MISSION To create a just and equitable society and the diverse leadership to sustain it. OUR CORE VALUES Diversity & Inclusion — We believe leadership is best when it reflects our diverse communities. We listen, learn, and work across differences to build the common good. Integrity — We believe leaders meet their commitments and act responsibly with public and personal trust. Focus on Assets — We recoginize and catalyze the strengths and natural leadership of everyone to build momentum for social change. Collaboration — We believe in the strength of the collective and build consensus and empower each other to achieve common goals. Continous Learning — We belive individuals and institutions must relentlessly seek new information and bold ways to apply that learning. Innovation — We believe in responding to demographic, political, and social shifts by acting in creative ways that generate new solutions.
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Table of Contents
Message from Public Allies CEO and Public Allies Chicago Executive Director . . . . . .
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Leadership and Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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About Public Allies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Alumni Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Learning Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Class of 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Partner Organizations (PO). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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PO Testimonials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Program Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Partner Testimonials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Program Funders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Ally and Partner Organization of the Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Dear Leaders, Congratulations to Public Allies Chicago on reaching this noteworthy milestone - 30 years! As the oldest operating site in our network, Public Allies Chicago has forged a strong legacy of leadership that began with the pioneering leadership of Michelle Obama and continues today under the auspices of PA Chicago alum, Mark Payne. Public Allies Chicago holds such a rich history of leadership and community engagement, and I am proud to witness Mark and his team dig deeply into the value of collaboration, and evolve the apprenticeship program’s depth and impact with such excellent partners such as Contextos, Exelon, LEE, DePaul, and the Goldin Institute. With this graduating class, Public Allies has achieved another significant milestone. We are now a network of more than 10,000 leaders across the country. We have always known the transformative impact this organization has on our members, but with a growing network of more than 10,000 we are poised to make an even greater impact on systemic change. In every corner of the country, there is a longing to recreate and reimagine the world anew. I hear stories every day of the ways our alumni are actively working together to create communities where all belong and have the opportunity to share in the prosperity of this country. Public Allies celebrates each and every one of our alumni leaders. Congratulations graduating class of 2023! You are now PA alumnus forever. The face of leadership looks like you. You are now a part of this esteemed community of change-makers, from state senators to CEOs, artists, organizers, decision-makers, and policy-shapers. Welcome to this powerful network. Together, you will determine the future of our communities. Thank you for your leadership.
Yours in service, Jenise Terrell CEO, Public Allies, Inc. 4
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Dear Chicago Community, Public Allies Chicago (PAC) is a strong network of community residents, leaders, community based institutions, and fundersall committed to creating a just and equitable society and the diverse leadership to sustain it! Since 1993, nearly 1000 (one-thousand) Allies have graduated from Public Allies Chicago and we have remained steadfast in our commitment to transforming both the face and practice of leadership by identifying and nurturing bright emerging talents that are skilled with an unwavering dedication to driving profound social change within Chicago communities. Asset Based Community Development is described as an approach to discover local community assets and a practice for mobilizing a local community to move into action with residents at the center. In this framework, the community is the principal actor rather than the client. Rooted in that approach, Public Allies Chicago has helped develop leaders in every sector of the Chicago community. In 2023, Public Allies Chicago strengthened its programs and partnerships. • • • •
All Public Allies are certified In Asset Based Community Development through DePaul University Steans Center With leadership from the Steans Foundation and North Lawndale Community organizations we have created a successful North Lawndale program We have begun to focus on the principles and practices of Social Entrepreneurship, and in 2024, we will pilot an arts and social justice program.
Our Allies and alumni continue to lead in every space - youth development, public safety, and affordable housing. As Public Allies Chicago continues to celebrate 30 years, we look forward to working with you on our commitment and love for Chicago communities. More to come! Mark Payne Executive Director, Public Allies Chicago 5
LEADERSHIP AND STAFF AJ Owusu
Director of Pathways and Network Relations, Public Allies Chicago
AJ (they/them) is responsible for cultivating partnerships that support Ally Pathways. They enjoy building strong communities and connecting people to opportunities that contribute to growth and inspiration. Prior to joining Public Allies, AJ was a team member of a corps that supported Quality of Life efforts in Englewood, Chicago. AJ enjoys art and movement. Their favorite part of Chicago is the unwavering hearts of the people willing to stand up for what is right.
