Chicago Urban League Announces 2026 Class of IMPACT Leadership Development Program
New Cohort Includes a Prominent Civil Rights Lawyer and the Program’s First Mortician
The Chicago Urban League (CUL) today announced the 12th class of its IMPACT Leadership Development Program. The 47 fellows, who represent a broad range of professions and backgrounds, were nominated by their employers and selected through a rigorous application process. The nine-month program provides mid-to-senior career professionals with the skills and networks needed to effectively lead both within their workplace and the greater Chicago community.
“For more than a decade, we have been inspired by the depth of talent from the individuals who apply for IMPACT – and especially by those who are ultimately selected,” said Karen Freeman-Wilson, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. “As we welcome this new class, we are excited to continue cultivating the leadership and vision of fellows who are committed to making meaningful contributions to the Chicago community as imagined by IMPACT’s Founder Andy Zopp.”
The IMPACT Leadership Development Program was created by Andrea “Andy” Zopp, J.D., in 2014 when she served as CEO of the Chicago Urban League. Zopp recognized an opportunity to invest in the next generation of business and civic leaders to serve Chicago and has continued to serve as a mentor for various cohorts over the program’s 11-year existence. Zopp currently serves as Senior Advisor for Legal and Business Affairs for the Chicago Bears and is a mentor for IMPACT.
This year’s cohort reflects more representation from people in academia and mental health professionals compared to previous years, as well as its first mortician, Valerie Calahan Taylor. Quinn Rallins J.D, a civil rights litigator at Loevy & Loevy, and Rev. Ciera Bates-Chamberlin, Executive Director of Live Free Illinois, will also join the 2026 class.
“We are pleased to see that the program is gaining interest and participation from individuals in industries and fields that may not be readily thought of as targets for leadership development,” Freeman-Wilson noted. “It is a reminder that every sector has something to contribute to the leadership of our communities and the broader city.”
The program, which begins in September, is built around monthly, day-long classroom sessions led by prominent academics, subject matter experts and industry leaders. Each fellow is paired with a Chicago-area senior business or civic leader who serves as a mentor and provides one-on-one guidance on professional development as well as work-life balance and board engagement. Mentors from previous years included Zaldwaynaka “Z” Scott, J.D., President of Chicago State University; Mike Strautmanis, J.D., Executive VP of External Affairs at the Obama Foundation; Sidney Dillard, M.B.A., Head of the Corporate Investment Banking Division at Loop Capital; Baronica Roberson, CFO at Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; Kenya Merritt, Deputy Mayor for the City of Chicago; and Christy George, J.D., President and CEO of Intersect Illinois. IMPACT fellows also receive multiple leadership assessments throughout the program that help them learn how their existing professional habits can support and/or derail their highest professional selves.
Since its inception in 2014, IMPACT has brought together engaged professionals from a diverse range of sectors including corporate, government and nonprofit fields to build their professional skills, foster lasting connections with peers and prepare the next generation of leaders to shape Chicago.
“The IMPACT program, with its tailored, yet evolving curriculum and focus on activating Fellows in real time for the good of Chicago’s underserved populations,helps Fellows sharpen their leadership skills and deepen their knowledge of the communities that make up the city,” said Kafi Moragne-Patterson, Ph.D., Executive Director of IMPACT, and an alumna of the program (Cohort 4, Class of 2018). “This cohort reflects the diversity of talent and vision that Chicago has to offer. I look forward to watching how the program challenges them to think critically about how they leadand how their growth will extend beyond themselves to strengthen their institutions and the city as a whole.”
Over the past decade, IMPACT has cultivated a powerful network of nearly 450 alumni who now shape Chicago’s civic, corporate and nonprofit landscapes. Notable alumni include Illinois State Senator Mike Simmons (Cohort 1, Class of 2015), State Representative Kam Buckner, J.D. (Cohort 2, Class of 2016), Constance “CJ” Jones, M.B.A., Special Advisor for Noble Schools (Cohort 1, Class of 2015), Raven DeVaughn, J.D., Director of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (Cohort 7; Class of 2021), and Inger Burnett-Zeigler Ph.D., Chief Behavioral Health Officer with the State of Illinois (Cohort 3, Class of 2017).
“IMPACT gave me the space to grow as a leader and connect with other leaders who share a commitment to the betterment of Chicago,” said Garth Walker, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Medical Officer of Rush Health and CUL board member (Cohort 4, Class of 2018). “The experience gave me opportunities that have allowed me to make deep investments and impacts across communities that I care deeply about.”
