The Martanisha Robinson Arts & Activism Award is Now Available!!
CATHERINE MCNEIL
Catherine's Bio
Catherine McNeil is nothing short of a single parenting phenom. This Author | Speaker | Coach became a parent at the age of 20, causing her to drop out of Penn State University prior to entering her sophomore year. As an IO Psychologist, Catherine McNeil BBA MA aka #ASCCatherine on Social Media, is now the Founder of CHBM Services LLC, a holistic career an employee development consultancy, the dissolved CHBM Services Development Programming L3C and a NPO entitled Disruptive INC!
Catherine leveraged her unique educational and occupational journeys to help find her purpose and support her now, three children. Occupationally she’s worked across a variant of customer service-oriented industries ranging from real estate, transportation and most recently, as a Talent Development Consultant for one of the largest utilities in the country. Catherine has authored five published parenting related literary works (available on Amazon) and hosts the "Let's Chat!" w/ASKCat Radio Show every 2nd and 4th Saturday at 2P on FluentRadio. She’s been featured in variant publications and as a guest across both podcasts and radio. Her most recent features are replaying on her own podcast streaming across Google Podcast and Spotify.
Catherine’s career development workshops providing various resources for Single Parents between the ages of 18-40 has found a more permanent home in CHBM Services University; CHBM Services U features both free community facing workshop replays and specific career development coursework. To find out more information about Catherine, please connect with her via the CHBM Services Website. E-Mail: CHBMServices@gmail.com CHBM Services Website: https://www.chbmservices.com/ Disruptive INC Website: https://www.disruptiveinc.org/
Why she is...
"Catherine’s career development workshops providing various resources for Single Parents between the ages of 18-40 has found a more permanent home in CHBM Services University; CHBM Services U features both free community facing workshop replays and specific career development coursework."
ALDERWOMAN JEANETTE TAYLOR
Jeanette's Bio
Jeanette served on the Mollison Elementary Local School Council for 21 years, including 10 years as the council’s chairperson. For the last eight years, she has organized with multiracial coalitions to defend and advocate for fully-fund public education, affordable housing for low-income residents, jobs and public safety.
Jeanette was one of several hunger strikers that organized with parents, teachers, students and community members to save Walter H. Dyett High School, the last open enrollment high school in Bronzeville ultimately winning over $14 million in upgrades.
In July 2019, Alderman Jeanette Taylor introduced an ordinance in City Council for a Community Benefits Agreement. The Woodlawn Housing Preservation Ordinance, a historic law with the potential to stop the displacement of thousands of low-income and working-class Black residents who live near the future Obama Presidential Center.
After five years of advocacy, protests, and negotiations, the final compromise included:
- The reservation of 52 City-owned vacant lots for affordable housing for people earning up to 50% of the Area Median Income.
- A “right of first refusal” for tenants, meaning that a landlord who decides to sell their building must offer their tenants the option to purchase it first before going on the market.
- A $1 million commitment to the Home Improvement Grant Program, allowing Woodlawn residents who have owned and lived in their home for more than five years to apply for grants of up to $20,000 dollars.
- A $500,000 commitment to the Renew Woodlawn program, which helps low- and middle-income people buy homes in the neighborhood
She believes it is important to hold Chicago Public Schools, the City of Chicago and local and state officials accountable for the disinvestment in neighborhood schools and the communities they exist in.
Why she is...
Jeanette was one of several hunger strikers that organized with parents, teachers, students and community members to save Walter H. Dyett High School, the last open enrollment high school in Bronzeville ultimately winning over $14 million in upgrades.
In July 2019, Alderman Jeanette Taylor introduced an ordinance in City Council for a Community Benefits Agreement. The Woodlawn Housing Preservation Ordinance, a historic law with the potential to stop the displacement of thousands of low-income and working-class Black residents who live near the future Obama Presidential Center.
TIFFANY MOORE-JACKSON
Tiffany's Bio
Tiffany Moore-Jackson is a firm believer in uplifting the community, an advocate for small business and most importantly an advocate for the youth. She is also an entrepreneur and owner of several businesses including Brims Etc., Traveling Naturalista, Painters Palette Events and Mid-Line Travel Services.
Tiffany learned from her childhood that growing up in lack is difficult. It is also difficult to come out of. As an adult she proves that no matter where you are in life you can become strong. This led her to spend 20 years in a career in affordable housing. Tiffany recently joined local owned 5T Management as their Director of Operations, previously she worked with Community Builders in various roles that gave her the opportunity to work directly with residents and assist in providing resources to help them sustain and achieve.
