Speakers Bureau

Organizer Hannah Willage (front, second from left) with the Speakers Bureau and student volunteers.

Led by 15 formerly homeless adults, our Speakers Bureau reaches several thousand people each year at events hosted by schools, universities, religious and civic groups.

“What the coalition does is let my face and voice represent what we need to do to make a change,” says Leeanna Majors (shown right, in the hat).

Our speaking team is passionate about its work and includes the most active homeless leaders at CCH. They talk about their own experiences, and advocate on issues related to school access, housing and jobs, and developing opportunities for homeless and at-risk people to get back on their feet.

We reached 3,516 people at 64 venues in the 2011. Members of the CCH staff are also available to make presentations or join Speakers Bureau leaders at panel discussions.

Through outreach, the Speakers Bureau mobilizes volunteers who want to work with CCH. In 2011, 338 students were active at seven colleges and universities: Columbia, DePaul, Dominican, Elmhurst, Loyola, Northwestern and Trinity Christian; four Chicago Public and two Catholic high schools, and Northwestern’s Sheil Catholic Center. Volunteers join homeless leaders in advocating locally and in Springfield.

Our topics include:

•            Offering community organizing and support to shelter programs

•            Providing homeless families with access to affordable housing

•            Assisting homeless and unaccompanied youth with basic needs

•            Advocating for the educational rights of homeless children and teens

•            Securing job training and living wage employment

•            Community re-entry after incarceration

•            Surviving prostitution and sex trafficking

For more information, contact Senior Community Organizer Hannah Willage at (312) 641-4140 or hannah@chicagohomeless.org. To schedule a speaking engagement, please complete the Speakers Bureau Request Form.