Bianca N. Cotton
Associate Director, Public Allies Chicago
Bianca (she/her) is a Chicago native and Chicago Public Schools graduate with a heart to serve people, develop leaders, and see communities get the resources they need to succeed. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master’s Degree from DePaul University with a concentration in Management and Leadership Consulting in the Nonprofit and Corporate Sectors. With more than a decade of nonprofit management and social justice experience, seeking to foster a just and equitable society, Bianca is adept at serving youth, families, and communities using her exceptional toolkit acquired through her experience in project management and human development. Bianca has honed her craft as an emotionally intelligent practitioner who is skilled at establishing and sustaining inner-office and external relationships with key stakeholders in most positions she has held. Moreover, she exemplifies resilient leadership while also demonstrating a complementary, team-centered disposition. During her tenure at United Way of Metropolitan Chicago leading an AmeriCorps Program, she developed a training and learning curriculum to equip leaders from diverse backgrounds with practical knowledge and tools to pursue a career in nonprofit. Now serving as the Associate Director of Public Allies Chicago - a social just organization of which she is an alumna - working to help fulfill its commitment to changing the landscape of leadership by recruiting and training talented emerging leaders from marginalized communities. Bianca assists organizations in advancing their missions by providing strategic direction for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, while enhancing employee engagement through employee resource groups and professional development opportunities. As a trained W. K. Kellogg Racial Healing Practitioner, Bianca curates space for people with diverse backgrounds to learn, be transformed, and sharpen their innate abilities to actualize their purpose and add value to each space they enter.
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Kassandra Esparza
Program & Communication Systems Manager, Public Allies Chicago
Kassandra Esparza is a first generation Mexican-American from the south suburbs of Chicago. A lifelong creative, her background in design and experience as an AmeriCorps alumni has helped fuel and strengthen her passion for community work. Since graduating from Columbia College Chicago’s Civic Media program, she has taken an interest in exploring different avenues of healing, introspective reflection, and self-care. Her hope is to gain a better understanding of herself as a person, creator and a Latina. In doing so, she can then use that insight to create powerful, impactful experiences that allow communities of color to amplify their voices. Her goal is to inspire action through creative innovation.
Mark Payne
Executive Director, Public Allies Chicago
Mark E. Payne (he/him) serves as the Executive Director of Public Allies Chicago ‐ the oldest, continuous‐running site in the Public Allies national network with a rich history of addressing systemic inequities through action. Mark’s goal is to position Public Allies Chicago as the premier pipeline for talented civic change agents in the Chicago metropolitan area. Mark oversees all aspects of Public Allies Chicago including strategic visioning, external engagement, fundraising, and staff management. Mark has 30 years of experience in government and community relations, economic development and youth development. Before leaving Chicago city government to lead CeaseFire Illinois, he served the City of Chicago in various Public Safety policy roles. As the Deputy Chief of Staff / Public Safety for Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Mark served as liaison to five Public Safety Departments. While serving as Deputy Director to the Superintendent’s Office at the Chicago Police Department he developed a key partnership with DePaul University’s Egan Urban Center to revitalize and restructure the Community Alternative Policing Program (CAPS). He oversaw the retraining of the entire CAPS staff (sworn and civilian) in Asset Based Community Engagement methods. He also served as a co‐facilitator for the National League of Cities Black Male Achievement Initiative and served on the leadership team of Mayor Emanuel’s Commission for a Safer Chicago as well as the Department of Justice’s National Forum on Youth Violence. Mark is an alumnus of City Year Chicago, Public Allies Chicago and the Lugenia Burns Hope-Center Leadership Training Institute. Mark is also a Fellow at the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