Tiffany encourages everyone she encounters to come together to support local initiatives, events, and businesses in hopes of making them better and stronger. Tiffany still finds time to volunteer and has worked with: Jobs for Youth; Women Self -Employment Project; The Young and Powerful Group of Chicago and Mocha Sisters. In her efforts to help support local organizations, she created the Networking for Change dinner series. This series help to shed light and raise funds for community nonprofits, provide support to local owned businesses and bring professionals together to network. She has counseled numerous small businesses in the area of operations, logistics and marketing.
Tiffany shows that with taking charge of your finances you can do almost anything and is a master budgeter and traveler. She created the businesses Traveling Naturalista and Mid-Line Travel Services to encourage the African American community to obtain passports which will allow them life experiences and she has traveled to multiple parts of the world from Jamaica to Africa to Dubai and doing so at an affordable price.
Tiffany uses her business Brims Etc. as a platform for people to not only come together and have fun but to promote other small businesses by incorporating them into her events such as hosting at a local art studio that provides community programming and contracting with other local small businesses to provide the food and beverages. This helps not only her business, but other small businesses as well.
Why she is...
Entrepreneur, Cultural Connector & Influencer, Youth & Community Advocate, Traveling Naturalista
AISHA OLIVER
Aisha's Bio
Aisha T. Oliver is an innovative empath, with a passion for healing
and relationship building. Partnered with her savvy business skills
She considers herself to be a social entrepreneur.
Serving as the Strategy lead for Root2fruit Youth Foundation
she creates, develops and leads programs tailored to the youth in
the Austin community. Now adding author and speaker to her title
Aisha is using her relationship building skills to host a traveling
conversation entitled “I used to know her” titled after her recently
published book. These interactive conversations are open
discussions on trauma, healing and growth. Teaching her Heal &
Build techniques throughout the conversation to empower others.
As a long time resident in the Austin community Aisha has been
successful at building relationships with the youth, community
leaders, local business owners and school administrators. She
leads a team of youth that are responsible for creating youth
friendly community events and outings. Ms. Oliver is also the
owner of The Blvd. Design Co. a boutique that is specializing in
using fashion as a vehicle for women's empowerment and self-love.
As the Director of Root2fruit Youth Foundation, Aisha leads the
charge to rebuild Austin. Through her direct work with the youth
and fellow community leaders she is working to change the
narrative of Austin and its residents.
Most recently, Aisha helped youth bring a plan to life called the
Austin Safety Action Plan or ASAP. An initiative aimed at amplifying
the voices of unheard youth. This plan reclaimed and reactivated
basketball courts in the South Austin community for the summer.
Led by and dreamed of by youth community consultants, this plan
brought out neighbors and community members across the spectrum.
Undoubtedly, Aisha’s limitless
enthusiasm and zeal matched with her commitment to excellence
and uncompromising integrity makes her eminently qualified to
assume a leadership role in her community and business leader on the Westside.
Why she is...
Nonprofit Leader, Community Activist, Youth Development Specialist, Public Speaker, Community Organizer, Life Coach
M'RELD GREEN
M'Reld's Bio
Hailing from Chicago, Author, Performer and Community Organizer M'Reld Green has graced pages and stages nationally and abroad.
Producer of “It is What it is” DVD & 2 albums her work presents the blight and brilliance of urban life and imagination. She has performed coast to coast from the Nuyorican in New York to Fly Poets in LA and has been featured on Vice, TVOne, HBO and BET. She’s shared stages with several celebrated acts such as Jill Scott, The Last Poets and Tuck & Patti. Once been said M’Reld is like Chuck D and Fannie Lou Hamer hybrid, her latest work “4 Piece Spicy” drops in December.
When they pandemic took the world by storm, forcing the school system to divert to remote learning, causing difficulties in the school lunch program. Due to lack of partipation, many lunch sites were shut down forcing some students to walk as many as 8 blocks away for food. She quickly identified the needs children & families who depended on school lunches as a vital meal and M'Reld founded the The Sandwich Ministry, a now 501 c3 organization that focuses on feeding and providing essentials to students in need. She believes that food insecurities for children are often misdiagnosed as behavior disorders or learning disabilities and plans on doing her part to ensure students are best prepared for the school day.
Despite her busy National & International touring schedule, you can consistently find her with her sleeves rolled up, in the streets of Chicago making sure that her talents and gifts not only make way for her and her family but ALL families that she encounters.
Why she is...
Community Activist, Youth & Family Advocate, International Award Winning Spoken Word Artist, Comedian, Entrepreneur
DONNELL & TIA BROWN
THE BROWNHOUSE EXPERIENCE
Founded by two educators, Donnell & Tia Brown, the vision of The Brown House Experience is to be an all-inclusive Educational Center geared towards empowering the at-risk communities and youth of the Chicagoland area through interactive experiences. The mission for which the nonprofit is organized is to promote the positive development of at-risk youth by providing unique opportunities to enhance their academic, social and emotional intelligence through STEM, the arts, mental health, fitness, culture and interactive experiences.
