Valencia Pringle

Chicago, IL

Executive Director, Family Cares (AFC) Mission

Providing essential youth and family services to prepare young people to emerge as influential change agents in their communities.

Valencia is the Executive Director of Family Cares Mission, an organization serving Chicago’s Auburn Gresham, East Garfield, and Englewood communities. Since 2019, she has tackled the critical issue of limited, affordable, and accessible resources for youth. Under her leadership, Family Cares Mission secured $8 million in grants, expanding its youth employment, after-school, and performance arts programs. These initiatives have provided over 250 employment opportunities and enriched the lives of over 400 youth, offering consistent support and creative outlets. Valencia seeks to use the Scholars program to develop and implement a new approach to arts programming through the Family Cares Mission’s community theater, offering acting, dance, media training, and other performance arts initiatives for youth.