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ABOUT PUBLIC ALLIES Public Allies is a 30-year-old national ecosystem of nearly 10,000 leaders committed to advancing social justice and racial equity. Our organization engages in development and community-building amongst upstart antiracist leaders, particularly those from diverse or underrepresented backgrounds (including BIPOC individuals and people from varied education levels, diverse socioeconomic statuses, nontraditional sexual or gender identifications, etc.). For decades, Allies and alumni across the country have been quietly and powerfully shifting inequity in communities in ways now widely being recognized as the key to our nation’s future. Public Allies’ signature apprenticeship program places emerging leaders in ten-month full-time apprenticeships at local nonprofit organizations. During that time, our Allies spend four days per week providing capacity-building support to organizations delivering critical services to the community and one day per week participating in a rigorous professional and personal development program that includes subject matter experts facilitating workshops to build their leadership skills. Allies also participate in communitybuilding activities, engage in group mentorship of youth with a trauma-informed lens, and receive individual coaching to guide them on a pre-selected pathway toward career, higher education, or continued national service after program completion. Our Allies are diverse, equity-centered, innovative problem solvers dedicated to mobilizing community assets to develop solutions to local challenges. Upon completion of our program, Allies enter our alumni network, which is the focus of convenings, mobilization opportunities, and options for continuing education that facilitate leveraging, engaging, and activating these leaders. Our alumni hold positions ranging from elected officials to nonprofit managers to CEOs of companies and foundations. Collectively, our network of Allies, alumni, and nonprofit partners creates a powerful force for equity and justice in communities that most need it across the country. Click the thumbnails below to watch compliation videos of just a few leaders from our powerful, anti-racist network:
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ALUMNI IMPACT Through their diverse expertise and experiences, Alumni contribute to transformative initiatives, bringing positive change across sectors. Their impact resonates in the broader community, as they become catalysts for positive change, enriching cultures, and bolstering resources where they are most needed. Our interconnected alumni network is a powerful force, shaping a collective legacy of positive influence and progress. Here are three examples of this leadership: Education - Along with community organizations and residents, Public Allies Alum Keith Lewis led the development and management of a comprehensive program that included the 2022 creation of two neighborhood centers on the south and west sides of Chicago, facilitating connections that strengthen and build community partnerships as well as create and implement specialized pathway and accessibility initiatives for underrepresented and marginalized groups. The center was developed with the hope that residents–including early childhood learners, K-12 students, post-traditional adults, justice-involved individuals and aspiring entrepreneurs–will view UIC as an institution that genuinely cares and is once again trusted to support them with achieving their life goals and aspirations. Transportation - Public Allies Alum Leah Mooney led planning and community engagement efforts for the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line Extension Transit Supportive Development Plan. (TSD) The CTA’s Red Line Extension (RLE) TransitSupportive Development (TSD) Plan represents a vision for transformational community impact, realizing the City of Chicago’s commitment to investing in the Far South Side and spur the development of more livable, transit-supportive communities and help reverse decades of disinvestment in local business districts. In 2023, the Red Line Extension Transit Supportive Development Plan was was awarded the 2023 Strategic Plan by the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association. Art/Design - Since 1997, Public Allies Alum Andres Hernandez, a Chicago-based interdisciplinary practitioner whose work draws forward the latent potential of words, spaces, sounds, and movement to elicit liberatory ways of being, has co-led and consulted on a number of open space planning and creative place-making projects in Chicago’s Austin, North Lawndale, Bronzeville, and West Pullman neighborhoods, as well as the Burnham Wildlife Corridor adjacent to Lake Shore Drive. As part of the 2021 Chicago Architecture Biennial, Hernandez served as a team member with Grow Greater Englewood and Atelier Bow-Wow for the design of the Englewood Village Plaza, and from 2017-2019, he was an exhibition design team member for the Museum of the Obama Presidential Center. He currently serves as a creative consultant for other local and national public projects and public space initiatives. In 2023 Andres Hernandez was named: Art 50 2023: Chicago’s Artists.
