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20 diverse leaders from across Chicago representing various sectors Chicago United for Equity is excited to welcome the 2025 CUE Fellows, a cohort of 20 passionate leaders dedicated to reshaping the narrative of equity in Chicago. This year's cohort embodies a rich tapestry of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and expertise, united by a common goal: to shift power to communities and build an equitable Chicago for everyone. The CUE Fellowship is a year-long immersive program designed to empower leaders, disruptors, and healers from across Chicago. Through a comprehensive curriculum rooted in racial equity principles, Fellows will embark on a journey of learning, collaboration, and transformation. “The 2025 Chicago United for Equity Fellows represent the bold leadership our city needs to drive transformative, democratized change,” said Candace Williams, CUE’s Interim Executive Director. “This cohort brings together leaders from across sectors, lived experiences, and communities who are uniquely positioned to harness the power of cross-sector collaboration and collective impact. Their work will be instrumental in advancing equitable solutions that respond to this critical moment in our history. I am honored to support and uplift their leadership as they help shape a city where everyone thrives." Throughout the fellowship, participants will collaborate in a powerful learning community designed to enhance their skills through a curriculum that includes decolonizing research, racial equity impact assessments, principles of co-design, and more. By leveraging their collective wisdom and diverse perspectives, the Fellows will work collaboratively to reimagine Chicago's civic structures, policies, and practices utilizing a racial equity lens. CUE’s Director of Civic Programming, Rachel Pate, shared, “I am thrilled to welcome the 2025 CUE Fellows—an extraordinary group of leaders, visionaries, and changemakers. Their courage to challenge the status quo and their commitment to racial equity inspire hope for a more just and inclusive Chicago.”   Join us in welcoming the 2025 CUE Fellowship cohort to the vibrant CUEmmunity! Meet the 2025 CUE Fellows: Caitlin Arens, Pilot Light Marissa Arrez,  Mayor's Office of Immigrant, Migrant & Refugee Rights  Norman Clark, Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy Christopher Cole, DishRoulette Kitchen Alejandra Diaz, Chicago Public Schools Darci Flynn, Brave Path Strategies, LLC fakelia guyton, Equity Partners Network LLC Gary Jimenez, Palenque LSNA Sanam Kazi, Chicago Police Department Orion Meadows,  Prison and Neighborhood Arts/Education Project (PNAP) Maggie O'Keefe, 40th Ward Democratic Organization Kumar Ramanathan, University of Illinois Chicago Maranda Raskin ,   Mayor's Office of Business, Neighborhood, and Economic Development Rosalia C. Salgado, Community Organizing and Family Issues Jennifer Sanchez, Cook County Assessor's Office Marquinta Thomas, Illinois Action for Children Sam Thousand, ChiBrations, LLC Justin Walker, ChiByDesign Naomi Wilfred, UChicago The To&Through Project Elizabeth Youngling, The Chicago Community Trust

