No duty is more urgent than giving thanks.

Chicago Beyond was launched in 2016 to back the fight for youth equity with funding from philanthropists Kimbra and Mark Walter. Yet our story began a few years earlier at a school on Chicago’s South Side.

Prior to launching Chicago Beyond, Liz Dozier, our Founder & CEO, was the principal of Fenger High School in Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood. At the time, Fenger had been cast as one of the most violent and underperforming schools in the city of Chicago, and Liz and her team were charged with turning the school around. The team at Fenger was intensely aware of how traumatic events outside of the classroom were affecting her students, so they took a holistic approach to the work, which included the adoption of restorative justice and mental health and wellness strategies.

Under Liz’s leadership, Fenger experienced a decrease in its dropout rate from 19% to 2%, a 40% increase in Freshman On-Track to graduate, and double-digit increases in attendance and the school’s state graduation rate. With the aid of a federal grant, Fenger soon became a district leader in restorative justice, social and emotional learning and academic interventions.

Chicago Beyond was created to continue this fight against the inequities pervasive in Chicago’s communities. Today, we’ve invested more than $30 million in community-led initiatives and individuals who are fighting for all youth to achieve their fullest human potential, in Chicago and beyond. 

Henry Williams was a man of great character and integrity who transitioned to his final resting place on May 16, 2017. He loved his wife. He  loved his children. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his community. And they all loved him right back.

In memory of how he loved, the Henry Williams Love Foundation (HWLF) was established to provide short-term supportive services, advocacy, and policy support to youth and families in need. Henry lost both of his parents at a very young age and has always demonstrated the greatest capacity for love for those who experience such unplanned loss, unexpected needs, and require advocacy. In keeping with the values of Henry’s life and the foundation of LOVE he built for his family and friends, the Henry Williams Love Foundation hopes to be a blessing to many for years to come to those who need LOVE the most.

HWLF through its services, programs, and projects seeks to:

• Build resiliency in individuals and communities as an opportunity to disrupt systems that support low achievement and low expectation
• Increase equity is spaces where people of color and women are typically excluded or are disproportionately represented
• Be innovative and use design thinking to create activities that fill identified quality of life gaps in a non-duplicative way

Each year HWLF provides direct financial support to families who have found themselves in an emergency situation such as needing rental or mortgage assistance, needing medication not covered by insurance, or losing all of their belongings in a fire. 

Additionally, HWLF assists families who have experienced unexpected loss by providing burial support directly to funeral homes. Donations to HWLF can be made directly on their website and this year they are hosting a benefit concert for this program. Visit https://bit.ly/hwlfbenefitconcert21 for more information. 

The Henry Williams Love Foundation does not, by policy or practice, discriminate against a person or group on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status, or based on any individual’s status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Our mission is to assist individuals, couples and families with the necessary tools and resources to live a life utilizing different techniques in repairing, changing or enhancing their personal and professional relationships. 

We believe that individuals who set goals and seek therapy are individuals who are looking or needing change in their life. That’s why our mission is focused on individuals learning how to change or realign behaviors to create harmonious relationships. We believe that individuals will benefit from accountability, autonomy, experienced assistance, and an objective support during therapy sessions. 

Follow CLS on Social Media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn