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 is a multi-time Chicago Reader Activist of the Year, Chicago Magazine Chicagoan of the Year, Chicago Defender “Men of Excellence” Honoree, American Red Cross Community Impact Hero Award recipient, and the subject of the feature documentary film “A Tiny Ripple of Hope.”

Jahmal has also had the honor of speaking in front of President Barack Obama and receiving an honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities from DePaul University.

  • 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 AND COMMUNICATIONS

  • LADY SANDERS

    PROGRAM MANAGER, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

  • LEON PEATRY

    PROGRAM MANAGER, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

  • ASHLEY GODFREY

    EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

  • CHLOE GRAHAM

    PROGRAM AND MARKETING COORDINATOR

  • DANIEL EDWARDS

    ACCOUNTANT/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

Tonya Hooks - Alvarez and Marsal Management Consulting

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

Ray Legler, PhD - Assistant Professor, National Louis University

Associate board

Coming soon!