On Thursday, May 9, 2024, the beautiful Garfield Park Conservatory was the ideal location for the vibrant hub of inspiration, dialogue, and community as Chicago United for Equity (CUE) hosted its 2024 Annual Showcase. This year's event brought together over 150 members of our community, united in celebration of the 2023 Fellows and the work of our CUEmmunity, all working toward achieving racial equity in Chicago. Photo by Elia L. Alamillo - E.L.A. Photography Rachel Pate, CUE’s Director of Civic Programming, shared reflections on the work of the last year and announced the 2024 CUE Fellows, highlighting the launch of the sixth cohort. Many 2024 Fellows were in attendance, which gave them the opportunity to meet the 2023 Fellows, Alumni, and CUE’s network members. Photo of 2023 CUE Fellows by Elia L. Alamillo - E.L.A. Photography Photo by Elia L. Alamillo - E.L.A. Photography 2023 Fellows' Projects 2023 Fellows spoke to attendees about their projects, sharing many of their insights and future goals related to their projects. Three Fellows presented their projects as part of the program, shedding light on the themes present in the Fellows’ projects and the importance of cross-sectoral work.  Photo by Elia L. Alamillo - E.L.A. Photography Chris Bridges, One Village Nation It Takes A Village Nation (ITAVN) is a social platform founded by Chris Bridges. It is designed to provide a safe and collaborative digital space for activists, organizers, businesses, and community members globally. The platform addresses the challenge of unsafe and privacy-compromising mainstream social media by offering an alternative that prioritizes user safety and privacy. ITAVN enables users to connect, share resources, and mobilize around social justice causes, supporting communities of color and encouraging coalition building and activism. The next steps for ITAVN include a fundraising campaign, recruitment of beta users, and optimizing the user experience for a full platform launch. Learn more at www.ittakesavillagenation.com . Photo by Elia L. Alamillo - E.L.A. Photography Alana Warren, Civic Federation The Civic Federation is addressing the funding disparities in Chicago Public Schools (CPS), where students of color are particularly affected. Although the Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) formula was designed to provide adequate funding to under-resourced districts, CPS was only funded at 75% in fiscal year 2023 and is projected to be 81% funded in 2024, falling short of the 100% target by 2027. Alana’s project includes a Racial Equity Impact Assessment to evaluate how equitable the EBF formula is, especially in marginalized communities like Englewood. This assessment will inform advocacy efforts, increase transparency, and support equitable budgeting practices to improve the educational experiences of underserved students. Visit www.civicfed.org for the short-form report, or email Alana to learn more at awarren@civicfed.org . Photo by Elia L. Alamillo - E.L.A. Photography Kristen Garcia, Afton Partners Kristen is addressing inequities in early care and education (ECE) by developing a racial equity framework to guide systemic change initiatives. Recognizing that access to high-quality ECE services is unevenly distributed across racial, ethnic, income, and geographic lines, this framework will help Afton incorporate racial equity into every phase of its projects. By collaborating with Illinois state agencies, Afton aims to transform funding, governance, and policies to close opportunity gaps and promote justice. The next steps involve finalizing the framework, piloting it, gathering feedback, and refining it to ensure it effectively supports equitable ECE systems. Find more details about the framework and our approach in the near future on Afton’s blog . Photo by Elia L. Alamillo - E.L.A. Photography Sonseriya Williams, Teamwork Englewood Teamwork Englewood is championing the reopening of the Green Line station at 63rd and Racine to improve transit access and stimulate economic reinvestment in the community. Despite a 93% community vote in favor, the challenge remains to secure the necessary support, resources, and funding for this transit-oriented development. This resident-led effort seeks to transform vacant spaces, reclaim community assets, and implement a focused investment strategy, demonstrating the power of community-driven initiatives. The next steps include conducting a feasibility study, increasing community engagement, forming a coalition, and facilitating meetings with representatives to ensure the project’s success. Sign the online petition ! Photo by Elia L. Alamillo - E.L.A. Photography We closed the evening with an impassioned request to invest in our work from two board members and Alumn, Tiffany Ford (2018 Fellow ) and Lauren Burdette (2019 Fellow). They highlighted their commitment to CUE and the importance of our collective work.  Below are a few images from our event. Find the full album here . All photos by Elia L. Alamillo - E.L.A. Photography Resources: 2023 Fellows Equity Playbook - The 2023 Fellows’ Projects

