Chicago Urban League Announces Class of 2024 Fellows for its IMPACT Leadership Development Program

 

Chicago Urban League Announces Class of 2024 Fellows for its IMPACT Leadership Development Program 

This year, the program celebrates its 10th year with the largest cohort to date. 

The Chicago Urban League has selected 46 rising leaders for the 2024 cohort of its IMPACT Leadership Development Program, the largest class since the program’s inception. Now in its 10th year, IMPACT is a rigorous, nine-month program that helps Black professionals around Chicago advance in their careers while also increasing their business network. 

Since beginning in 2014, each cohort has included brilliant individuals from a variety of sectors, including corporate, government and nonprofit. Fellows are nominated by their employers and selected after a competitive application process. Through the years, more than 100 organizations in the Chicagoland area have sponsored IMPACT 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. 

In partnership with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, one of the world’s leading business schools, IMPACT 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.” 

Program partners include the MacArthur Foundation, Invenergy, Boeing, and the Community Focus Fund, as well as and corporate donors and organizations from all sectors who sponsor Fellows. 

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 

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 

Sessions for the 2024 IMPACT class will begin in September 2023. Applications for the 2025 class will be available in March 2024. To learn more, visit the IMPACT program page on our website. 

To learn more about other programs offered by the Chicago Urban League, visit ChiUL.org. You can also follow the League on Facebook and Twitter. 

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