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For the last decade the Chicago Urban League has been developing and supporting Black professionals through the IMPACT Leadership Development Program. This year is their largest cohort of 47 Fellows. “IMPACT is one of our premier programs filled with driven and established individuals focused on providing equitable solutions not only with their employer but in the overall community. We are happy to welcome the Class of 2024 Fellows, who we are certain will continue the legacy of this program and continue to grow as leaders in Chicago and beyond,” said Karen Freeman-Wilson, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. The nine-month program is in partnership with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, one of the world’s leading business schools, as well as; the MacArthur Foundation, Invenergy, Boeing, and the Community Focus Fund, as well as corporate donors and organizations from all sectors who sponsor Fellows.
Professionals come from a variety of sectors, including corporate, government and nonprofit. The program calls on prominent academics, subject matter experts, and industry leaders to share their knowledge and insights with Fellows through day-long classroom experiences as well as supplemental sessions. IMPACT Fellows also receive leadership assessments and mentoring. “This year is especially exciting for the program as we celebrate our 10th cohort, which consists of Chicago’s best and brightest emerging Black leaders,” said Mavis Laing, Vice President and Executive Director of IMPACT. “We could not continue this amazing program without the continued support of the Booth School of Business and other partners.” Sessions for the 2024 IMPACT class will begin in September 2023. Applications for the 2025 class will be available in March 2024.
The 2024 IMPACT Fellows are:
Jeffrey Allen Director – Economic Equity Advisory Group, BMO
Rodney Boyd Product Manager, Under Armour
Cason Brunt Director of Major Gifts, Chicago Scholars
Antwone Cameron Dean of Students, Chicago State University
Danielle Campbell Marketing Director, Salesforce
Regena Carson VP Sustainability & Business Diversity, Team Lead (Global Procurement), Northern Trust
Mekashia Chenault Oncology Brand Management Lead, AbbVie
Kalia Coleman Partner, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP
Roniesha Copeland Digital Natives Sales Lead, Stripe, Inc.
Nicholas Crite Director, Regional Operations, Nicor Gas
Anthony Driver Executive Director, SEIU IL State Council
Tamakia Edwards Chief of Staff, Capital Development Board, State of Illinois
Aaron Franklin Adjunct Faculty and Senior Program Manager, Human Resources, Talent Management, Rush University Medical Center
Nancy Gargula Manager, Special Initiatives, People and Culture, MacArthur Foundation
Dionysius Hall Managing Director of Youth and Family Services, Chicago Urban League
Kanasha Herbert Senior Counsel, Locke Lord LLP
Michael Hill Deposit and Liquidity Director, CIBC Bank USA Inc
Shalisa Humphrey Principal, EY
Aleschia Hyde Judicial Law Clerk, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Jada Jamison Key Account Manager, Hitachi Energy
Veronica Johnson Internal Medicine Physician and Assistant Professor, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Sean Johnson Chief Information Officer, Cook County Treasurer’s Office
Nicole Johnson-Barnes Vice President, Senior Portfolio Advisor, Northern Trust
Elois Joseph Co-Founder & VP of Strategy, Greenwood Project
Jennifer King Deputy Director, Cook County Dept. of Human Rights and Ethics
Danan Kirby Vice President and Client Portfolio Manager, Ariel Investments
Annise Lewis Network Chief of Schools, Chicago Public Schools
Blake Lopezzo Vice President of Consumer Insights, Molson Coors Beverage Company
Tamica Lyons Sales Manager, CDW
Mila Marshall Clean Water Advocate, Sierra Club, IL Chapter
Ashley McGowan Global Lead, Business Equity, Meta
Edward Mitchell Director Digital Health Strategy and Partnerships, Advocate Aurora Health Inc.
Tolu Osisanya IT Senior Manager, UL Solutions
Corey Richardson Director of Strategic Partnerships, Golden Apple Foundation
Nino Rodriguez Founder & CEO, R3volutioNino
Miriam Smith Vice President, Development and Alumni Relations, Columbia College Chicago
Pamela Stubberfield Building Operations and Administrative Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Christopher Swann Senior Program Manager, Feeding America
Elizabeth Thomas Brand Manager, General Mills
Colleen Thomas Director of Marketing Strategy, Ulta Beauty
Charniece Tisdale Senior Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Oak Street Health
Courtney Underwood Chief Human Resources Officer, By The Hand Club For Kids
James Vaughan Director of Practice Operations, RUSH University Medical Center
Draymond Washington Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch
Marishonta Wilkerson Government Relations Manager, McDonald’s Corporation
Ryan Yarrell Director of External Affairs and Community Partnerships, Near North Health
Weeya Young Assistant General Counsel, Procurement and Medical Delivery Systems, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
Chicago News Weekly congratulates incoming Fellows and acknowledges the contributions and success of past IMPACT Fellows.