Chicago Urban League Welcomes 47 New Fellows to its IMPACT Leadership Development Program

The Chicago Urban League has chosen 47 of the city’s emerging leaders for the 2025 class of its IMPACT Leadership Development Program. The intensive nine-month program works with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business to provide Black professionals with the tools and skills needed to take on greater leadership roles in their workplaces and within Chicago’s civic community.

Since its inception in 2014, IMPACT has drawn fellows from across corporate, government and nonprofit sectors. The Class of 2025 boasts a record number of individuals working with diverse populations across the field of education, in addition to a growing representation of entrepreneurs and founding executive directors. IMPACT applicants are nominated by their employer, and Fellows are selected through a rigorous application process.

“IMPACT was created 11 years ago to address what was then a shortage of leadership development opportunities for Black professionals, and each year the application process has grown more competitive,” said Karen Freeman-Wilson, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. “We are excited to welcome this new group of Fellows who have already made impressive progress in their careers and are poised to make even greater professional and civic contributions to Chicago.”

The new cohort is the first under the program’s new leader, Kafi Moragne-Patterson, Ph.D., who joined the Chicago Urban League as Executive Director of IMPACT and Senior Vice President of Leadership Programming and Philanthropy in May 2024.

“IMPACT provides space and opportunity for mid- to senior-level Black professionals to expand their networks and work together to identify challenges and opportunities for addressing issues that impact all of Chicagoland, such as reducing the racial wealth gap,” said Dr. Moragne-Patterson, who is also a 2018 alumna of the program. “The fellows will enhance their own leadership skills in the pursuit of building a stronger civic ecosystem in Chicago.”

Moragne-Patterson added, “I am encouraged by the kinds of conversations we might have this year between law enforcement and the myriad fellows working across the science and healthcare landscapes. The possibilities for problem solving and solutions generation that come from a diverse group like this are endless.”

The new cohort will begin monthly classes at Chicago Booth School in September. One of the world’s leading business schools, Booth is a long-standing partner of the program. IMPACT enlists the expertise of respected 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.

In addition to corporate donors and other organizations, additional program partners include the MacArthur Foundation, Invenergy, Boeing, and the Community Focus Fund.

The 2025 IMPACT Fellows are:

Mercy Akintounde

Associate Director, Procurement Compliance, AbbVie. Inc

Jeffrey Allen

Director- Economic Equity Advisory Group, BMO

Leslie Amonoo

Resident Physician, University of Illinois at Chicago Hospital & Clinics

Rachel Bonds

Founder and Principal, Rachel Bonds Consulting

William Bonsu

Customer Manager-Technical Project Manager, Fiat PowerTrain Industrial

Robert Brown

Director of DEI & Outreach, Northwestern University – Medill School

Dirrick Butler

Founder & Executive Director, Project OneTen

Prentice Butler

CEO, The Neighborhood Bridge

Monique Carroll

Vice President/Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Chicago State University

Audrianne Coffer

Second Vice President, Corporate Philanthropy Program Officer, Northern Trust

Fatima Cooke

Chief Equity Officer, Chicago Public Schools

Pavielle Driver

Principal, Chicago High School for the Arts

Camille El-Amin

Vice President, Institutional Client & Investor Relations, Ariel Investments

Shanté Elliott

Founder & Executive Director, TasselTurn Education

Ivy Ellis

Executive Director, Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program

Kristin Hamb

AVP- Strategy, Risk, and Business Resilience, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Estrelitta Harmon

Executive Director, Center for Better Aging

Justin L. Hill

Research and Policy Analyst, Westside Health Authority

Jacobe Hollins

Global Technical Product Manager, McDonald’s

Ellen Hoover

Senior Manager, DEI, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Shalisa Humphrey

Principal, Risk Consulting, EY

Janene Ingram

Chief Operating Officer, FuelEd Schools, Inc.

Dan Jacobs

Innovation Lead (Senior Manager), Accenture / WhatIf Innovation

Brandon Jordan

Senior Manager of Compliance and Controls, UL

Ashley Leonard

Director, To&Through Middle Grades Network, University of Chicago

Shavonne Mayfield

Managing Partner, Dior Realty Group

Michelle McClendon

Public Sector Operational Leader and Senior Project Executive, Gilbane Building Company

Jonathan McGee

Senior Consultant, Baker Tilly US

Jaya Miller

Chief of Staff, City Year Chicago

Krystle Murry

Finance Manager, Barilla America, Inc.

Candice Norcott

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago

Nicholas Norris

Sales Manager, CDW

Chimare Odom

Assistant Program Director of College and Career Success, University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab

Jason Parks

Chief of Staff to the CEO, Loop Capital

Tanesha Peeples

CEO, The Roots Initiative

Sasha Pena

Head of Employability, Reach Pathways

Brittany Powell

Director Service Line-General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine, & School Health, Advocate Health Care

Eboni Prince

Senior Program Director, After School Matters

Samson Reeves

Mgr., Market Leader, Senior Treasury Management Consultant, VP, Old National Bank

Jennifer Reid Davis

Chief Strategy & Equity Officer, Noble Schools

David Roberson

Associate Managing Director, Private Banker, CIBC Bank USA

Shana Sanders

Sr. Manager of Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs, Nelson Laboratories, LLC

Phasha Spencer

Executive Director, Playworks Illinois

Danielle Vasquez

Director of Support Services, Rush University Medical Center

Kimberly Watson

Chief of Staff to the Chief Operating Officer, Chicago Public Schools

Jeneba Winfrey-Porter

Chief Operating Officer, Tapestry 360 Health

Brandi Wright

Special Victims Sergeant, Chicago Police Department

IMPACT Class of 2025 sessions will begin in September 2024 and conclude with a graduation in May 2025. Applications for the 2026 class will be available in March 2025. To learn more, visit the IMPACT program page on our website.