Over 200 community members helped inform Chicago’s Co-Governance Framework along with the Co-Governance Steering Committee    CHICAGO – In collaboration with the Co-Governance Steering Committee, the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) and Chicago United for Equity (CUE) have launched a draft of Chicago’s Co-Governance Framework, which includes an opportunity for public comment to continue the Johnson administration’s commitment to collaborative governance.  “Today’s launch of our city’s first Co-Governance Framework is a step forward in my administration’s commitment to fundamentally change how government and communities work together,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “For too long, community voices have not been at the center of decision-making. Through our partnership with CUE and the Steering Committee, we are moving beyond traditional engagement to ensure that those most impacted by decisions are true partners in shaping Chicago's future.”  Chicago residents participate in a Community Conversation hosted by the Co-Governance Steering Committee. The Steering Committee, in partnership with OERJ and CUE, hosted 18 community conversations to build this framework. Over 200 participants from 57 neighborhoods reflected on their relationships with government and shared their visions for co-governance. Data from each community conversation was documented by OERJ and CUE partners. A research partner of CUE, Dr. Tiffany Ford from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, compiled and analyzed the data presented in the draft framework.  The public is encouraged to provide feedback on the first draft to strengthen Chicago's Co-Governance Framework by Feb. 28, 2025. To access the framework and public comment, visit chi.gov/co-governance.   This initiative stems from Mayor Brandon Johnson’s vision to create a more collaborative government that aims to build the foundation necessary for government and communities most impacted to collaboratively identify solutions to challenges caused by racial, health and economic inequities.   “We believe that true democracy thrives when power is shared. Co-governance is not just a strategy—it’s a commitment to leveraging the power of communities and government to ensure that those most impacted by policies are driving collective decision-making,” said Candace Williams, Interim Executive Director of Chicago United for Equity. “We are proud to continue advancing this work in partnership with the community, in an effort to build a more just and equitable city.”  The Co-Governance Steering Committee, which consists of nine diverse, cross-sectored and community-connected individuals, designed and facilitated the community conversations to create a shared definition and the supporting values and principles through these conversations and reflections.  “Building collaborative governance structures cannot be done in isolation. We want to ensure we create an opportunity for all Chicagoans to build a tool that we hope will foster shared decision-making between government and community," said Carla Kupe, Chief Equity Officer.   OERJ and CUE, in partnership with the Co-Governance Steering Committee, will host a convening in early April of this year to share Chicago's Co-Governance final framework and the future of this work.  ### About The Office of Equity and Racial Justice      The Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) seeks to advance institutional change that results in an equitable transformation of how we do business across the City of Chicago enterprise. This includes the City’s service delivery, resource distribution, policy creation, and decision-making. OERJ will do this by supporting City departments in normalizing concepts of racial equity, organizing staff to work together for transformational change, and operationalizing new practices, policies, and procedures that result in more fair and just outcomes. Visit  chicago.gov/equity .     About Chicago United for Equity    Chicago United for Equity (CUE) is a network of racial justice advocates working across diverse types of civic power as organizers, researchers, artists, storytellers, policymakers, and lawyers to redesign Chicago’s civic institutions and transform Chicagoans’ relationship to power. Since 2018, CUE has garnered national recognition for developing people-powered voter guides, participatory budgets, and community-led policymaking strategies. CUE equips leaders across various sectors with the tools to drive transformational change, ignite civic imagination, and meaningfully engage with impacted communities across Chicago. CUE, its Fellows, and its partners harness their collective power and civic love in pursuit of a Chicago that works for all of us. Learn more at chicagounitedforequity.org .

On Thursday, December 5, 2024, we hosted our annual State of the CUE-nion. We took the opportunity to reflect on the past, reconnect with purpose, and reimagine a future shaped by bold vision and collective power. Attendees' presence and energy brought the event to life, leaving us inspired and ready to take the next step in our journey. We are deeply grateful to Builders Vision for hosting us in their phenomenal space, offering stunning views of Chicago and a breathtaking sunset that perfectly framed the evening. CUE Board, photo by Elia Alamillo - E.L.A Photography. Event Highlights: Reflections on Progress: A review of key milestones achieved this year, including the launch of the Co-Governance Steering Committee, in partnership with the Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice, emphasizing the centering of community voices in our work. Community Impact: Insights from our collaboration with Dr. Tiffany Ford (2018 Fellow + CUE Board Member) on an ethnographic study examining the impact of the CUE Fellowship across sectors and the region. Vision for the Future: A preview of our 2025 work plan, which focuses on amplifying our stories + impact, enhancing our learning community, and fostering deeper collaborations. Stay tuned for ways to get involved! Call to Action: Daniel Ash, President of the Field Foundation, underscored the critical need to support civic organizations like CUE to ensure our collective impact is sustained and nurtured over the long-term. Left: Candace Williams, CUE Interim Executive Director; Right: Daniel Ash, Field Foundation President; photo by Elia Alamillo - E.L.A Photography. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we raised $1,000 during the State of the CUE-nion! This marks a powerful step toward our Civic Love in Action campaign goal of $10,000. Let's keep the momentum going as we work to build a more just, equitable, and inclusive Chicago! Photos by Elia Alamillo - E.L.A Photography. Together, we can continue to transform this city through courage, love, and a shared commitment to equity. Thank you for showing up, believing in our vision, and being part of this journey. Photos by Elia Alamillo - E.L.A Photography. All photos by Elia L. Alamillo - E.L.A. Photography

Chicago United for Equity is excited to announce the addition of Denee Hill as the new Communications Manager. Denee will be joining our Communications and Storytelling team to effectively communicate our impact through compelling stories that resonate with our community. As Communications Manager, Denee will support the development and implementation of our Narrative Strategy. She will focus on enhancing our digital communications, especially across social media and email. She will be instrumental in collecting stories from our Fellows and sharing them with a broader audience to highlight our impact. “I’m looking forward to working with CUE to empower marginalized communities by having their voices uplifted and their perspectives involved in advocating for racial equity in Chicago.” - Denee Hill Denee joins our team with five years of experience in digital and traditional communications in for-profit and nonprofit settings. Most recently, she was the Digital Communications Coordinator at Chicago Foundation for Women, where she significantly increased the organization's engagement across social channels, its website, and its monthly newsletter through timely, thoughtful, and innovative approaches. We are tremendously excited to have her join our team to support our communications and storytelling work. Please take a moment to read her full bio and send her a warm welcome.

