Members of READI Chicago staff, leadership, and participants attended MBK Rising! in Oakland, California, a national gathering of the Obama Foundation marking the fifth anniversary since President Barack Obama launched My Brother’s Keeper. Members of nonprofit organizations from 250 communities across the country gathered to learn, share best practices, and build connections.
READI Chicago Outreach Supervisor for North Lawndale Maurice Harris, Lawndale Christian Legal Center (LCLC) Executive Director Cliff Nellis, other LCLC staff, and two READI Chicago participants from the North Lawndale community attended panels and workshops to discuss how violence is dealt with in different communities.
“It was great building connections and hearing what’s working across the United States in the violence prevention field and sharing about READI Chicago,” Maurice said.
READI Chicago Director of Career Pathways Miguel Cambray also attended MBK Rising!, speaking on the panel “Violence Prevention Spotlight: Interrupting Violence, Instigating Transformation.” The panel focused on effective strategies for impacting community gun violence, and Miguel discussed READI Chicago and our work to increase opportunity and set people on a different path forward.
“It felt good that on a national level, READI Chicago is being recognized as an innovative initiative that more and more people want to learn about,” Miguel said.
