READI
At Chicago Scholars we strive to prepare our Scholars for the world and the world for our Scholars. Preparing our Scholars for the world means supporting them through college acceptance, matriculation, persistence, and career access. Preparing the world for our Scholars allows our students to go beyond surviving to thriving, from achieving to excelling, from attending and working to belonging and exceeding. To achieve these goals, we approach everything we do with a focus on racial justice, equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion (READI).
Our Partners
Our vision of a vibrant city powered by diverse leaders from every neighborhood is not something we can achieve alone. It relies on strong partnerships with key organizations, businesses, and community leaders in every sector.
We partner with community based organizations, colleges and universities around the United States, Chicago businesses, and high schools across the city. Through these partnerships, we are able to reach more students, provide new opportunities to our Scholars, and make a greater impact on the city of Chicago.
Our Team
Inspired by the 1992 U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team, we call ourselves the Dream Team because we hire the best and most talented people. Without our team, we have no chance of achieving our mission or goals.
Our work is challenging and rewarding. We value the voice and opinion of each and every member of our team, encouraging all staff to share their ideas and opinions regardless of where they sit in the organizational structure. We embrace our differences, and we believe that when our staff, Scholars, and stakeholders can be their true authentic selves, they can activate their superpowers.
Alumni Leadership Association Board
The Alumni Leadership Association Board (ALA Board) is a group of talented Chicago Scholars Alumni who are early-career professionals committed to developing their leadership skills and building meaningful relationships that will transform our neighborhoods and our city. ALA Board members live across the country and commit to a year-long term and a $50 fundraising give/get. Board Officers are strongly encouraged to serve two terms.
The ALA Board plays an integral role in the leadership of the Chicago Scholars Alumni Leadership Association. The ALA Board and Chicago Scholars co-lead broader Alumni initiatives and plans up to two annual professional development events.
Our Board Officers
Chair: Nathan A. Ulery, Resultant
Vice Chair: Mark Cassata, CBRE
Secretary: Suzanne L. Shier, Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC
Treasurer: Joseph G. Lansing, Harrison Street Real Estate Capital
Past Chair: K. Kristann Carey, Constellation Brands
Chief Executive Officer: Jeffery Beckham Jr., Chicago Scholars
Associate Board of Directors
The mission of the Associate Board is to use our unique position as emerging leaders to enhance organizational capacity, raise funds and awareness of Chicago Scholars across the City of Chicago, and ultimately help Chicago Scholars to build a vibrant Chicago powered by diverse leaders from every neighborhood. Systemic change in our society cannot happen until more people of color from marginalized communities are in positions of leadership – young people like our Scholars. Chicago Scholars is committed to building a future society that works for everybody.
Applications for the 2023-2024 Associate Board are now closed. We will be accepting new applications in Spring 2024. If you have any questions, please contact the Executive Committee.
