September & October

The 20 Most Inspiring Chicagoans

“Honoring the everyday heroes among us who are making our amazing city even stronger is so important, especially during these challenging and unprecedented times,” said Street- Wise Executive Director Julie Youngquist (September 21-27, Vol. 28, No. 37). “Our 20 honorees of 2020 represent a wide variety of courageous people who selflessly work on behalf of others and represent the philanthropic spirit of the city.” Throughout the month of September, StreetWise released a new video every weekday on our social media channels that highlighted each individual nominee. On October 1, during our virtual StreetWise Fundraising Gala presented by the Kadens Family Foundation, these 20 Most Inspiring Chicagoans were honored:

Aleta Clark, founder of Hugs No Slugs, an initiative to promote nonviolence in underprivileged South Side neighborhoods

Bryan Cressey, founder of Above and Beyond Recovery Center, an addiction treatment facility for homeless and uninsured people who would otherwise not have access to treatment

David Dietz, social responsibility program director at the National Basketball Association (NBA), which facilitates community partnerships on the NBA’s behalf, such as between the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and Emmett Till Fine and Performing Arts Magnet School in Woodlawn

Seth El-Jamal, program director for the Chicago Chapter of Friends of the Children, which aims to break the cycle of poverty by mentoring at-risk kids on the West Side Dr.

Ngozi Ezike, board certified internist and pediatrician at the Illinois Department of Public Health, who has been a leading voice in containing the pandemic in Illinois

Matthew Hoffman, custodian of You Are Beautiful, a project to better the world in little ways, whether 5 million stickers shared globally or 30 outdoor installations in Chicago

Adam Hollingsworth, the Dreadhead Cowboy, who owns five horses that he brings into the city and introduces as a calming influence to disproportionately low-income, Black and Brown children who have only seen horses ridden by police officers

Ella Jenkins, “First Lady of Children’s Music,” who has recorded African American blues and gospel music, for Smithsonian Folkways and Moses Asch’s Folkways label; she is a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner

Tonika Johnson, social justice artist and photographer whose ongoing project, Folded Map, visually investigates disparities among Chicago residents while bringing them together in conversation

Kristi Katz, Chicago Director of Field Operations with Jose Andre’s World Central Kitchen, which sourced and onboarded local restaurants for delivery of 250,000 meals to food-insecure individuals and organizations – including StreetWise – during the pandemic

Diane Latiker, who founded the award-winning Kids Off the Block, Inc. in 2003 in her home to get young people involved in programs that would benefit them for the rest of their lives

Ed Marszewski, director of the Public Media Institute, co-founder of Marz Community Brewing Co. and founder of Community Kitchen, which prepares 1,000 hot lunches a week for Chicagoans

Lamell McMorris, founder of Greenlining Realty USA in West Woodlawn, dedicated to reversing historic effects of redlining in low-income communities by developing quality housing and vibrant commercial corridors

Dr. Izabel Olson, founder and CEO of Salt and Light Coalition, a grassroots organization breaking the cycle of human trafficking

Julian Posada, founder and president of LiftUp enterprises, a holding company that accelerates the stability and mobility of individuals in low-income communities

Chris Redd, actor, writer, stand-up comic and rapper, returning to Saturday Night Live for his fourth season, an Emmy winner for outstanding original music and lyrics in 2018

Olatunji Oboi Reed, founding president and CEO of Equiticity, a movement advocating for racial equity and justice for Black and Brown people across the U.S.

Britney Robbins, founder of The Gray Matter Experience, which gives real world experience in entrepreneurship to Black youth

Jesse Teverbaugh, director of student and alumni affairs at Cara, which helps men and women affected by poverty get and keep good jobs.

LaSaia Wade, an open Afro-Puerto Rican Trans woman who is founder and executive director of Brave Space Alliance, the first Black-led, trans-led LBGTQ center on the South Side