LEARNING PROCESS AmeriCorps and Public Allies have partnered since 1992 to develop and hone a learning process that is designed to use the platform of community work to facilitate the learning of leadership skills. Public Allies believes that leadership develops through hands-on experience with the support of training, community and reflection. Our learning process weaves together four key elements that constitute an experiential journey of self-discovery and professional development. Like scaffolding, these elements connect and build upon one another to create a strong foundation for growth.
Training and Learning —Guided by a robust and relevant curriculum, cohorts of leaders gather to engage with theoretical frameworks, peer-problem-solve, and learn new skills essential to their work in communities. Honing 21st Century leadership and workplace skills help leaders from all backgrounds learn new ways of responding to problems and initiating solutions that encourage shared responsibility, alliance-building, and using existing resources. Practicum — Leadership is developed in real-life contexts, and the practicum is the place in which leaders are challenged to bring their learning to life. Whether at work, volunteer service, family, or community, the practicum is where learning is put into action, tested, and refined. Reflection — A consistent and supportive practice of critical reflection allows leaders to understand their experiences and accelerate personal growth. By learning to give and receive feedback, leaders strengthen relationships, collaborations and teams. Through this process, leaders define and claim their narratives as individuals and as a collective. Building Community — Community is built when people share experiences, and when successful, the community supports and solidifies leadership development by bringing it into a safe public space. The relationships developed through the Public Allies Leadership Development Model challenge participants, promote accountability, and offer opportunities for authentic feedback, support, and celebration.
THE PUBLIC ALLIES CHICAGO CLASS OF 2023 Arnelle Johnson N. Lawndale Service Corps Associate, Sinai Health Network
Arnelle Johnson is responsible for the analyzing, cleaning, and utilizing data collected by SCI. She helps to conduct full scale evaluations of social services programs to determine whether programs targeting low-income, mostly minority clients are positively impacting clients’ health status and/or quality of life. She has also had the opportunity to work with, and sometimes lead, North Lawndale’s community coordinating councils to address issues surrounding healthcare access, physical wellness, and mental health services. Prior to joining Public Allies, Arnelle Johnson was working with her father in Bolingbrook while being a warehouse associate. She volunteers at NLCP working with four young males helping them graduating and helping them keep focus during the school year. In the next few years, she plans to finish getting her Associates Degree in Communications, then will get a Bachelors Degree in Communications as well.
Diamond Jackson
N. Lawndale Service Corps Associate, Lawndale Christian Development Corporation
Diamond, a Second-Year Ally, is responsible for social media marketing, event coordinating, and providing direct support to LCDC Cooperative members. Prior to joining Public Allies Diamond had just finished school in May of 2021, when she graduated with a degree in child development In Chicago IL. Diamond enjoys spending time with her family and has recently started taking an interest in yoga and meditation.
Diamond’s favorite part of Chicago is the summertime Chi. She believes that nothing beats our beautiful skyline and watching the shore of Lake Michigan. In the next few years Diamond plans to go back to school to obtain another degree and potentially start a business in real estate.
Jakyra McGee
HR/Operations Coordinator, North Lawndale College Prep
Jakyra is responsible for record keeping, onboardings, exit meetings, accounts payable actions, auditing, investigations, responding to emails and requesting documents. Prior to joining Public Allies, she was an intramural sports, sports clubs and main office supervisor at the Georgia State University recreational center. She also had just finished her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. Jakyra has been volunteering for the James-Gail Foundation Inc since 2016 which is a small non-profit organization here in Chicago. She also volunteers for green projects when the time allows. Jakyra is also a math tutor to several highschool students in different levels of mathematics and two that are retaking placement exams for universities.She also works as the North Lawndale College Prep track coach for both girls and boys whom she assisted in getting to the state championship for both seasons.
