WELCOME TO OUR VIRTUAL PLATFORM FOR CONNECTION!
Together, we prepare to face the future. We prepare to listen to the needs of our community and respond with the full efforts of ours. We meet this national moment of crisis with a deep commitment to show up for each other, for the nation, for the work. This is our work.
We invite you to join us. We believe in Chicago. We believe in our partners in the work. We believe in each other. And at all costs, we believe in our young people and the adults that support them in their schools, homes, and communities everyday. Welcome to our Gathering. Welcome to the work.
STAY TUNED, STAY IN THE KNOW!
Check out fresh content released during the Unity Gathering below:
WATCH Umoja's new organizational video, get to know our work.
With roots in Chicago and wings across the nation, Umoja centers students in our mission and adults in our practice. We build deep SEL skills in educators to transform the ways students experience schools, and the ways schools exist to impact society. This is our work.
Welcome to the work!
Umoja Chicago: Equity + Love in Schools from UMOJA on Vimeo.

WATCH as Umoja Transformation Fellows share our cross-sector and historical inspiration for the work. Read their favorite quotes below.
WELCOME TO THE WORK: A MESSAGE FROM UMOJA TRANSFORMATION FELLOWS from UMOJA on Vimeo.
MARCH 18, 2020 | HONORING UMOJA 2020 UNITY AWARD HONOREE
DR. MAURICE SWINNEY!
Umoja 2020 Unity Award Honoree - Dr. Maurice Swinney from UMOJA on Vimeo.
As the district’s first Chief Equity Officer, Maurice is responsible for moving us closer to achieving educational equity, which is a moral imperative for CPS. Prior to this role, Maurice served as the principal of Chicago’s Tilden Community Career Academy, where his focus on college readiness and social-emotional learning was recognized by the University of Chicago’s Consortium on School Research. In his new role with the district, he will be responsible for examining our policies and programs for inequities and implementing strategies that minimize gaps in resources, staffing, and high-quality academic programming.
Prior to joining CPS, Maurice was a teacher and school leader in Louisiana. Maurice holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Education and Master’s degree in Educational Leadership/School Principalship from Xavier University of Louisiana. Dr. Swinney has earned his EdD. in Public School Administration with a Superintendency endorsement from Oral Roberts University this Spring 2019.
MARCH 17, 2020 | THIS IS THE WORK. JOIN US IN THE WORK.




MARCH 16, 2020 | HONORING 2020 UMOJA CORPORATE SPONSOR, FIFTH THIRD BANK
Fifth Third Tribute Video from UMOJA on Vimeo.
Umoja 2020 Corporate Champion - Fifth Third Bank from UMOJA on Vimeo.
Fifth Third Bank is proud to partner with four Chicago Public High Schools to execute the On The Block (OTB) financial stability/workforce development program. The goal of OTB is to increase the number of high school graduates who go on to earn a living wage by their mid-20s. We believe students can accomplish this through multiple pathways including college, job training, trade school, and gap year programs. We partner with Umoja, Youth Job Center, One Million Degrees and Bottom Line to provide a curriculum that helps young people build the personal skills to make good life & career choices, and high-touch coaching through workforce development and college persistence programs. Fifth Third Bank believes that young people are the future of our economy. When they can earn a living wage, businesses prosper as communities thrive.
MARCH 13, 2020 | WELCOME TO UMOJA'S VIRTUAL GATHERING!
Instead of welcoming you to Umoja’s 2020 Unity Benefit at Galleria Marchetti, we welcome you to our virtual Unity Gathering! We've invited two of our organizational leaders to welcome you and launch Umoja's week of unity. Please enjoy this short video.
WELCOME NEW UMOJA BOARD MEMBERS!
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary leaders, people, and communities. We're excited to welcome these extraordinary new members of Umoja's Board of Directors.
Welcome Charisse Ford Hughes, Chief Marketing Officer of PANDORA AMERICAS; Kameelah Shaheed-Diallo, Partner at The City Fund; and Rodney Thomas, Vice President - National Programs, Surge Institute!
We’re honored to have you join our community!