Ordained in 1975, Fr. Michael Pfleger has devoted his life to advocating against the injustices in his parish's neighborhood on Chicago's South side and across the country. Since being stationed at St. Sabina Catholic Parish in 1981; Father Pfleger has established himself as one of the most noteworthy activist in the city. His resume includes petitioning against major publications for the use of demeaning images associating minorities with drugs and alcohol. His most notable work is his efforts to organize communities across Chicago's most afflicted neighborhoods. He continues his work to this day and has adopted the moniker, "The Radical Disciple"
In 1968, south side resident and professional boxer Robert Jemilo hung up his gloves and picked up the phone. Later the next year, Robert Jemilo spent many hours tirelessly building a coalition of devoted individuals and corporate titans to bring about change in neighborhoods afflicted by gun violence and other crimes. In 1969, his devotion to change resulted in BUILD or Broaden Urban Involvement and Leadership Development organization. BUILD works in Chicago's South and West side assisting youth to recognize their full potential while bringing the community together. These efforts are only made possible as a result of the labor and resources of community leaders, BUILD members, and influential corporate executives such as Marshal Field V.
Born in South Carolina to a teenage mother; Jesse Jackson has lived a life of notoriety, resiliency and passion. Jesse Jackson lived as a minister for the baptist church and a trusted individual who had the attention of many social activists of his time including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. After becoming acquaintances with Dr. King, Jackson was commissioned to frontline a new branch of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to bring about change in crime ridden neighborhoods. It was in Chicago that Rev. Jackson made a name for himself and rose to the top of the municipal political hierarchy.
Beatrice Joyce Kean and The Joyce Foundation
Born in 1923, Beatrice Joyce Kean was born into a wealthy family who made their fortunes in the lumber industry. In 1948, she became the sole heir to the family capital and created the Joyce Foundation as a philanthropic vehicle for charitable donations towards hospitals, colleges, and other public institutions. After her passing in 1972, Kean donated 90% of her wealth to the foundation, a total of $100 million ($606 Million in today's currency). The foundation was then repurposed in 1975 to fight economic disparity and gun violence in Chicago and other parts of the Great Lakes region. To this day, the Joyce foundation works in parallel with state legislators to make changes to better the living conditions in the urban community and beyond.
Founded in 2013, Get IN Chicago is a privately funded initiative that works with experts in social policy and evaluation to identify, fund, and execute anti-gun violence strategies that lead to a sustainable reduction in violent crime in individuals and the community. They currently conduct their work in Chicago's most at-risk neighborhoods including but not limited to: Englewood, North Lawndale, and Roseland. Get IN Chicago focuses its program funding on therapy, mentoring and parent leadership as well as the case management that connects these and other resources to our most acutely high risk young people.
Founded in 2016, Chicago CRED (Creating Real Economic Destiny) was created by a social impact organization called Emerson Collective and Chicago Public School CEO and former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Chicago CRED's mission is to recruit young men who are most likely to be perpetrators of gun violence or similar crimes. They then introduce these young individuals to new jobs in a legal working environment which pays greater wages than can be gained while partaking in illegal, incriminating activities.