John Ersery Culture Ambassador, EPIC Academy
John J. Ersery is responsible for analyzing collected data from the MTSS (Multi-Tiered Support System) database to determine interventive programs that will support students. He helps support the coordination of the Career Intensives program, which happens twice a year, by being a liaison between partner organizations and staff, ensuring clear internal communication with EPIC staff, and organizing logistics and details for the program. He also helped launch the school store at EPIC by building relationships with students to understand their wants. Prior to joining Public Allies John was a Technical Expert at Apple for 2 years. He enjoys music, he shares a vinyl collection of over 80 records. He produces and records music. He enjoys creating safe spaces for others to find their way of expression. In the next few years he plans to find more ways to bring music and wellness together for youth to explore expression and mental wellness.
Jorge Reynoso
Special Events & Curriculum Coordinator, Public Allies Chicago
Jorge Reynoso serves as an Ally leader/Special Events and Curriculum Coordinator at Public Allies Chicago, where he is responsible for re-establishing contact and relationships with past partners and alumni as Public Allies approaches their 30th anniversary. He also films, directs, and edits past partners and alumni interviews to create content for PAC’s social media channels that also works as possible outreach for future partners and Allies. Prior to joining Public Allies, Jorge was a student at DePaul University and graduated with a BFA in Film and Television. He volunteers at La Villita Park Farm. He enjoys sitting down and watching a good movie or TV show, but also appreciates the tranquility of nature by going on walks or hikes.
Kembrya O’Neal
Program Specialist, Gary Comer Youth Center
Kembrya is a undergraduate psychology major student invested in community healing and mindfulness. She serves as a program specialist and mentor to youth at Gary Comer Youth center. Her previous experience includes being a barista, a program operation manager for college students, and an outreach specialist. While managing all of these different roles, the community holds the utmost importance in her life. “Kreate With A K”, is a common saying you’ll hear from Kembrya. In free time you can find her writing poetry, singing, painting, playing guitar, etc. always immersed in something creative. Most recently she is the owner of Mu’s Klues 777, a holistic and wellness business. Centered around crafting herbal teas, teaching, and sharing esoteric knowledge.
KJay Jackson
N. Lawndale Service Corps Associate, Lawndale AMACHI Mentoring Program
KJay provides mentoring and tutoring to children and youth and provides parenting workshops to support the development of healthy families. She is skilled at identifying community resources and excels in team building, leadership, and motivating others. She currently serves as Youth Community Specialist for the Chicago Lawndale AMACHI Mentoring Program where she is responsible for mentoring and tutoring youth two days out the week, managing social media marketing, promoting food drives, clothing donations, back to school giveaways, and youth field trips. Prior to joining Chicago LAMP, she was the Store manager at Family Dollar where she was responsible for hiring, evaluation and training of 15 employees, handled all customer inquiries and complaints, ensuring customer satisfaction, maintained a calm demeanor throughout periods of high volume or unusual events and used interpersonal communication skills to add value to each customer and employee interaction.
Krystal Love
Community Partnership Specialist, North Lawndale College Prep
Krystal is responsible for connecting with Partnership Organizations to bring forth resources to the students. Prior to joining Public Allies, she attended Illinois College where received two degrees in Health Science and Psychology in May of 2023. She often volunteers at food drives around her community monthly to help make and pass out food to the homeless. She enjoys cooking, spending time with her friends and family, and spending time in nature. Her favorite Part of Chicago is the beautiful Lakefront and the Garfield Park Conservatory. In the next 5 years, she sees herself living life to fullest, with a booming business and traveling the world!
Malik Williams
Step Up Program Coordinator, Chicago Youth Centers
Malik is responsible for academic learning. In this role he documents data using excel, collecting data, and teaching. Before Public Allies Malik had recently graduated from Michigan State University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice along with a minor in Youth and Society. Malik volunteers at the Chicago Park District helping clean up parks on the West Side of Chicago. Malik enjoys learning about technology and how software works. Malik also enjoys playing video games in his free time. Malik’s favorite part of Chicago is the Lakefront as it is very relaxing. In the next few years he hopes to be managing his own company and giving back to the community.
