New Life Centers Gets Community Active With Little Village Volleyball League

Neighborhood Sports Little Village volleyball teams go head-to-head during New Life Centers’ weekly Light in the Night event series.

It was a night of friendly competition as New Life Centers hosted its weekly Neighborhood Sports Little Village (NSLV) volleyball league at Little Village Academy on Thursday, October 12, 2023. The event series is part of Light in the Night, a Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) program aimed at reclaiming public spaces.

Community members packed the bleachers as teams competed in several matches over the course of the evening. The league, which kicked off in September, features 12 teams with players ranging from fourth grade to eighth grade and from different levels of experience.

Epifanio Diaz, who serves as New Life Centers’ Director of Sports-Based Mentoring, says the program is important because it allows kids to grow in more ways than one.

“Some kids come in a little rusty in the sport, but as time goes on and practices go on, you can see development in their skill level and the camaraderie from the children from one another,” Diaz said, adding that the league is a way for the kids to combat chronic stress and trauma.

Maria Ruiz, a community member and spectator, came out to support her niece who took the court early in the evening. As she cheered from the sidelines, she spoke to her appreciation of the program and its function of getting kids engaged in activities.

“It’s important because it’s a way for students to get exercise and health is very important. They’re also able to de-stress themselves after school because it can be kind of stressful,” Ruiz said. “I feel like it’s a fun way to gain more friends in the community, in the school, and just have an opportunity to have fun and enjoy time after school.”

In addition to volleyball, NSLV also offers other sports throughout the year, including soccer, basketball, and softball. Participants are able to compete against other local schools as they learn good sportsmanship and develop their skills.

Michael Torres, New Life Centers’ Sports-Based Mentor Coordinator, said he believes in the power of strengthening his community through getting active and NSLV does its part.

“This is a collaborative where you have different agencies, different organizations, different schools that come together and play. You have people from all over the neighborhood,” he said. “You have parents coming in to watch and cheer [on] their children. We’re building community through sport.”

New Life Centers is one of 13 Chicago organizations representing CP4P, a coalition of non-profit organizations focused on gun violence prevention across 27 Chicago neighborhoods.

To learn more about upcoming Light in the Night events, check the calendar here.