Last August, we shared how Urban Initiatives’ Coach Apprenticeship Program was creating new pathways for young people in North Lawndale to step into leadership through sport. Designed for youth ages 16–24 who may be disengaged from traditional school or employment, the program offers a paid learn-and-earn experience focused on coaching, youth development, and community leadership.
Now, several months later, we wanted to share what happened next.
Youth Coach Apprentices: Three Months Post-Program
In the summer of 2025, Urban Initiatives’ Coach Apprenticeship Program provided a cohort of 25 North Lawndale youth with a paid learn-and-earn opportunity to develop their coaching skills while positively engaging with their community. Many participants were disengaged from traditional employment or education pathways.
Through a series of training workshops, apprentices were introduced to research-based coaching and youth development frameworks, along with transferable job readiness and social-emotional skills. Coach Apprentices then applied these practices in real time at play-based community events with younger children from their own neighborhood.
At the immediate conclusion of the program, apprentices spoke to its positive impact, noting the connections they built with adult mentors and one another, as well as the opportunity to be a positive force in their community. Three months later, we wanted to know how those experiences were carrying forward.
80% of program participants attended a reconvening in November, with many expressing excitement about returning to the program in 2026.
Additionally, 40% had started a new job, class, or program since completing the Coach Apprenticeship Program.
Highlights include one participant now working full time at Jewel, another at St. Mary’s Hospital, and two preparing to begin a nine-month program with GreenCorps Chicago.
It was clear that participation in the program had a lasting impact.
As one young person shared, “The apprenticeship program helped me connect with others more and learn how to speak up and try new things. It helped me feel like even things that don’t seem fun at first might be, as long as I try.”
During this post-program follow-up, 70% of participants elected to have individual calls with UI staff to discuss their future career goals, where we uncovered even more impact.
One participant is now applying the skills he learned in the program by working weekly with children through a tutoring program hosted at a local police station. “[The Coach Apprentice Program] helped me get out of my comfort zone,” he shared. “It helped me interact with kids and build confidence.”
Another participant reflected on the enduring value of the experience, stating, “I met new people, I met great coaches, and I learned how to teach kids of different age ranges how to play and how to do it safely. I would love to do it again.”
Well, so would we!
By investing in local talent, UI is building a pipeline of coaches who know their communities, reflect the young people they serve, and strengthen neighborhoods through play. We are proud to stand alongside our apprentices, partners, and neighbors in North Lawndale, and we look forward to continuing this work in the summer of 2026.