Ronnie Branch
N. Lawndale Service Corps Associate, North Lawndale Employment Network
Ronnie is responsible for doing marketing and development outreach projects like social media campaigns and graphic designs. Prior to Public Allies, Ronnie attended Grand Valley State University where he graduated with a degree in Integrative Studies and a minor in writing. Ronnie is a sports enthusiast and was an intern at Best Version Media Sports where he wrote articles ranging from collegiate track and field, to professional basketball. Ronnie is a Chicago native, and his favorite thing about the city is the diverse group of people he gets to interact with everyday. In the next few years Ronnie plans to go into project management, and he hopes to eventually work in the realm of sports later in life.
Rosa Pineda Lopez
HELP CTE Learning Assistant, Chicago Public Schools
Rosa Pineda is a dedicated advocate for youth, committed to empowering students and families in their educational journey. As a HELP CTE Learning Assistant at Chicago Public Schools, Rosa collaborates with external partners, students, and teachers to facilitate a seamless engagement process with the CTE HELP Cluster. This essential work provides valuable learning opportunities for students interested in Health Science, Education, Law, or Personal Care careers. Rosa’s autodidactic and autistic nature has driven her passion for continuous learning, including mastering skills in sewing, computer coding, video/photo editing, mold making, bookbinding, printmaking, and more. Rosa is a true enthusiast for her city. Rosa explores every neighborhood in Chicago, with a particular fondness for the Bridgeport River Walk, a historical Union Stock Yard landmark called Bubbly Creek.
Sierra Johnson
Program Assistant, Institute of Cultural Affairs
Sierra is responsible for aiding the Program Director, Karen Synder, to design and implement Carbon Free programs and initiatives which encourage community members to live a more sustainable lifestyle and reduce their carbon footprint. She co-leads communityled workshops on fighting the climate crisis and designs publicity materials to engage volunteers in their work. Before joining Public Allies, she graduated from Lawrence University with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Government. Sierra often spends leisure time enjoying outdoor activities that allow her to connect with the beauty of the natural world. Also, she finds great joy in sketching, painting, or experimenting with different mediums to channel her inner creativity.
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
At Public Allies Chicago, we challenge communities across the country to come together, embrace their differences and cultivate social change. We see having strong partnerships as key to fulfilling our mission. Nonprofit organizations that need to create, improve, or expand their services to meet community needs are welcome to apply to host an Ally. Allies have served at organizations focused on youth, education, economic development, health, arts, environment, and other social and community services. This year’s partner organizations include:
Sinai Health Network Lawndale Christian Development North Lawndale College Prep EPIC Academy Gary Comer Youth Center
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Lawndale AMACHI Mentoring Program Chicago Youth Centers - Epstein North Lawndale Employment Network Chicago Public Schools Institute of Cultural Affairs
PARTNER ORGANIZATION TESTIMONIALS
North Lawndale Employment Network: "We now have a set template for several monthly social media series, including a comprehensive Black History Month Series and a Black Philanthropy Month series. The foundation that Mike has laid ensures that these will be standing social media series. One thing that I have already shared with our staff and executive leadership is that there was in increase in web form inquiries form people interested in attending NLEN program orientations during the month of February due to the amplification this social media series provided online and through social media." And... "We will be leveraging the work and relationships Mike has built in his new position! Mike will be starting a job at an organization we regularly partner with, which will continue to amplify our own programs and services to the community." Lawndale Christian Development Corporation (LCDC): "We hope to leverage the work she has done to build outreach to connect with likeminded people. People who have an interest in owning a business and people who desire to join a cooperative business. Our long term goals are to build 4 cooperative businesses in the community and serve as an incubator for small local businesses. Outreach efforts are important in order to reach the individuals who would be interested in getting the training necessary and information and support to take steps to build their businesses."
