Dr. Clinton Boyd Jr., executive director of Fathers, Families & Healthy Communities, shares his personal journey, mission, and vision for empowering Black fathers and building stronger communities through healing, education, and faith (All Photos Courtesy of Dr. Clinton Boyd Jr.). As an advocate for uplifting Black men, I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Clinton Boyd Jr. in April at The Imperative of Investing in Black Men and Fathers...

Dr. Shavon Arline-Bradley, president and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women, outlines her bold vision to fight economic injustice, political violence, and cultural erasure—while building a new legacy for Black women across generations (Photo: Instagram). For Dr. Shavon Arline-Bradley, seeing the dismantling of the Black Lives Matter Plaza about a mile from her Washington D.C. office was an actual and symbolic loss that was personal.   “It feels...

For Daniel Ash, the work of social justice is more than a profession; it’s a calling rooted in personal experience and shaped by the transformative power of human connection. What began as a simple urge to help his hometown community in Ohio has evolved into a decades-long mission to build equity, amplify the voices of underrepresented individuals and uplift communities across Chicago. Today, Ash serves as president of the...

For this Chicago Defender Men of Excellence award recipient, the honor is more than a career achievement. It's an acknowledgment of the individuals, locations and principles who shaped him. “Being named a Chicago Defender Men of Excellence honoree is a profound honor. It’s a recognition not only of personal achievement but of the collective work of mentors, colleagues, and communities that have shaped and supported me along the way.,"...

Businessman Eric France launches his campaign to succeed Rep. Robin Kelly in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District. With a diverse field and redrawn map, the 2026 race is already heating up (Photo Credit: Tacuma Roeback). This past Saturday, inside a cozy restaurant along the Little Calumet River, businessman Eric France launched his campaign for Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District—one of the most closely watched races of the 2026 cycle. France, who...

Rich Township Supervisor Calvin Jordan (Photo Provided).  A capacity crowd of State elected officials, Cook County elected officials, locally elected officials, civic leaders, and residents are expected to witness the historic swearing-in of Rich Township Supervisor Calvin Jordan as he prepares for his second term of office. On April 1, Supervisor Jordan was overwhelmingly re-elected to a second term of office by nearly 80% of the vote. In fact,...