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CLass of 2024 Holds their first Monthly Learning Session

BUILD Chicago hosted CLF for the first learning session with Dr Hassan Batts visiting from Allentown, PA as the special guest for the Leaders in Action Speaker Series

September 8, 2023

Welcome Celebration for the CLass of 2024

Welcome the incoming group of 15 grassroots leaders. 

July 25, 2023

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WELCOME COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP FELLOWS CLASS OF 2024

 Join us in welcoming the next cohort of Community Leadership Fellows! The Class of 2024 will join the leadership development experience designed to uplift Black and Brown voices of Chicago by those who live, work, and lead on the Westside. We are excited to welcome the 15 promising community leaders who will begin a journey of self-discovery, collaboration, and transformation.


CLF’s leadership incubator provides access to a space where fellows will gain the knowledge, develop valuable relationships, skills, and tools they need to lead the revitalization of sustainable, vibrant communities on the Westside. Experience highlights include educational workshops, site visits, personalized leadership coaching, mentoring and networking.


This year we connect emerging leaders from policing, community organizing, youth advocacy, health & wellness, the arts, environmental justice, policy, faith, and financial literacy. Each serving a Chicago Westside community by leveraging their lived experiences.


Introducing the 2024 Community Leadership Fellows:

Derion Barnes 

Westside Wellness Advocate & Community Leader | Garfield Park Community Council


Corey Dooley

Invest South/West Corridor Manager | Austin African American Business Networking Association


Jasmin Graham

Founder / CEO | Spiritchill Wellness


Jonathan Johnson

Minister | Maypole Avenue Church of Christ


Anthony Jones

Organizer & Outreach Coordinator | Westside Rising


Elaine Marthel

Executive Director | Project Impact 180


Del Marie Nelson

Founder/Creative Visionary Artist I ADELMARIEPRODUCTION


Felicia Oliver

Founder | O & A Financial Services


James William Simon, IV

Executive Creative Director | Jay Simon Production Studios


Andrea Slaughter

Community Engagement Manager | Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance


David Anthony Velez

Networking & Community Engagement Specialist | New Life Covenant Church / D. Velez Global / Grown Men Growing Men


Edward Ward

Founder & CEO | MOVE


Michelle Williams

Police Officer | Chicago Police Department


Metasha Young

Police Officer | Chicago Police Department

Congratulations to the CLass of 2023

Congrats to the inaugural cohort!

June 30, 2023

CLass of 2023 Graduation

Celebrate the completion of the cohort year with the Class of 2023 on Tuesday June 27, 2023 at 5:00 pm at the Kehrein Center for the Arts 5628 W Washington.

June 14, 2023

Philanthropy and fundraising

CLF Investor's Council member Lindsay Marciniak hosted the fellows at CCS Fundraising for lessons on fundraising. The Leaders in Action Speaker Series featured Council members Yolanda Knight and Kelsey Malnati in a philanthropy discussion moderated by Lee Ann Eland CLF '23

March 10, 2023

Storytelling Session at United Way of metro chicago

In February, Dr. Hasshan Batts visited us from Allentown, PA. Dr Batts was an early advisor of CLF and it was honor to have him join the fellows to share insight into the vision that drives his work at the Promise Neighborhoods of Lehigh Valley.

February 10, 2023

UIC Neighborhood Center

In January, the Fellows met at the new University of Illinois at Chicago Neighborhood Center in North Lawndale for a session on asset mapping. Dr. Nia Abdullah, Executive Director of MAPScorps joined the cohort for the Leaders in Action Speaker Series discussion moderated by Mercedes Pickett CLF '23.

January 13, 2023

Navigating Systems at Enlace

In December, the Fellows met in Little Village for lessons in navigating systems from Alderman Mike Rodriguez and DFSS Commissioner Brandie Knazze.

December 9, 2022

Fellows Visit the Obama Foundation

In November, the Fellows explored the disciplines of community building and community organizing.  Obama Foundation Vice President, Elisabeth Siciliano hosted the group and invited Executive Vice President Michael Strautmanis for the Leaders in Action conversation moderated by Aisha Oliver CLF '23

November 4, 2022

Health & Wellness

During the October session, the Class of '23 visited Thresholds for a full day of learning and exploration on the topic of mental health and community wellness. Thresholds CEO Mark Ishaug and Chief of Community Engagement and Equity Dee Atkins were gracious hosts. 

October 14, 2022

Leaders in Action Speakers Series

The first class session of the inaugural cohort took place at the Boys & Girls Club in East Garfield Park. The topic of the day was recognizing leadership within each fellow. Special Guest, Robert Lewis Jr CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Boston offered words of wisdom to kick off the year long journey.

September 9, 2022

Class of 2023 Welcome Ceremony

Executive Director of West Side United, Ayesha Jaco served as the Keynote Speaker during the Welcome Ceremony of the inaugural CLF class.

July 28, 2022

Welcome Community Leadership Fellows Class of 2023

Join us in welcoming the inaugural cohort of Community Leadership Fellows! The Class of 2023 will be the first to join the leadership development experience designed to uplift Black and Brown voices of Chicago by those who live, work, and lead on the Westside. We are excited to welcome the 18 promising community leaders who will begin a journey of self-discovery, collaboration, and transformation.
CLF’s leadership incubator provides access to a space where fellows will gain the knowledge, develop valuable relationships, skills, and tools they need to lead the revitalization of sustainable, vibrant communities on the Westside. Experience highlights include educational workshops, site visits, personalized leadership coaching, mentoring and networking.
Community Leadership Fellows is not a program, it is a set of principles in which we identify and amplify untapped talent to diversify leadership structures with the inclusion of those who prioritize lived experiences.


Introducing the 2023 Community Leadership Fellows:

Elianne Bahena 

Director of Policy & Community Outreach | 22nd Ward Public Service Office 

LaCreshia Birts 

Coordinator | Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability (GAPA) 

Jamil Brown 

Officer | Chicago Police Department 

Patricia Carrillo 

Block Club President | 1000 & 1100 N. Monticello 

Alees Edwards 

Block Club President | 1000 & 1100 N. Harding 

Lee Ann Eiland 

Director of Strategic Funding | Hope Excel Reaching the World Academy 

Diana Franco 

Administrative Coordinator I New Life Centers 

Crystal E. Gardner 

Organizer | AFSCME Council 31 

Jaleesa Harris 

Resident Physician | Stroger Hospital 

Jackie Hoffman 

Founder | Peace Runners 773 

DeAngelo Johnson 

Sports & Fitness Center Associate Director | Breakthrough 

Roberta Logwood 

Independent Contractor 

Aisha Oliver 

Director/Truth Teller | Root2Fruit Youth Foundation 

Mercedes Pickett 

Founder, CEO & System Architect | Earth's Remedies 

Alex Ramon 

Operations Coordinator | New Life Centers 

Lady Sanders 

Youth & Parent Engagement Manager | My Block, My Hood, My City 

Edward Whitaker. Jr 

Officer | Chicago Police Department 

Arewa Winters 

Founder | The 411 Movement for Pierre Loury

In the news

CBS 2 Chicago coverage of the Women's History Month Brunch

CAN TV Premiere of Trajectory of Hope

Read Austin Weekly Article

community Capstone proposals

Read Austin Weekly Article

Block Club Mural Tour

Read Austin Weekly Article

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