PROGRAM PARTNERS What does it mean to be a program partner? Our Program Partners support Ally development and learning through hands-on, experiential learning opportunities and practical applications of sector knowledge. We are proud to acknowledge DePaul and the Goldin Institute (ABCD Curriculum), Leaders for Educational Equity (LEE) (Pathways Coaching), Exelon (YouFair), and Contextos (Author’s Circle) as partnering sponsors for the 2022-2023 program year. Our Allies broadened and deepened their knowledge through activations offered by our partners. Your organization can contribute to strengthening the leadership capacity of local changemakers in Chicago. Contact AJ Owusu (ajo@publicallies.org) to initiate a partnership call.
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PROGRAM PARTNER TESTIMONIALS Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE): "Our partnership is focused on developing the civic leadership of Public Allies and alumni. Public Allies recruits and inspires leaders to build power and lead change in their communities. In partnering with LEE, Public Allies invests in its alumni because developing transformational, equity minded leaders and advancing policies and practices that improve communities does not stop after their program experience. In fact, it’s just the beginning. Creating a just and equitable society will require the lifelong leadership and systemic change. We are aligned deeply with this vision and see ourselves as one aspect of how Public Allies shapes their alumni by developing their civic leadership.To date, almost 800 Public Allies alumni have registered with LEE and ~40% have engaged with us so far. Since our partnership launched, 10 Public Allies alumni who are LEE members have run for office, ranging from state level to municipal to local office. Currently, five Allies are in elected office. There are three Public Allies alumni who have filed to run for office in 2023 and/or 2024 races and that number is growing. For example, Anthony Bryant won his race in 2023 for Chicago Police District Council in District 3 and Jonathan Brostoff is running for Milwaukee Common Council District 3 in 2024. This is inspiring because these leaders are the embodiment of Public Allies’ core mission and belief that diverse, values-driven leaders should be at the forefront of creating solutions in communities and that impact requires an ecosystem of advocates, including influence through elected leadership.”
In partnership with Contextos, the 2022-2023 cohort of emerging leaders came together in Authors Circle fully ready to engage, be candid, and share their authentic selves and truths. This book is a result of that weekly commitment. Read the full book here. The Authors Circle is a co-created space for exploration and discovery, that uses reading, writing and engaged dialogue as vehicles for transformation. Participants “read as writers” as they draft, revise, illustrate and publish their memoirs. Throughout the process, individuals learn to take and accept critical feedback, improve reading and writing skills, and reflect upon the past to imagine a different future. The Authors Circle demands accountability while embracing empathy, engages participants to work in teams and independently as they build pro-social behaviors that are the foundation for success in education, the workplace and relationships. The process transforms participants; their final published pieces are used to train teachers, police, and develop empathy, policy and solutions based on real-life experiences of violence and trauma.
PROGRAM FUNDERS
What does it mean to be a funder? Funders of Public Allies Chicago are investing in the next generation of community leaders and organizers from right here in our city. From CEOs to senators, our alumni are the future of Chicago. Being a program funder also means providing Allies with access to resources that they might not otherwise have. By investing your time, talent, and treasure in to Public Allies Chicago, you’re helping us create a future that is truly just and equitable for all. Our program funders include:
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ALLY & PARTNER ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR
About the Public Allies Chicago Richard Blout III Award Richard Blout III played an important part in building Public Allies Chicago in its early stages. Richard was from Chicago and attended Columbia College. Friends and former Public Allies staff say Richard exemplified the values of Public Allies and “was the epitome of a beautiful soul.” After Richard passed away, the Ally of the Year Award was created in his memory to honor his passionate spirit. Each year, Public Allies Chicago selects an Ally of the Year who demonstrates the same spirit of service, passion, and connectivity as the award’s namesake. Congratulations to the 2023 Ally and Partner of the Organization of the Year:
Jakyra McGee Ally of the Year
Stay Connected and Join the Movement! @PublicAlliesChicago Public Allies Chicago Public Allies Chicago @PAChicago
North Lawndale College Prep Partner Organization of the Year
Everyone Leads.