24 diverse leaders from across Chicago representing various sectors CUE is thrilled to announce the 2024 CUE Fellows, a cohort of 24 passionate leaders dedicated to reshaping the narrative of equity in Chicago. This year's cohort embodies a rich tapestry of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and expertise, united by a common goal: to shift power to communities and build an equitable Chicago for everyone. The CUE Fellowship is a year-long immersive program designed to empower leaders, disruptors, and healers from across Chicago. Through a comprehensive curriculum rooted in racial equity principles, Fellows will embark on a journey of learning, collaboration, and transformation. "We are proud to partner with these 24 exceptional individuals and their organizations," said Rachel Pate, Director of Civic Programming at Chicago United for Equity. "Their commitment to advancing racial equity and justice will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on transformative change in our city." Throughout the fellowship, participants will collaborate in a powerful learning community designed to enhance their skills through a curriculum that includes decolonizing research, racial equity impact assessments, principles of co-design, and more. By leveraging their collective wisdom and diverse perspectives, the Fellows will work collaboratively to reimagine Chicago's civic structures, policies, and practices utilizing a racial equity lens. "We believe in the power of community voices and collective action to drive meaningful change," added Terri Johnson, Board Chair at Chicago United for Equity. "Together, we can work towards an equitable city where every individual has the opportunity to thrive." Join us in welcoming the 2024 CUE Fellowship cohort to the vibrant CUEmmunity! Meet the 2024 CUE Fellows: Andrew Herrera, Warehouse Workers Action Athena Williams, Oak Park Regional Housing Center Bahati Marie Aimee, Woods Fund Chicago Cecily Relucio, Umuwi Ethnic Studies Courtney Hanson, People for Community Recovery Danielle Beavers, Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) Emily Cole, Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) Emily Laflamme, Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) Jacqueline S. Brissett, Coalition for African American Leaders James Rudyk Jr., Consultant Jenna Pollack, Chicago Dance History Project Ji Yang, 6018lNorth Joyce C. Wasner, St. Sabina Julia Hage, Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) Jung Yoon, Chicago Mayor's Office, Policy Team Karla Altmayer, Healing to Action Lyric Griffin, Chicago Mayor’s Office, Office of Equity and Racial Justice Matthew Shomo, The Chicago Community Trust Phylicia Manley, JPMorgan Chase Raina Bhagat, South Asian American Coalition to Renew Democracy (SACRED) Shawn Kendrick, Builders Initiative Stephanie Salgado, Chicago Department of Public Housing (CDPH) Teena Lorie Harris, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Whitney Wade, Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW)

In 2023, CUE embarked on a transformative Strategic Planning process, engaging with our CUEmmunity through in-person strategy sessions, surveys, and intimate conversations. Your participation helped shape CUE's 5 Year Strategic Plan, centered around four key pillars: Expanding Our Capacity and Nurturing Our Wellbeing Telling Our Story to Grow Our Impact Catalyzing and Aligning the CUE Network for Societal Transformation Redesigning and Supporting Chicago’s Civic Institutions for Public Accountability These four pillars are all in service to our North Star “Transforming Chicagoans' Relationship to Power." As we catalyze around these strategic priorities, we're excited to welcome Adria Husband, one of our 2023 CUE Fellows and a racial equity consultant, to guide us in evaluating our methodologies. Together with our CUEmmunity, we aim to scrutinize our efforts to achieve our transformative goal. Our Ask of You: We value your thoughts, reflections, and feedback on CUE's role in transforming Chicagoans' relationship to power. Join us in intimate small group discussions to explore how our initiatives align with the following goals: Increasing residents' belief that it is worthwhile to engage with local government Equipping residents with greater insights into our local systems Leverage civic knowledge and participation to increase government responsiveness to the needs of BIPOC communities. RSVP to Brainstorm, Test, and Guide CUE! Choose your preferred mode of engagement with us: Collaborate with a group within the CUE network (groups capped at 15): May 2nd, 5:30-7p May 14th, 3:30-5p May 23rd, 6-7p (virtual) Request a one-on-one conversation with our consultant, Adria. Ahead of our time together, watch the State of the CUE-nion recording to gain deeper insights into our Strategic Directions and prepare for these discussions. Our Offering To You! **Participants will receive a $100 stipend for their time. In-person gatherings will include light refreshments and food. Feel free to reach out to Adria with any questions you may have. Let's transform Chicago together!

