Led by 15 formerly homeless youth and adults, our Speakers Bureau reaches about 2,000 people a year at events hosted by schools, universities, religious and civic groups.

Our Speakers Bureau in 2019

“What the coalition does is let my face and voice represent what we need to do to make a change,” says Leeanna Majors, a founding leader on the Speakers Bureau.

Passionate about their work, our speakers are among the most active grassroots leaders at CCH. They talk about their own lives and advocate on issues related to school access, housing and jobs, and developing opportunities and resources for people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Speakers Bureau member Sonovia Petty speaks to students at Chicago's Collins Academy High School about her experiences.
Sonovia Petty speaks at Chicago’s Collins Academy High School about her experiences.

The Speakers Bureau reached 2,122 people at 47 events in 2021.

Through outreach, the Speakers Bureau also mobilizes students to work with CCH. In the 2018-19 school year,  234 high school and college students worked on service learning projects in collaboration with their schools and the Speakers Bureau.  Student advocacy events were paused in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our topics include:

•  Offering community organizing and support to emergency shelter programs

•  Homeless and unaccompanied youth

•  Providing homeless families with access to affordable housing

•  Advocating for the educational rights of homeless children and teens

•  Securing job training and living wage employment

•  Community re-entry after incarceration

For more information, contact Organizer Claudia Cabrera. A fee is charged for Speakers Bureau engagements.

To schedule a speaking engagement, including a virtual engagement via Zoom, please complete a Speakers Bureau Request Form.