Jahmal Cole

Founder and CEO

Jahmal Cole is the founder and CEO of My Block My Hood My City and a dedicated advocate for social justice—committed to building a more interconnected Chicago through service and education.

Jahmal has been widely recognized for his leadership and impact. He is a multi-time Chicago Reader Activist of the Year, Chicago Magazine Chicagoan of the Year, Chicago Defender “Men of Excellence” Honoree, and a recipient of the American Red Cross Community Impact Hero Award. He is also the subject of the acclaimed feature documentary A Tiny Ripple of Hope.

He holds two honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees: one from Adler University, recognizing his philanthropic achievements, and another from DePaul University, honoring his lifelong dedication to serving Chicago’s youth and communities.

Most recently, in one of his final acts in office, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. awarded Jahmal the President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award—a prestigious honor celebrating his steadfast commitment to empowering young people and strengthening communities across Chicago.

  • Brandon Kowlaski

    Chief Financial Officer

  • Nathaniel Viets-Vanlear

    Sr. Director of Operations

  • Bintu Njie

    Director of Development

  • Stephen Gilbert

    Director of Youth and Community

  • Jason Polevoi

    Director of Marketing & Communications

  • Lady Sanders

    Program Manager, Youth Engagement

  • Leon Peatry

    Program Manager, Community Development

  • Ashley Godfrey

    Executive Assistant to the CEO and Volunteer Coordinator

  • Chloe Graham

    Program and Marketing Coordinator

  • Daniel Edwards

    Accountant and Data Analyst

  • Ronnie Abernathy Jr.

    Program Coordinator

  • Marquell Washington

    Program Intern

Board of Directors

Will Hobert, Chair - Managing Member, WH Trading

Tiffany Wartman, Treasurer - Director of Finance, Urban Prep Academies

Andy Buchanan - Deputy Director of Communications, Illinois Department of Public Health

Rickey F. Harris - Principal, Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

Tonya Hooks - Executive Assistant, Alvarez and Marsal Management Consulting

Elizabeth Krebs - Financial Advisor, CFP and CWS, Krebs Financial Management

Ray Legler, PhD - Assistant Professor, National Louis University

Associate board

Coming soon!