We are thrilled to present CUE's Annual Report for 2023, a testament to our collective efforts in fostering an inclusive and equitable Chicago. 2023 has been a year of growth and deep collaboration. Through collaborative initiatives, strategic partnerships, and unwavering dedication, we have achieved significant milestones.

Co-Founder and Inaugural Executive Director Steps Down Chicago United for Equity (CUE) announces Niketa Brar’s departure from her executive director role at the end of 2023. After six and a half years of dedicated service, Niketa has decided to step back from day-to-day activities as executive director. She will support the transition and remain on CUE Fellowship Faculty throughout 2024. During her tenure, Niketa has laid a strong foundation for the organization, including establishing critical relationships across the City in various sectors, ensuring financial stability, and anchoring CUE’s future in a thoughtful strategic plan. “Over the last seven years, I am so proud to have built a constellation of 165 racial justice leaders working inside and outside civic systems to change them, together,” said Niketa Brar, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Chicago United for Equity. “I'm most proud to know that this is a network of doers – people who are deeply serious about the work of building a truly multiracial democracy, responsive and accountable to communities of color. It's been the gift of a lifetime to usher in this work for the city I love, and I look forward to supporting CUE's growth and watching the incredible impact that our network has on Chicago's future." The Board of Directors profoundly values Niketa’s exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing equity through her role at Chicago United for Equity. Her unwavering passion and commitment have made a lasting impression on CUE, influencing our Fellows, partners, and the ways we collectively pursue equity across Chicago. “CUE is deeply grateful to Niketa for her creativity, vision and leadership,” said Terri A. Johnson, Chicago United for Equity Board Chair. “We will continue to support the organization she has helped build, anchoring ourselves in CUE’s strategic plan. We remain dedicated to building a Chicago that works for all of us.” The organization begins the search for a new executive director to build upon the remarkable foundation laid by Niketa this month. During this transition period, CUE Staff and the Board of Directors will ensure a smooth continuation of operations and ongoing initiatives. Chicago United for Equity remains committed to equipping leaders across Chicago with the tools to acknowledge history, shift power, and build accountability.

The Chicago United for Equity Fellowship is a year-long program for racial justice leaders across the city to strengthen their racial equity practice and strategize for a brighter future. The CUE team is delighted to announce that applications are now open for the 2024 CUE Fellowship! Now in its sixth year, we’re looking for the next cohort of racial justice leaders ready to tackle the most pressing equity issues in Chicago. The CUE Fellowship is a year-long program designed to bring together 15-20 leaders across civic sectors to strengthen their racial equity practice. This community of change agents will learn new frameworks, policy tools and civic change strategies to apply to their very own Racial Equity Projects. We encourage Fellows to bring their hearts, minds, and bodies into this work. Our diverse perspectives allow the CUE community to analyze policy issues from all angles and develop strategies to address and alleviate harm to those most impacted. It’s this process, building relationships and taking meaningful action, that makes the CUE Fellowship curriculum so effective. Here’s an overview of what you need to know to apply for the 2024 CUE Fellowship! TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF Your resume and CV are sure to impress us, but what about your lived experience? CUE Fellows come from all over Chicago, some born and raised, some transplanted from other cities or countries. They are parents and mentors, artists and writers, renters and homeowners, gardeners and cooks. Each fellow brings their particular story, interests, blessings, and burdens to racial equity work. It’s what motivates them professionally and why they want to become a CUE Fellow. The CUE community is all about relationship building, so it’s important Fellows show up with an understanding of who they are. TELL US ABOUT YOUR SPONSOR ORGANIZATION Each Fellow is sponsored by their host organization and partners with them to develop and execute their Racial Equity Projects. We are looking for sponsor organizations who are reshaping Chicago’s civic institutions through decision-making, narrative shaping, and/or mobilizing. We want to know how you are a part of the organization and how your work contributes to making an impact on the city. Fellows work closely with their sponsor organization throughout the Fellowship, so it’s important Fellows already have a strong, working relationship with the organization prior to applying. TELL US ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES THAT SUSTAIN YOU Who are your people? How do you engage with your communities? The fight for racial justice and equity for a love for our city and each other. CUE believes in Civic Love, the myriad of ways we show support for our coworkers, neighbors and community leaders. Fellows have experience working with community and know that creating mutual support powers us to accomplish big things. CUE owes its impact to the mighty networks within it. Fellows come into this work with a strong understanding of how to give and receive in community. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE MOVEMENT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND YOUR RACIAL EQUITY PROJECT CUE understands this work is a part of a long tradition of advocacy, organizing, and disrupting the status quo. Where is the movement growing and where is it missing opportunities to create real change? We want to know your perspective on our journey towards racial justice. Our collective historical lens informs our present condition, and our collective vision of the future informs the actions we take right now in Chicago. What policy, program or process in the civic space do you want to see reimagined or redesigned? How can you and your organization/institution address it? How can the CUE Fellowship help address it? And how does this project help move our entire city towards justice for all? To learn more about the CUE Fellowship, download the program guide and sign up for an upcoming info session and meet some of our Fellows. If you have questions about the Fellowship or would like to nominate someone for this opportunity, please contact Maritza Bandera. UPDATE 12/12/23: The application deadline has been extended to Tuesday, January 16 by 11:59 PM.

