George Salazar’s life could have easily gone in the wrong direction. Close male relatives had joined the Latin Kings street gang, and some of his peers associated with a rough crowd. But Urban Warriors showed him a different way of life, one filled with positivity and possibilities. He joined as a student athlete and now manages baseball operations for the organization. He will attend Roosevelt University in the fall. Like his coach and mentor Rey Raigoza, he uses sports to teach life values, such as resilience and perseverance, to children and teens. “The main value I’ve learned from baseball is that sometimes things don’t go your way,” George says, “but it’s not an excuse to give up.”
In 2016, Raigoza was coaching Little League baseball, mentoring 15 young athletes. His team was invited to a tournament in the suburbs, the only Latino team competing. Unlike the other teams, they lacked matching uniforms or branded gear, and shared three bats between them. Nevertheless, they advanced to the semi-finals.
The experience marked a turning point for Raigoza. He founded Urban Warriors, which became a non-profit in 2022 to ensure young people are not excluded from high-quality, competitive extracurricular activities due to financial hardship. Urban Warriors provides free access to programs that build character, discipline and empowerment, on and off the field. A single baseball team has grown into six programs, serving over 300 youth across Chicago. Programs include girls soccer, a community chess club, a running club, a travel baseball team and a youth-led podcast. Through partnerships, they offer wraparound services—from mental health resources to financial literacy classes.
The main value I’ve learned from baseball is that sometimes things don’t go your way, but it’s not an excuse to give up.
George Salazar
Urban Warriors is built on mentorship and relationships, says Saraí Guerrero, director of development and community advancement. “We want to know everyone by name, know their stories, and not just put on programming and call it a day. If kids have a bad day, their mentors can support them. Even parents talk to us about what’s going on.”
Most of their alumni go on to college and get scholarships to play sports they were exposed to at Urban Warriors. That’s the case with George, who joined at 10 and will play Division II baseball at Roosevelt University in the fall. “We want to carry that same kind of legacy to those younger program participants,” Guerrero says. “It’s a space for them to be themselves or seek shelter from whatever is going on, but it can also create social capital, like expanding their networks, giving them opportunities, giving them scholarships, giving them jobs, providing the essential resources they need to have a fruitful future.”
What George has learned—everything from a work ethic to time management—will help him overcome challenges. He aspires to become a professional baseball player, but if it doesn’t pan out, he wants to return to Urban Warriors. Urban Warriors “opened my eyes to a whole world,” George says. “I feel like I owe that back to the kids, because we all need a little bit of guidance.”
Through the Robert R. McCormick Communities Fund, dedicated people across Chicagoland help make sure that every child and family has opportunities to achieve their goals. With your support, we can create new possibilities and help make countless dreams come true. Funding from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation Communities Fund assists organizations on the South and West Sides of Chicago to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children, young adults, and families each and every day.