In addition to corporate donors and other organizations, additional program partners include the MacArthur Foundation and the Chicago Community Trust.
The 2026 IMPACT fellows are:
Adebunmi Adeboje, Desktop Systems Engineer Lead, UChicago Medicine
Al Taylor, Sr. Manager, Retail Customer Logistics, Kenvue
Amber Spencer, Accounts Payable Director, Metra Railroad
Ana Agarrat, Director of People & Programs, AMPT: Advancing Nonprofits
Audrienna Lampkins, Assistant Director of Student Experience, Noble Schools
Brandle Blakely, Pharm.D., Interim Director, Center for Teaching & Research Excellence, Chicago State University
Brian Humphrey, Psy.D., CEO, Clinical and Prescribing Psychologist, Director of Clinical Training, PsychSynergy Behavioral Health
Brian Ingram, Associate Attorney, Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP
Brittney Marshall, Partner Development Manager, Salesforce
Candice Burdette, Marketing Director, Salesforce
Carli Taylor, Managing Director, Dr. Dennis Deer Community Justice Center, Lawndale Christian Legal Center
Chartise Clark, Managing Director, Managing Director
Christina Roman, Ph.D., Associate Director, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division
Christopher Balthazar, Ph.D., Executive Director, TaskForce Prevention and Community Services
Rev. Ciera Bates-Chamberlain, Executive Director, Live Free Illinois
Cory Barnes, Director, Loyola University Chicago
David F. Hibbler, Jr., Ph.D., Executive Director of Housing & Residence Life and Associate Dean of Students, The University of Chicago
Elizabeth Asare, Associate Director, Medical Education, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Grace Elizabeth Oxley, Director of Partnerships, One Million Degrees
James Mendez, Director of Policy, Cook County Assessor’s Office
Janeen Mays, Director of Programs, Terra Firma, Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative
Jasmine Stratton, Senior Director of Safety and Security, Noble Schools
Jemelle Cunningham, Director, Employee and Workplace Relations, US Operations, AbbVie
Jillian Lenae Carew, Assistant Director of Targeted Student Support, Noble Schools
Johanes Maliza, Partner, Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff
Johniece Ray, Chief of Staff, Braven
Joshua Mercer, Agency Owner, Joshua Mercer Insurance Agency
JuDonne Hemingway, Principal, Noble Schools, Gary Comer College Prep
Karron Hurks, Chief Executive Officer, Transformational Partner Consultants
Kimberly M. Williams, Senior Director of Operations, Erie Family Health Centers
Kirstin L. Jones, Vice President, Digital Marketing & Community Engagement, First Women’s Bank
Kudzai B. Mutasa, Senior Marketing Consultant/ Fine Artist, Kudzai B. Mutasa Consulting
Kyra Lobbins, Chief of Staff, Adler University
Leia Lovely Bradford, Director of Human Resources, McCaffery Interests
Lola Jenkins, Interim Executive Director, Firehouse Community Arts Center of Chicago
Marion Malcome, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work
Marshana Pace, Managing Director, A Better Chicago
Maurice Tiner, Director, Advancement & External Affairs, LINK Unlimited Scholars
Michael Johns, Associate Dean of Student Services, City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S. Truman
Michelle Rashad, Executive Director, Imagine Englewood if…
Quinn K. Rallins, Civil Rights Attorney, Loevy & Loevy
Tanika Fitzgerald, Global Director – Human Intelligence, Mars Wrigley
Taylor Alston-Cleveland, Executive Director, Social & Video Content Strategy, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Taylor Bishop, Director of External Affairs, Cook County Government
Tayo Hill, Director of Culture and Operations, The Nature Conservancy
Terrence Wilson, Manager, Cash & Collateral Services, HFS, The Northern Trust Company
Valerie Calahan Taylor, President, Calahan Funeral Home & Cremations, LLC
About the Chicago Urban League
Established in 1916, the Chicago Urban League works to foster economic empowerment, cultivate leadership, and dismantle system barriers in the effort to drive last equity and prosperity for Black Chicago. We help people find jobs and establish careers, become homeowners, enhance their educational experiences, strengthen their leadership skills, and grow their businesses. As one of the oldest and largest affiliates of the National Urban League, we promote strong, sustainable communities through advocacy, innovation, and collaborative community, corporate and civic relationships. For more information, visit www.ChiUL.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on X and Instagram.
