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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
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