It’s no surprise that Urban Initiatives’ own Andy Neilsen has been selected by Laureus Sport for Good Chicago to join the Sport for Good Chicago Hall of Fame, an honor recognizing current and past coalition leaders who have demonstrated clear, consistent, and dedicated leadership in advancing the collective action of the Sport for Good Chicago coalition.
For anyone who knows Andy, this recognition is a well-deserved reflection of what he’s done every day for decades: living, breathing, and leading the mission of sport for good.
“Andy is the walking embodiment of sport for good,” shared Dana Landau. “He feels and demonstrates this mission in everything he does. You are hard-pressed to find someone who more genuinely and passionately dedicates themself to sports-based youth development.”
A Coach, Leader, and Visionary
Andy’s impact stretches across Chicago’s schools, playgrounds, and communities. A celebrated and revered coach in his own right, he’s known not only for his technical expertise but also for his human-centered, inclusive, and caring approach to coaching.
“Andy leads by example on the regular,” Dana continued. “What is universal about all his interactions is Andy’s authentic care, dedication to seeing the full person, and unwavering belief in others’ potential.”
Whether leading a practice, facilitating a workshop, or shaping strategy at the systems level, Andy connects every play and every conversation to something larger: the transformative potential of sport to build belonging, inclusion, and civic strength.
“Andy Neilsen is a true champion for the power of sport to change lives,” said Julie Chelovich Perconte, COO of Urban Initiatives. “He doesn’t just coach the game; he builds transferable skills, belonging, and community through it. Across classrooms, fields, and boardrooms, Andy conveys with rare clarity how sport can unlock human potential and civic possibility.”
A Life Devoted to Transformation Through Play
Andy’s leadership has shaped hundreds of young coaches and thousands of students, embedding social-emotional learning, inclusion, and joy into every play. His influence also extends to the systems level, helping Chicago imagine what a city grounded in the values of teamwork, inclusion, and access can truly look like.
“Is there anyone more steeped and storied in the lore of sports-based youth development than Andy Neilsen?” reflected Brendan McAlpine, a former colleague of Andy’s and now Lead Pastor at Branch Church. “He walks the walk, he talks the talk, he lives the life. What part of our great city of Chicago has not been touched by his passion? None.”
Andy’s leadership has shaped hundreds of young coaches and thousands of students, embedding social-emotional learning, inclusion, and joy into every play. His influence also extends to the systems level, helping Chicago imagine what a city grounded in the values of teamwork, inclusion, and access can truly look like.
The Heart Behind the Work
Few people have seen Andy’s commitment more closely than his wife and longtime colleague, April Lillstrom, who began working alongside him at Urban Initiatives in 2011.
“Andy Neilsen has been living and breathing Chicago SBYD since he walked into Urban Initiatives in 2011. For the past 15 years, Andy has done it all. He’s been an after school soccer coach, a recess coach, a program manager, and even spent years traveling the country training coaches with Up2Us—his dream job,” April shared.
“As his partner, I have special insight into all the hours on and off the clock that Andy has spent thinking about how to better support coaches, families, and schools. He wakes up every morning with the desire to be a good teammate to everyone seeking to elevate the power of play so that young people can develop skills, experience the joy of being on a team, and find meaning through sport.”
Those who have been coached, mentored, or trained by Andy echo that same sense of purpose.
“I think the thing that truly makes Andy special is that for him, being a good coach and being a good human are the same thing,” shared Steph Landry, a coaching colleague and CPS Kindergarten teacher. “He knows sports can bring out our best. You can tell what he values whether you are a kid playing for him, a colleague developing a new project with him, a mentee getting advice, or a friend catching up. Andy has positively affected so many people through his coaching, and Chicago is better for it.”
Looking Ahead
Andy’s induction into the Sport for Good Chicago Hall of Fame is a celebration not just of his accomplishments but of the community he’s helped build, one rooted in care, connection, and the belief that sport can transform lives and entire systems.
Congratulations, Andy! Urban Initiatives and the countless youth, coaches, and partners you’ve inspired are proud to celebrate you and this well-deserved recognition.
