Turning Compassion into Action: New Life Centers

For more than 20 years, New Life Centers has partnered with communities on Chicago’s Southwest and West sides to respond to urgent needs with dignity and compassion. Guided by faith and a commitment to equity, New Life Centers adapts and innovates to meet each new challenge.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, New Life organized daily food distribution for thousands of families and opened its Pan de Vida market to expand access to fresh food. In 2023, it built a large-scale response to support tens of thousands of new arrivals to Chicago in need of humanitarian assistance. In the midst of increased immigration enforcement tactics, the organization has stepped up for its communities by distributing emergency supplies and growing its network of partner organizations.

Mentoring and youth guidance are central to New Life’s approach. Over 40 percent of staff are alumni of its youth programs, and as the Little Village lead for SC2 (a city-wide initiative to scale community violence interventions in high-risk neighborhoods), it has contributed to a 65 percent reduction in neighborhood shootings and homicides.

“No matter what our neighbors are facing, we’re here to face it with them.”

MATT DeMATEO
CEO
New Life Centers