The Chicago Urban League Announces 2020 Fellows for its IMPACT Leadership Development Program
Photo Caption: George Wu, the John P. and Lillian A. Gould Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, teaching a class of 2017 IMPACT Fellows.
The Chicago Urban League has selected 39 emerging leaders for the 2020 cohort of its IMPACT Leadership Development Program, an intensive, nine-month program that helps African-American professionals advance in their careers while building a more diverse pipeline of leaders across Chicago.
The cohort, which includes talented individuals from the corporate, government and nonprofit sectors, is the program’s sixth since IMPACT began in 2014. Fellows are nominated by their employers and are selected through a competitive application process. More than 100 organizations in the Chicagoland area have sponsored IMPACT Fellows.
“To date, IMPACT has welcomed more than 170 fellows to the program, and we continue to be impressed by the accomplishments and high caliber of talent of our applicants,” said Barbara A. Lumpkin, Interim President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. “We are confident that this new cohort will continue the trend of alumni going on to attain more senior leadership positions in their careers, take on key roles on nonprofit boards, and serve Chicago communities in many ways.”
In partnership with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, one of the world’s leading business schools, the League invites prominent academics, subject matter experts, and industry leaders to share their knowledge and insights with Fellows through day-long classroom experiences and supplemental sessions. IMPACT Fellows will also receive leadership assessments and mentoring.
“We are excited to welcome this new class of Fellows, and we are appreciative of the support from our academic, business and civic partners who have helped to make IMPACT one of the most sought-after leadership development programs in Chicago,” said Mavis Laing, Vice President and Executive Director of IMPACT.
As IMPACT’s academic partner, Chicago Booth hosts the program at the Gleacher Center in downtown Chicago. Other program partners include the Field Foundation of Illinois, the Chicago Community Trust, and the MacArthur Foundation. Numerous leaders across all sectors also volunteer their time to serve as speakers and mentors.
An opening reception for the 2020 IMPACT class will be held on August 20, 2019. Classes will begin in September. Applications for the 2021 class will be available in March 2020. For more information visit the IMPACT program page on our website.
The 2020 IMPACT Fellows are:
| Annie-Beryl Akuamoah | Customer Field Service Manager, Peoples Gas- WEC Energy Group |
| Elsa Andrianifahanana | Associate, Jones Day |
| Jereme Braggs | Sr. Program Quality Engineer, Gogo Inflight |
| J’ai Brown | HR Business Partner, U.S. Wealth Management, BMO Harris Bank |
| Kelly Carter | Associate Managing Director, CIBC US |
| Crystal Clark | Assistant Professor of Psychiatry/Director of Women’s Mental Health Fellowship, Northwestern University |
| Tiana Conley | Vice President, Global Brands, The Kellogg Company |
| Chad Courtney | Development Officer – Multifamily Finance, Illinois Housing Development Authority |
| Nicholas Cummings | Chief Attorney – Tort Litigation, Chicago Transit Authority |
| Nathalie Essex | Vice President, State Funding, Teach for America |
| Ashley Floyd | Vice President of Advancement, LINK Unlimited Scholars |
| Kenneth Gilkes | Senior Analyst, JLL |
| Kelwin Harris | Director of Outreach and Engagement, Office of the Cook County Assessor |
| Christina Harris | Manager, Metropolitan Planning Council |
| Corey Haynes | Sales Manager, CDW LLC |
| Latoya Hughes | Supervisor, Community Justice Centers, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office |
| Raquelle Hunter | Senior Director of Brand Development, Zoro, Inc. |
| Tyeise Huntley | Director, Office of Network Support, Chicago Public Schools |
| Michael Jones | Manager, Community Programs, Rush University Medical Center |
| Jason Mercer | National Account Manager, US Customer Retail, Fonterra (USA) |
| Brittany Merritt | Chicago Executive Director, Peer Health Exchange |
| Michelle Mills Clement | CEO, Chicago Association of Realtors |
| Ashanti Morgan | Manager, Global Learning Strategy & Design, Hyatt Hotels Corporation |
| Nakhia Morrissette | Regulatory Counsel & Midwest Region Director, State Affairs, Solar Energy Industries Association |
| Nubia Murray | Global Family Marketing Manager, McDonald’s Corporation |
| Britney Robbins | Founder/CEO, The Gray Matter Experience |
| Johnni Rodgers | Director of Marketing, The Laughing Cow Bel Brands U.S. A |
| Mironda Ross | Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers |
| Melanie Sillas | Vice President of Development, World Business Chicago |
| Alexandra Sims | Founder/CEO, APS & Associates |
| Rendel Solomon | Managing Director, Muller & Monroe Asset Management |
| Thomas K.R. Stovall | President, Intention Mastery |
| Marcus Thomas | Senior Manager – Customer Marketing, Reynolds Consumer Products |
| Anthony Tindall | Policy & Special Projects Manager, Forest Preserve District of Cook County |
| Jeremy Watson | Art Director, Global Content Marketing, Groupon |
| James Williams | Director of Finance, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives |
| Nykia Wright | CEO, Chicago Sun-Times |
| Bryce Yancy | Director of Government Affairs and Community Relations, Chicago State University |
| Ethan Zagore | Director, Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, University of Chicago |
Note: Story updated on July 17, 2019, to include new job title for Fellow Kelwin Harris.
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