Growing Toward Success: UCAN Honors Youth Participants at REACH 21 Milestone Celebration

*UCAN honors youth participants at the REACH 21 Milestone Celebration on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at Labourers for Christ Ministries in West Pullman. (Photo: Oscar Edmond/OEPHOTOGRAPHY)*

Ar’Zion Sims, 16, is a young man with vision.

Like many teenagers, he’s focused on getting his first taste of freedom and independence as he looks for a job and makes plans to get a car of his own. Down the line, he hopes to obtain his Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to secure a trucking job, while also fixing up cars. His goals are direct and intentional, shaped by the lessons he’s learned while enrolled in UCAN’s REACH 21 program.

First launched in January 2025, REACH 21 is a violence prevention program that engages more than a dozen Black male youth ages 11 to 21 through mentorship, mental health support, job training, education, life coaching, and more. Sims and his fellow cohort members hail from communities such as Englewood, Pullman, Roseland, and other neighborhoods across Chicago that have experienced decades of disinvestment and high levels of crime.

The program aims to support and celebrate these young men as they reach milestones such as birthdays, graduation, employment, and personal transformation. In early August 2026, the group was honored at UCAN’s REACH 21 Milestone Celebration, as loved ones came together to cheer on their accomplishments.

Mayor Brandon Johnson delivered the keynote address to the 15 participants in attendance who sat among their families, friends, and supporters. (23 youth participants are currently enrolled in the program.) Mayor Johnson spoke about what happens when we pour into our youth and present them with positive alternatives, which can lead to building up future teachers, entrepreneurs, construction workers, and yes, even mayors.

*Mayor Brandon Johnson delivers the keynote address.*

“You are not alone, and you’ll never be alone. Know how proud we are of you. Not simply because you’ve reached this milestone, but because you kept showing up,” Mayor Johnson said. “You kept believing in yourselves. You kept moving forward even when the road wasn’t easy. Be clear, your success doesn’t happen by chance. It happens because you refuse to stop believing in you.

“The community chose hope over fear, and you chose opportunities despite the obstacles. That’s what building a better Chicago looks like.”

Christa Hamilton, President and CEO of UCAN, spoke about the vision behind REACH 21 and her desire to see young Black boys grow up to find success. She expressed her dedication to guiding the program’s participants, from the time they enter at 11 years old until they celebrate their 21st birthday.

She applauded the group for leaving behind “old choices, old environments, and old ways of thinking” in order to make room for future possibilities.

*UCAN President and CEO Christa Hamilton gives remarks ahead of the certificate presentation.*

“Change is hard. Change requires us to stop doing things that probably feel good and are very familiar to us, and start doing some things that are uncomfortable to us,” Hamilton said. “I want to applaud each of these young men and their families for having the courage to do something different, to believe in themselves, and keep showing up.”

Joseph Mapp, Director of the Office of Re-Entry for the City of Chicago, was also honored at the event with the Community Impact Partnership Award for his commitment to fostering youth success and facilitating re-entry into society. During his remarks, Mapp reflected on his work in Community Violence Intervention (CVI), stating that it’s the small, consistent steps and encouragement that can lead to major transformations.

“People rarely change because someone simply tells them they’re valuable. They change because someone consistently treats them like they are,” Mapp said. “[…] When I look at REACH 21, I don’t just see a program. I see mentors investing time. I see staff refusing to give up. I see families continuing to encourage. I see a community choosing to walk beside young people instead of watching long-distance.”

He added, “[These] accomplishments don’t happen overnight. Each one represents hundreds of small decisions. Choosing to come back, choosing to listen, choosing to trust, and choosing to keep going. Those decisions deserve to be celebrated because they become the foundation for everything that follows.”

*Ar’Zion Sims, and his mother, Robia Sims, celebrate his accomplishments.*

Grabbing their diplomas and walking the stage that evening, the group of young men had a palpable sense of pride as their loved ones cheered them on and celebrated their achievements. Sims, who had the support of his mother in the audience, said the celebration truly touched him.

“It means a lot, seeing all of these people makes me feel special. They came to support us, and I appreciate that,” he said.

In reflecting on his time thus far, Sims said the program has taught him discipline and helped him create a roadmap for his future. He encourages his peers to join REACH 21 for all its invaluable benefits.

“Find something to do and keep your mind off of things,” Sims said. “[This program] is really helpful, it’s kind of like a mental health program. The coaches are really helpful. Whatever you need, they have it.”