Dr. Chandra Gill is an entrancing and motivating speaker and educator passionate about critical issues related to urban youth and communities. Viewed in a number of arenas as a part of the new Civil Rights leadership, Dr. Gill has spoken to national and international audiences about relevant matters of our time. Endorsed by many, she became known as a young scholar activist, immersed in educational thought. Intellectually astute and sociologically provocative, she is regarded as one who edifies, encourages and empowers.
On the academic front, Dr. Gill has received numerous honors and awards. As part of the inaugural class for Bill Gates Millennium Scholar’s Program, she was one of Chicago’s first African-American public school recipients at the graduate level. Inducted into Phi Delta Kappa with high honors she has gone on to use her gifts for outstanding works. She is currently a Professor at Northeastern Illinois University’s Center for Inner City Studies.
As a sociologist, Dr. Gill posited the theoretical framework of Blackademically Speaking®, which insists on bridging the gap between theory and practice. As an activist, she has exposed over 1,000 youth to opportunities at various colleges and universities. In January 2010, she was featured as part of the United Negro College Fund’s (UNCF) Evening of Stars®, an annual program highly televised on major networks including WGN-TV and Black Entertainment Television (BET). She recently received recognition as one of Chicago’s 35 under 35-leadership honorees and has served as a radio personality with Chicago Public Radio (vocalo.org) and WVON, the city’s only Black-owned radio station. Leaving none behind, she launched the city’s first book club for the inmates of Chicago’s Youth Detention Center where she committed to volunteering her time for the youthful inmates encouraging educational empowerment. Dr. Gill walks the walk beyond the talk and continues to speak for countless churches, social agencies, Ivy League universities and prisons, where she represents the new leadership best equipped to tackle America’s greatest challenges.
