The VISION Outreach is a youth-focused community outreach program with the sole purpose of helping the youth of Chicago and surrounding areas progress and excel. VISION's mission is to provide a morale boost to youth--installing hope, optimism, inspiration, and positive practices in their lives.
Our vision is to provide the youth of the Chicago land area with easily assessable services that invest in the youths’ future giving the youth a vision for their lives that sparks hope, thus creating a positive reoccurring harvest throughout the youths’ lives by planting seeds for positive growth and development. Our goal is to be a contributing factor in mentoring the next generation of Chicago into positive leaders leading Chicago into a brighter future.
The Story Behind the VISION
"Once our youth have a vision, hope initiates; dreams form; dedication, discernment, and diligence ensues; and success is inevitable."-- Rev. Dr. Shaunte' Brewer, Executive Director & Founder
Founded and organized by Rev. Shaunté Brewer, VISION Outreach was the response of someone who saw a great need for leaders to step up and invest in the youths’ of the Chicagoland area future. Ms. Brewer is an active educator, who believes in planting seeds that not only encourage her students in the classroom, but in life. One day, after a long day of classes and after school mentoring, she realized that many times, from very young ages, society pigeonholes our youth while still expecting great things with little investment.
At that time, Ms. Brewer decided to be the change she wanted to see in the world, with a vision in mind and an initial donation of $50, she stepped out on faith with great conviction. Refusing to be a person who just complains about the direction of the youth, she decided to provide a course for the youth through VISION Outreach. VISION Outreach provides paths of investment that install the important ingredients for any success: hope, dreams, plan of execution, support system, dedication, and vision.
VISION Outreach knows that in order for our youth to overcome the obstacles they face on a daily basis, constant investment is a necessity—reassurance that not only is there someone rooting for them, but someone who truly believes in them and will hold them accountable for their actions. VISION Outreach did not want to be yet another resource available only in certain areas, for certain socioeconomic clientele, VISION sought to be easily accessible and accepting of all.
VISION Outreach makes sure that its programs are more than just effective but defy the common conceptions and understandings about open community outreach. VISION Outreach is all about investment. Everyone has an investment in our youth. Everyone has something they can invest, and together, we can make the greatest investment and experience the greatest return Chicago has yet to see.
In its youthful existence, VISION Outreach has reached more than 2,700 youth through their annual summer camps, spring break camps, Saturday tutoring sessions, annual teen summit conferences, in-school mentoring and tutoring sessions, after school enrichment programming, youth STEM courses, and annual end of summer talent showcases.
VISION Outreach has a vision for reaching thousands and continuing to facilitate youths’ success by helping them realize the vision for their lives.