Home Away From Home
Youth Development & Reentry
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Mission Statement
Our mission is to break the cycles of violence and poverty by empowering at-risk and impacted youth to become the next generation of leaders.
Our vision is to serve as a beacon of hope in marginalized communities, fostering connections that challenge oppression, promote equity, encourage inclusion, and reverse the trends of poverty.
01
Establish life long connections with youth through mentorship.
02
Empower youth by supporting educational, employment, and entrepreneurial opportunities, and strengthening the family dynamic.
03
Promote emotional resilience and personal growth through self-expression, holistic and group support, and engaging role models
Meet Oscar Parham
Oscar Parham was released from the Illinois Department of Corrections in 2019, after serving a 30-year sentence for a crime he did not commit. Upon his release, Oscar began serving as Youth and Young Adult Mentorship Director at Legacy Reentry Foundation, a Lake County, Illinois.. On May 14, 2022, Oscar graduated with honors, earning a master’s degree in Christian ministry and Restorative Arts from North Park University in Chicago – a program he began pursuing while in prison.
Oscar has also advocated before several legislators for Parole Illinois, an organization dedicated to reinstating a parole board in Illinois for individuals who have received unjust sentences and those deserving of a second chance. In 2024, with extensive support throughout Lake County and the Chicagoland area, Oscar established Home Away from Home Youth Development & Reentry.
Oscar’s unique blend of experiences, education, training, and relentless optimism has made him and Home Away From Home uniquely positioned to positively impact our community’s most at-risk, under-resourced youth. Home Away From Home—with gratitude and humility, and by actively engaging with and listening to the young people we serve—strives to encourage, teach, coach, prepare, mentor, and uplift young people. We welcome and invite you to meet with us, to learn about our work, and to partner with us.
Our kids and our community deserve nothing less.
