- (312) 912-5208
- info@rollcallcommunityservice.org
- 4220 W. Roosevelt Rd. Chicago, IL 60624, USA
Founded in 2006, Roll Call was inspired by an earlier organization called Brotherhood, created by our former Executive Director, Milton Golden, along with fellow inmates during their incarceration. Brotherhood promoted unity and personal growth among incarcerated individuals, aiming to transform mindsets before reentry into society.
Building on those values, Milton Golden co-founded Roll Call alongside Irving Wright, Keith Jackson, and Linda Weatherspoon. Together, they laid the foundation for an organization committed to empowering formerly incarcerated individuals and creating pathways to success after release. Each co-founder played a vital role in shaping the mission, development, and continued growth of Roll Call.
Today, Roll Call focuses on empowering justice-involved youth as well as at-risk youth with no prior background, who are in need of mentorship and structured programs to succeed in life. We take a holistic approach – often beginning by assisting the youth directly, but also extending support to the families of emerging adults when needed.
Guided by the motto “Empower the Ex-Offenders in Order to Prevent the Next Offenders,” Roll Call remains committed to community-based solutions that foster resilience, reduce recidivism, and create lasting, positive change.
Roll Call is a 501(c)(3) grassroots, community-based nonprofit organization founded in Chicago in 2006. Our mission is to address the critical challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals and at-risk youth, including unemployment, family disconnection, and barriers to successful community reintegration.
Rooted in the North Lawndale community, Roll Call works to meet the broader, universal needs of families impacted by incarceration. We promote healthy lifestyles, foster independence, encourage inclusion, and support personal empowerment through mentorship, programming, and holistic services.
While our primary focus has been in North Lawndale, our reach extends across the Chicagoland area, including communities such as Humboldt Park, East and West Garfield, Near North Side, Near West Side, Englewood, Roseland, Dolton, and beyond.
Roll Call offers a range of supportive services designed to empower youth and strengthen families. We provide both one-on-one and group mentoring, job readiness training, employment resources, and entrepreneurship workshops. In addition, we create safe spaces for healthy recreation, social gatherings, outings, and group activities, all of which welcome family participation as part of our holistic, transitional support model.
Our programs serve youth ages 10 to 24 years, with a focus on building social capital – the networks, relationships, and community ties that are essential to personal and collective well-being. By fostering these connections, we work to prevent delinquency and violence, improve quality of life, and enhance the overall health and prosperity of the communities we serve. Ultimately, our goal is to help young people build the skills, confidence, and support systems they need to lead safe, productive, and fulfilling lives.
Roll Call’s mission is to empower formerly incarcerated individuals, justice-involved and at-risk youth, and their families by providing mentorship, life skills, and community-based support. We are committed to reducing recidivism, preventing youth delinquency, and fostering personal growth through holistic programs that promote education, employment, entrepreneurship, and strong family ties.
Roll Call envisions a world where all individuals, regardless of their background, have access to the support, resources, and opportunities needed to lead empowered, purposeful lives. We are committed to expanding our reach beyond Chicago, working with at-risk and justice-involved youth on the West Coast and eventually in communities across the globe.
As part of this vision, Roll Call aims to provide scholarships and financial assistance for individuals pursuing non-traditional education paths, including vocational training, trade certifications, and entrepreneurial development. Through mentorship, education, holistic family engagement, and access to opportunity, we strive to break cycles of incarceration and build safer, stronger, and more resilient communities worldwide.
Roll Call’s S.E.E.D. Program is designed for emerging adults ages 16 to 24, with a focus on entrepreneurship, job readiness, and career development. The program equips participants with the skills, mindset, and support needed to pursue meaningful employment and long-term professional growth
This program is designed to inspire and nurture the creativity of youth ages 10 to 15 years old by introducing them to the world of arts, fashion design, styling, and merchandise marketing. Rather than focusing on job readiness or entrepreneurship, the program encourages self-expression, imagination, and artistic exploration.
