Editor's Note
Many of us know of various organizations in Illinois outside of the Chicago area, but currently there isn't a directory of those organizations. Well, we are going to start one. If you have contact information of organizations in the northern Illinois area, email the contact information to us at Sherman@tellmesomethingood.org.
Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce,
43 West Galena Blvd., Aurora, IL 60506 (630) 859-9776, Website: www.qcaachamber.com; President, Roscoe Greene and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ray Jackson.
The Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce began in August 1993 after several African American business people recognized the need to have a business organization that addressed issues which affect African American business success and failure. The organization's original name Aurora Area African American Chamber of Commerce was changed in the late 1990s to the African American Chamber of Commerce. In 2005, the organization's name was changed to the Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce in order to serve members who came from the counties of Kane, Kendall, DuPage and Will. A diverse board of directors governs the Chamber that has action and ad-hoc committees working to implement the Chamber's mission and annual program of work.
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Black Bar Association of Will County,
P. O. Box 1273, Joliet, IL 60434, (815) 333-3200
Established in December 2007, the Black Bar Association of Will County (BBA) works diligently to carry out its mission "To Seek Justice" in Will County.
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The Aurora Actionaires,
P.O. Box 5273, Aurora, IL 60506-5273, Co-Presidents, Allene Champen (630) 897-7852 and Mae Helen Smith (630) 897-7131.
The Aurora Actionaires is a non-profit organization comprised of 19 African American women who seek to serve the community. For 33 years, the organization has acted in concert with its mission as collectively as it has assisted the elderly, donated to the needy, and provided college scholarships to African American high schools graduates.
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Quad County Urban League,
1685 N. Farnsworth Ave., Aurora, IL 60505
(630) 851-2203 Fax: (630) 851-2703., website: www.qcul.org, Theodia Gillespie, CEO.
The Quad County Urban League recently moved into its new facility, the John C. Dunham Vocational and Educational Center. The organization is dedicated to advocating and establishing programs that facilitate the social and economic growth of African Americans and similarly disadvantaged people in DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties. The Quad County Urban League works hard to bridge the gap in the fields of economic development, employment, education, youth incentives, housing, community planning, health and welfare.
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DuPage County Branch of the NAACP,
P.O. Box 475, Wheaton, IL 60189
(630) 585-4633. Rev. Theresa A. Dear, President, website: http://dupagecountynaacp.org.
The DuPage County Branch of the NAACP works to improve the political, educational, social and economic status of minority groups; to eliminate racial prejudice in conformity with the articles of Incorporations of the Association as directed by the National Board of Directors.
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Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc (TLOD)
It is a national humanitarian and professional organization. Chartered on June 4, 1964 in Tyler, Texas. It is a service organization, with a membership of over 5,000 women and 143 chapters, located in six geographical areas of the United States. The purpose of TLOD is to provide volunteer community services. The TLOD programs and projects focus on five thrusts….the sponsoring of a youth group known as Top Teens of America; enhancing the lives of Senior Citizens; Beautifying the Community, monitoring issues that affect the Status of Women and forming Community Partnerships. TLOD has also formed coalitions with other organizations, including UNCF, NAACP, AOIP and NCNW. The local Chapter was officially chartered on February 2, 1985, with Emily Jones of Naperville as the chapter founder. The West Suburban Chicago Chapter Ladies and Teens have continued the legacy of service the TLOD way. Through the years, the chapter has diligently participated in the local communities, on the Area and National level in initiatives all designed to promote the organizations’ five major thrusts The chapter has hosted two successful Area III Conferences (1994 & 2006), and North Cluster Founders Days.
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African American Men of Unity,
13 Gale Street, Aurora, IL 60506, (630) 606-1910
The African American Men of Unity organization resumed its "Rites of Passage" program for students age 10 to 17 recently at the Aurora Township Youth Services building, 313 Gale Street, in Aurora. The program runs from noon to 2 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of each month. The program is designed to encourage community cohesion, strengthen commitment to family, enlighten and empower youths to excel in academics, help youth grow socially and provide an alternative to gangs, drugs and violence. For more information, contact Mr. Ricky Rodgers at (630) 606-1910.
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African American Heritage Advisory Board,
Aurora Community Center, 501 College Avenue, Aurora, IL 60505.
The City of Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board is a non-partisan advisory board that is community based and funded by the City of Aurora. Its purpose is to provide education to the community and act as a bridge between the African American community and all other communities within the City of Aurora. The Board meets every second Thursday of the month at the Aurora Community Center at 5:30 p.m. For more information, contact Sanura Young, Mayor's Office of Special Events, (630) 844-4731, syoung@aurora-il.org.
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The Northern Illinois Chapter of N.O.B.L.E.,
P.O. Box 1321, Aurora, IL 60507,
630-847-1014, Email: noble@nic-noble.org
The mission of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) is to utilize the expertise of its members to lead in the development of strategies to: Foster diversity at all levels of law enforcement; Impact policies and procedures that would ensure equity in the delivery of law enforcement services; Develop community partnerships to reduce violence, delinquency, crime and racism and; Address professional misconduct within the law enforcement community.
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African American Leadership Roundtable Inc.
P.O. Box 2121, Naperville, IL 60567-2121
Phone: 630-954-9767,
Websites: www.aalroundtable.org and www.napervilleaahf2010.org Email:contactaalr@email.com
President: Bette Lawrence-Water - Vice Pres: Dante Royster
The African American Leadership Roundtable (AALR) is an all volunteer, nonprofit 501 c 3 organization, founded in 2000. Our mission: “…to build leadership, increase awareness, and create collaborative opportunities that enhance the well-being of African American stakeholders throughout DuPage, Will, Kane, and Kendal counties, IL.” AALR initiatives include: Leadership Development, Academic Performance, Economic Empowerment, Eliminating Health Disparities, Youth Development, Advocacy, Community Partnerships & Collaborations; Preserving Heritage, Arts & Culture.
To stay in touch with the pulse of issues impacting you--become involved with the African American Leadership Roundtable. General Meetings: 1st Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. Also, 7:30 a.m. “Coffee Talk” discussions on informative news articles, interesting books, or concerns. Call 24 hour Info Line for 630-95-9767.
We've hosted or co-sponsored numerous events and forums on: Health, Employment, Economic Empowerment, Education, and Leadership Summits. Most recently, in Spring 2010, we partnered with the City of Naperville, North Central College, and a host of other organizations to bring the first-ever African American Heritage Festival in downtown Naperville. We INFORM... ENGAGE... and EMPOWER!
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