One Night, A Lifetime of Hope

There’s a vision emerging on the near Southside—one that can be best seen from 19 feet in the air.??

There, atop a stack of shipping containers, Pastor Corey Brooks is living in a tent until February 28, 2022, braving the cold Chicago winter to promote his radically ambitious plan for the Englewood-Woodlawn neighborhoods. And he deserves our help.?

Pastor Brooks , Senior Pastor of New Beginnings Church , is also the founder of Project H.O.O.D. (Helping Others Obtain Destiny), an organization committed to providing mentoring, job training and community services for one of Chicago’s poorest and most crime-ridden neighborhoods. Ten years ago, he camped for 94 long, freezing days and nights on the roof of a long-closed hotel near the corner of East 66th St. and South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. That decrepit structure, abandoned and used only for drugs and prostitution, was eventually torn down with the funds Pastor Brooks raised during his campout.?

The Pastor's ultimate goal for that property, however, has yet to be realized. He undertsands that without skills, without encouragement, without self-esteem and a firm belief that one can succeed, there is no hope for individuals, families, or entire communities. That’s why he has set his sights on a major plan to build and operate a community center dedicated to improving, even transforming the lives of thousands of local residents.?

It is an enticing vision indeed. The center will bring 400 new jobs to the neighborhood—but that’s only the beginning. It will provide trade school training in construction, plumbing, electrical and other sorely needed occupations. It will support the arts with theater and dance studios. A swimming pool and golf simulator will allow urban youth to learn sports they would otherwise never have a chance to try. It will include three restaurants where food service skills can be taught.?

Eyes, Hearts Opened?

Big ideas, however, require big gestures and big support—which is why Pastor Brooks has once again pitched a tent above his beloved streets. This time, he’s asking for others to join him.??

His infectious dream has attracted scores of celebrities,? CEOs, political and religious leaders and many others, all of whom are spending at least one night with him in his little outpost. I had the privilege of joining Pastor Brooks on November 20, the first night of his 100-day commitment.?

As I huddled around his stove, listening to the Pastor talk, my eyes were opened to more than the night air. I discovered how much is happening, both bad and good, just a few miles from where most of us in Chicago live and work every day. I realized that the problems we face as a society are only solved when we, as individuals, step up and care.?

While some social challenges don’t affect each of us directly, we still have a responsibility to find answers. What impacts our neighbors impacts us as well. And when people like Pastor Brooks and his team not only develop a practical solution, but also put their personal blood, sweat and tears behind it, we have an obligation to assist.?

This 85,000-square-foot initiative, called the Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center , will be a stake in the ground for the Woodlawn and Englewood neighborhoods. It will be a safe place for kids to gather after school. It will give recently incarcerated adults a way to transition to gainful employment and eventually become financially independent. It will offer programming for teens on nights and weekends, encouraging kids who otherwise might not have a place to go to spend their time learning and contributing positively to their community.?

Moreover, this kind of center has huge potential for replication. If it succeeds—and I have no doubt it will—it will be a model for other Chicago neighborhoods and ultimately other cities across the U.S. to follow. Pastor Brooks’ idea is a powerful engine for change.?

Make It Happen?

Grand undertakings are rarely inexpensive. The Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center, already designed and planned through the voluntary contributions of leading Chicago architects and construction professionals, has a price tag of $35 million. Seven million dollars have already been raised—but there is much more left to do.?

Tens of thousands of people have already supported the project, either directly or indirectly, through their time, effort and contributions. Corporate financial support, along with additional individual and organizational giving, is still sorely needed to drive the movement forward. To donate, please visit the Project H.O.O.D. website. ?

If you can’t donate money—or even if you can and you’re looking to take an extra step—donate a morning or afternoon to the cause. Come and see firsthand what is happening at Project H.O.O.D., from the computer coding programs for girls, to the classes on stocks and investing, as well as the summer boot camps for boys. There are many, many opportunities for professionals of all specialties and backgrounds to share their knowledge.?

Finally, I’m challenging at least a few dozen Chicagoland CEOs to sign up for a night with Pastor Brooks during his Tent-a-Thon. Spend an evening with him as he shares his insights and ideas for how we can better our community. Look out over a portion of our city that is starved for attention. Bed down for the night with a new sense of participation and purpose.??

Make the climb. You will come down unbelievably inspired.?

To sign up for a night at the Tent-a-Thon, visit www.projecthood.org/tent-a-thon .??