We're proud to introduce the 2023 CUE Fellowship cohort! These 15 individuals bring their own unique perspectives and expertise to the work that must be done to build an equitable Chicago for everybody. Once again, the 2023 CUE Fellowship includes changemakers working in partnership with civic institutions and in community with neighbors. By fostering our relationship to each other and our shared interest in a Chicago that works for all, CUE fellows create an ecosystem of honest conversation, meaningful collaboration, and collective action. Welcome to the CUE Family CUE is people powered. We believe that an equitable city is possible whenever people come together in love of community and disruption of the status quo. We invest in the curious, visionary and courageous people who can target inequity in our systems and promote change—like these 15 fellows! From left to right: Adria Husband (Shifting Hearts and Minds LLC), Alana Warren (The Civic Federation), Chandra Christmas-Rouse (Metropolitan Planning Council) Chris Bridges (It Takes a Village Nation), Davon Clark (The Movement of Movement), Edna Navarro-Vidaurre (Birth to Five Illinois) Elizabeth Schuh (Cook County Bureau of Economic Development), Gabriella Nelson (Chicago Department of Housing), Jeni Hebert-Beirne (University of Illinois, Chicago) Kristen Garcia (Illinois Action for Children), Liú Méi-Zhì Huì Chen (National Public Housing Museum), Lucy Brennan (P33 Chicago) Marly Schott (Elevated Chicago), Nneka Onwuzurike (Office of Equity and Racial Justice, City of Chicago), Sonseriya Williams (Teamwork Englewood) Learn more about the 2023 Fellowship Cohort.

Thank you to everyone who attended our annual showcase Wednesday, December 7! It was a pleasure to see the room bustling with over 100 of CUE's family, friends and comrades. Five years ago CUE came together for a simple purpose: to stop the closing of a CPS school. We challenged the idea that the city gets to tell us what kind of power we have. —Niketa Brar John “JP” Pointer, Mayor of the National Teacher's Academy, celebrated the anniversary of NTA Day and the efforts of our friends and neighbors to organize against injustices in our communities. This is the foundation of CUE, our network, our tools and our vision to identify and eradicate racial disparities. “We need to stand up and fight for our kids.” —John “JP” Pointer, Mayor of the National Teacher's Academy Glenance Green, 2019 CUE Fellow, emceed the affair and kicked us off with a mighty performance that called us to believe in ourselves, each other and the purposeful actions we take. “Like Auntie Morrison said, we can do some rather extraordinary things if we really believe." —Glenance Green, 2019 CUE Fellow Investment is a crucial factor in the work we do, and attendees stepped up to the challenge! We raffled off several gift baskets to those lucky winners who had purchased raffle tickets. We thank you for your generosity! As we live under capitalism, CUE will continue to need your support in this work. —S. Mayumi “Umi” Grisby, 2022 CUE Fellow Our 2022 CUE Fellows presented their projects and shared their experiences collaborating with like-minded folks dedicated to racial equity in our city. Jessica Marie Sullivan, 2022 CUE Fellow, worked with Senior Fellows, 9 different schools and several youth organizations across the city to recruit the young folks who would create the Young People's Budget. I always felt adjacent to community in this work…The CUE fellowship helped me find my tribe. —Catherina Malone-Taylor, 2022 CUE Fellow CUE is powered by extraordinary people from communities across the city. It's an honor to celebrate another year of our commitment to racial equity—together, in the same room. “Just because democracy is messy does not mean it’s not worth practicing and improving upon." —Jianan Shi, 2022 CUE Fellow