Lavern Chambers
CEO / Founder
About GKYS
We unlock futures with mentors, STEM, and community care.
Golden Key Youth Services is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) creating joyful, safe, and opportunity-rich spaces so youth and families thrive.
MentorshipSTEM & ArtsWellnessResource drives
Impact at a glance
- 2012 — GKYS founded to keep youth connected and safe.
- 2,500+ — youth reached through programs and drives.
- Chicago first — built with neighborhood voice at the center.
Youth-centered. Community-led. Accountability-first.
Our mission
Build confident, capable youth who lead their communities.
We design programs with youth voice at the center—aligning mentorship, academics, wellness, and community events to real needs.
Founder Spotlight
LaVern Lang-Chambers: A Legacy of Service, Leadership, and Empowerment
An educator, entrepreneur, and community leader whose three decades of service center on empowering youth and families.
30+ years of serviceOprah Winfrey Entrepreneur of the Year • 2025Educator & broker
Early roots in education. From the Dearborn housing projects, LaVern began tutoring elementary students and discovered her calling to equip young minds.
Resilience through real estate. After becoming a Mortgage Broker in 2003, she pivoted back to education post-crash—turning upheaval into renewed purpose.
Championing learning across communities. She tutored with The Black Star Project, supported autistic adults with The Answer, and now teaches chess, art, and STEM with The Afterschool Solutions Company across Chicagoland.
Dual career in real estate. For 30+ years she has served as a broker with Lang and Associates, her family business.
Civic engagement. Red Hat Society, NAACP, Dearborn Realist Board, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and the Masonic Eastern Star keep her voice active for equity.
Recognition. 2025 “We Dream in Color: Oprah Winfrey Entrepreneur of the Year” Award for leadership and innovation.
Golden Key Youth Services. Founded in 2012 to open pathways to growth, opportunity, and empowerment for youth and families.
Family and life. Proud of her daughter’s culinary path and her son’s service in the U.S. Marines and studies in digital animation; she loves travel, shopping, and time with loved ones (and Oye the dog).
“You have no idea what your legacy will be… your legacy is every life you touch.” — Oprah Winfrey
Key Supporters
Key supporters who open doors for youth.
Stewards of governance, partnerships, and resources.
Edward Lang
Vice President
Jeff Golberg
Director of Finance
Carol Hicks
Grant Advisor
Carol Phillips
Volunteer Coordinator
Victor Osaque
Real Estate Acquisitions