-Man,” who recently graduated high school among the top ten in his class, said his goals include enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He credits Choose to Change, for helping him focus on accountability after while dealing with the tragic death of his cousin, he made a decision that landed him in detention. Nikolas, who recently completed his second year in college, said YAP® Advocate Theresa Wright took a lot of pressure off him and his family when she supported them during their mother’s struggle with substance use. Joining his at the anniversary event, Nikolas’ mother, Nicole, announced that she is now more than “eight months” clean. She said Wright’s non-judgmental approach and focus on her strengths as a mom were instrumental in her commitment to completing treatment. Gee-Gee, who was referred to YAP® through the nonprofit’s partnership with the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, credited her former Advocate Shannon Lane for helping her put her life on a positive track when she returned from a year at a state facility. Gee Gee emotionally shared how a choice she made during her mother’s illness landed her in the facility and how during her time there, her mother passed away. Entering her third year in college, Gee Gee is a recipient of the Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education scholarship, with is funded nearly 100% by YAP employee donations.
Other former program participants received recognition during the event, including Eugene, who came to the nonprofit through one of its earlier school-based programs for high-risk youth. After years of dedicated service from YAP® Advocate, Byron Steele, Eugene is a graduate of Northern Illinois University. He’s a financial services business owner, a family man, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, where he’s held many leadership positions. YAP® recognized Duriana for recently completing dual-credit coursework with an E-Stem high school diploma and an associate’s degree from Kennedy King College. While in the program she earned 3rd place in the Department of Homeland Security’s Invent2 Prevent competition and developed stronger emotional regulation. Jacquez, who received services during his time in foster care, was honored for stabilizing his life, settling down with his partner, parenting his six-year-old son, and working full time at a Chicago super store distribution warehouse. Jacquez is on the road to fulfilling his dream of working with other young people in foster care and giving back to his community.
Community Partners and Supporters receiving awards during the Chicago celebration included:
- Bill Ryan, helped launch YAP®’s Chicago services
- Michael Bertrand, Lutheran Family Services of Illinois President; and
- Erwin McEwen, former Deputy Director at the Department of Children and Family Services Mike Shaver, President and CEO of Brightpoint, our Choose to Change partner
- Julie Noobler, Brightpoint’s Clinical Director who has been critical to the partnership’s success.
- Sean Harden, President, Chicago Board of Education
- Jadine Chou, former CPS Chief of Safety and Security
- Toni Copeland, Director, CPS Student Supports and Violence Prevention Programs
- Chief Myron Hester, Network 17 Chief of Schools
- Paul Karafiol, Lake View High School Principal
- Leigh Anne Larsen, CPS Office of College, and Career Success
- David Moskowitz CPS Juvenile Justice Manager
- Dr. Nour Abdul-Razzak, Research Director at the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab, formerly a UChicago Crime & Education Labs postdoctoral fellow
- Christopher Patterson, Program Director at Crown Family Philanthropies
- Dr. Fayette Coleman-Gill, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Cook County Associate Regional Administrator for Permanency Services
- Peter Birnbaum, Court of Claims Chief
- Anthony Jones, Hope Haven President and CEO
- Renaldo Hudson, Illinois Prison Project Director of Education
- Stanley Howard, Prisoner Advocate at Uptown People’s Law Center
- Yaacov Delaney, Director of Justice, Equity & Opportunity Initiative
- Wendell Robinson, Executive Director Restore Justice Foundation
- Marshan Allan, Illinois Prison Project
- Rev. Michael Faggett, Pastor, United Baptist Church
- Former and Current staff members, board members, and others who have worked closely with YAP®’s Chicago team
- Randolph Stone
- Mark Lester
- Chris Sutton
- April Curtis
- Chad Hoosier
- Antoine McNutt
- Steve Gates
- Kenneth Trimuel
- Inspirational YAP® Leaders
- YAP CEO Gary Ivory
- YAP Chief Program Officer Dave Williams
- YAP Regional Vice President Jamaal Crawford
- YAP Vice President of Program Operations Dina Harris
- YAP Regional Director Monique Robbins
- YAP Regional Director E’Ron Leveston
- YAP Regional Director Marlon Rucker
- Regional Operations Manager Scheryl Spiller
About Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc.: Founded by Tom Jeffers in 1975, YAP® is a national nonprofit backed by philanthropic and community partners that collaborate with public systems to deliver four signature programs: Youth and Family Empowerment, Bringing Systems Change, Global Capacity Building, and Investing in Economic Mobility. YAP® accepts referrals from its youth justice, child welfare, education, public safety, and other systems partners on a “no reject, no eject” basis. The nonprofit hires and trains community-based employee Advocates, mental health professionals, and other staff who help young people identify and nurture their strengths. YAP® staff are trained to connect youth and their parents or guardians with accountability-focused individualized educational, economic, and emotional needs tools to firm their family foundation. YAP®’s decades of service include working with many young people whose histories include serious offenses, multiple arrests, and lengthy out-of-home placements. John Jay College of Criminal Justice research found 86% of YAP®’s youth justice participants remain arrest free, and six – 12 months after completing the program, nearly 90% of the youth still lived in their communities with less than 5% of participants in secure placement.