Since 2016, they have held numerous free STEAM and fitness community events, Trade Day, which allows youth to get hands-on exposure to the top trades from local businesses and entrepreneurs, as well as free after school and summer STEAM, Fitness and mental health programs. Overall, they value partnerships, interactive experiences and sharing knowledge with the next generation of leaders.
"We all hold a stake in the success of our city and members, so we must roll up our sleeves and do what is necessary to pull each other out of the trenches."
Why they are...
"We all hold a stake in the success of our city and members, so we must roll up our sleeves and do what is necessary to pull each other out of the trenches."
CORIE LUCKETT
Corie's Bio
Corie Luckett Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Englewood Branded Incorporated, was introduced to the Englewood Community when his parents moved from Chicago’s West Side at the tender age 5 years old.
Throughout his childhood, he moved around several times allowing him to attend three grammar schools in Englewood such as, O’Toole, Kershaw and Harold Washington EVG center (formerly known as Lowe). Luckett stayed focused and dedicated and graduated from Englewood Technical Preparatory Academy High School.Luckett’s diverse experience both good and bad, helped shape his vision for making the Englewood community that helped shape him a beacon for tangible opportunities, positivity and future progress for youth in a way that would be uplifting for all.
As a lifelong learner Luckett obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work, which motivated him to return home and begin working within his beloved home community of Englewood. Luckett began working with SRHAC to help serve those navigating homelessness. Luckett then transitioned into other roles serving Englewood as a Pre-K educator, Father Engagement Coordinator and Community Engagement Coordinator.
Through his continued work in the community,
Luckett was led to work at Team Work Englewood under the leadership of Wanda White-Gills. There he adopted the TWE motto “Together Everyone Achieves More”, which he still believes in today.
In 2017, Luckett started Englewood Branded, Inc, a neighborhood Brand designed to serve the community through active engagement of youth and community stakeholders using fashion and constant expressions of love as points as inspiration. Sticking to the four principles “Love, Respect, Honor, and Dedication, Luckett uses Englewood Branded and childhood experiences to show the world that not all those who experienced growing up in Englewood lead to death and/or jail. Luckett ensures that 10% of Englewood’s earnings provide opportunities for the community as well as continuing to mentor and engage youth with constant motivation and creative opportunities to grow and become a constant inspiration for this program to flourish.
In 2019, under the inspiration and love of his late mother Regina Luckett, Branding Englewood NFP, was formed, dedicated to teaching youth entrepreneurship and community engagement.
Branding Englewood, an Illinois not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization is committed not only to empowering and encouraging youth through starting their own businesses and providing mentorship, but also connecting youth and families to an array of services & resources needed to excel through community partners and more.
Luckett has been able to successfully plan and execute large annual community events through Englewood Branded, Inc and Branding Englewood affectionately known as BE. These events include “Fall Fest” and Miracle on 63rd street.
Luckett continues to pour back into the community he has called home for so many years, one the most under served communities in the Chicagoland area. His unconditional love and support for the Englewood community drive his efforts to keep implementing positive growth and opportunities for years and years to come.
Check out this article on Corie here in The Chicago Defender!
Why he is...
"I want to see light shed on how we are a community striving for greatness. Englewood is rising above adversity and low economic standards. People are getting into the groove of working and bettering themselves. To be a part of that change and the solution is great."
2021 Gala Entertainment
Ed Mabrey
Yolanda Gates
Yolanda Gates
Ed Mabrey is the greatest poet in the history of Poetry Slam—4 World Championships, 6 Regional Championships, and over 500 wins. An NAACP Image Award Nominee, Ed's been on TV One, as well as ABC, FOX, HBO, CNN, Crackle, CBS and NBC. Ed has performed at over 400 colleges.
A Watering Hole graduate fellow, Ed is a Pushcart nominee and was commissioned to craft a speech encompassing the Freedom Award recipients for 2017-2021 on behalf of the National Civil Rights Museum.
Yolanda Gates
Yolanda Gates
Yolanda Gates
Yolanda "Quiet Storm" Gates is an avid writer, poet and teaching artist. She has been named of the 2012 Tri-State Defenders 50 Women of Excellence, 2016 1st Place NCRM Drop the Mic Poetry Slam Winner, Artsy Awards 2017 & 2019 Best Female Poet, Tri-State Defenders 2017 Best In Black Awards Best Spoken Word Artist, and Outstanding Author for 3V Leading lady Awards.
Quiet Storm is the Founder of "The Writerz Bloc" Creative Writing Collective, an organization using various creative writing skills to promote literacy efficiency amongst youth ages 8 - 18.
Yolanda is a 3X published author with Eye of the Storm, Embracing the Journey, and Thoughts of a Woman.