Local Leader Gives Back To The Community

David Day is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the 100 Black Men of Chicago.
David Day is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the 100 Black Men of Chicago.

Local Leader Gives Back To The Community

By Tia Carol Jones

David Day is the Chairman of the Board of the 100 Black Men of Chicago, he is on the Cook County Economic Advisory Council and a member of Chicago Chapter of the National Black MBA Association. 

Day has had a long career, he has served as the Chief Operations Officer at the Rainbow Push Coalition, Vice President of Development at Chicago State University, Chief Administrative Officer at the National Black MBA Association and Regional Director at Macy’s.

The 100 Black Men of Chicago was formed in 1994, became incorporated in 1995 and is an affiliate chapter of 100 Black Men, which has more than 110 chapters internationally. 100 Black Men of Chicago is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The organization focuses on mentoring, health and wellness, education and economic development.

“We reach back into the community and we call it mentoring for a lifetime,” Day said. “We mentor young, mostly African American males, from grammar school through high school through college. We have had the good fortune of having a mentee that we started mentoring in grammar school, they eventually became the president of the organization.”

Day said the 100 Black Men of Chicago ensures it stays connected with the young people it mentors through their lifetime. If those young people are interested in attending college, the organizations helps to identify potential scholarships for them, as well as internships during the summer. Because the members of 100 Black Men of Chicago come from various backgrounds, it is able to help young African American men navigate through life.

Day said it is important to have organizations like the 100 Black Men of Chicago to bring back interdependency in the community, where people can count on, rely on and trust each other. He said it is important to ensure that young people know there will be challenges in their lives, but there are people who will help and support them through those challenges. Day became aware of 100 Black Men of Chicago while he worked at the cable company and the cable company was a corporate supporter. Later, working at Macy’s, Day was asked to become a member of the organization and lend his expertise and bring his network.

Day One Estate Directors is owned by Day’s sister, who had been in real estate for many years. Day is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. The company does construction and real estate management. Two years ago, the company purchased a farm near Kankakee, which they intend to turn into a solar farm.

Day said the one thing people should know about owning their own business is finance. He said he tells young people who are going to college to take finance courses because it is important to understand the dynamics of investing and what money can do for a person. He added there are three things to do with money, spend it, save it and invest it. He said when going into business a person, entrepreneurs should ask themselves why they are starting the business, what is the purpose, is it sustainable, do they have the money to start the business and if they have a good support – good attorney, good accountant, good financial institution. He said it is very important that entrepreneurs do their homework and are prepared.

For more information about the100 Black Men of Chicago, visit www.100bmc.org. For more information about Day One Estate Directors, visit dayoneestate.com.


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