André V. Chapman, M.A. - President & CEO, The Unity Care Group, Inc.
February, 2002
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(City Flight Magazine) In 1992 while working as a National Director of Sales and disheartened by the lack of other minorities in the technology field, Chapman founded The Unity Care Group, Inc. to develop educational and social programs designed to enrich the lives of disadvantaged at-risk minority youth.
In just a few years Unity Care has grown to serve more than 500 youth each year with special emphasis on Foster Care Youth. Today its programs stretch among five neighboring counties (Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz. SanMateo and Monterey), providing 84 residential beds and employing over 130 staff. Unity Care program services consist of 14 residential facilities ranging from a Sub-Acute Psychiatric Facility, Emergency Shelter, Dual Diagnosis-Drug Treatment Center, Transitional Housing for youth aging out of Foster Care, Pre-College Minority Engineering Program, Foster Family Agency, youth-After School Leadership Programs and many other program services.
Having earned a BS in Business and a Masters in Organization Management, Chapman has worked vigorously in bridging the foster care divide at local and state levels. He addresses the overrepresentation of minorities in the foster care system. Chapman has received both local and national acclaim for his dedication and innovative programs. His recent recognitions have included: "Awards for Excellence" by Wells Fargo; "Grand Hero" by Bob Dole and the Avanti Foundation Magic Awards Ceremony; "Partner of the Decade" by the City of San Jose Department of Housing; and "Nonprofit of the Year " presented by 100 Black Men of Silicon Valley.
Mr. Chapman's personal mission is to impact young adults by providing opportunities (physically, emotionally and spiritually) that will enhance their lives and teach them how to become productive citizens in our society; to be the best father, husband, son, brother and boss life can offer and effectively empower those around, me during my journey.
Unity Care has aggressively expanded its core services into Santa Cruz and Monterey counties and made a significant impact upon those communities as a major provider of youth services. Those of which Andre' Chapman is most proud are: opening Monterey (county Children's Shelter for abused and neglected youth; opening Dual Diagnostic Drug Treatment Center in Santa Cruz County; his capital campaign which raised $800,000 to purchase a 7-acre plot of land for campus site; massive employee recruitment and hiring of 80+ new employees; and as part of Unity Care's Pre-College Minority Engineering Program, its youth placed second out of 455 schools in NASA/Ames US First National Robotic Competition in Orlando, Florida.