In response to the challenges presented during the COVID-19 pandemic, Roll Call partnered with Cook County Juvenile Probation to provide diversion services for court-involved youth ages 11 to 18. This program offered an alternative pathway to fulfill probation service hours while promoting personal growth, accountability, and community awareness.
April 9, 1952 – May 22, 2024
(Served as Executive Director of Roll Call from April 2007 – May 2024)
Mr. Milton Golden was born and raised on the Westside of Chicago. A great portion of his youth and adult life was spent in reform schools and penitentiaries, once facing the death penalty. Mr. Golden decided to turn his life around and to do right by himself and others. Mr. Golden started an organization called Brotherhood, in order to promote unity and positive change while incarcerated in hopes of changing ones’ mindset BEFORE they return home from prison. Brotherhood newsletters promoted positive messages, it was an inspiration to the inmates and the guards throughout Cook County jail. Mr. Golden was a true visionary and trendsetter because later the prison authorities started their own paper and stopped the publishing of the Brotherhood newsletter. When released in 2002 Mr. Golden began to network with several individuals and agencies, informing them of his desire to create a platform to help ex-offenders transition successfully back into communities & to assist at-risk youth in making wiser decisions. He connected with a few people that shared the same vision and in 2006 Roll Call was formed with some of the same values as Brotherhood. Mr. Golden also started an organization in honor of his grandmother who was slang by those she was helping in the North Lawndale community; the organization was named Geneva Redding Community Angels.
When I was a youth, I never had a father figure to discipline me nor to show me the right things to do. My mother was on drugs and no one was around to take care of me so I felt the need to start selling drugs to survive. I was sent to DCFS until I was 13 then finally was adopted by my aunt where I grew up through pain & sadness, missing my parents. I used to feel that no one could help me so I was selling drugs on the block and risking my chances of going to jail. I ended up getting arrested and while incarcerated I prayed day & night for my life to change.”
“After my release from IDOC in 2011 my uncle, the Roll Call Counselor, introduced me to Roll Call’s Life Coach. A few days after meeting the Life Coach, I went up to Roll Call and instantly received assistance; I knew then that I was in the right place. Once involved I felt compelled to become a member of Roll Call because I knew helping others can also help myself and I wanted to be on the right track. After completing the program, I started volunteering. I was able to meet great politicians through the process and also got a chance to tell my story to those that I helped.”
“It feels good to wake up knowing that I have a job, a place to go help someone, things to do and to be a part of Roll Call. I have always dreamed of being a politician and I am still going after that dream. With Roll Call in my corner, I can see it happening.
When I got into some trouble my dad told me about Roll Call, I started participating in their activities and I received so much help, I am very grateful for Ms. Linda and Mr. Milton, I thank God for placing such caring and loving individuals into my life. They not only helped me to become a better person but also helped me to believe in myself, they are like my extended family
I am thankful for Roll Call staff especially Ms. G, she is very patience with me, even when I act out, but she will always let me come back to the program
I Maria Poleo from this letter I want to thank Linda and Milton, and the program Roll Call for their beautiful support helping me during my condition of pregnancy with, baby crib, clothes for my baby, toys diapers, wipes and more. I am thankful for their beautiful attention, love and understanding. Thanks to the Roll Call program I learned to stamp jackets, shirts and I learned some English, thanks to Mayra, and I learned how to work as a team through this program. My sister was able to learn many things just like me. I hope we continue with this beautiful program, and we can show more people or more youth thank you for everything. God bless you guys all
I appreciate the brother Jarriel for being a solid dude, when I didn’t have a way home from the program he put me in a Uber because he knew I did not feel safe on the bus. Thank you Jarriel
Roll Call helped me a lot, I’m glad I had the opportunity to work there for the summer, both Ms. Linda and Ms. Jessica was always there for me, and my family thank y’all
(312) 912-5208
info@rollcallcommunityservice.org
4220 W. Roosevelt Rd. Chicago, IL 60624, USA
