About

Built by Woodlawn. For Woodlawn.

Project H.O.O.D. was founded by Pastor Corey B. Brooks in 2012 to transform Chicago's South Side through programs rooted in the community, not parachuted in.

HELPING ★ OTHERS ★ OBTAIN ★ DESTINY
Our mission

A decade of showing up.

Project H.O.O.D. (Helping Others Obtain Destiny) exists to create sustainable change in Woodlawn and the broader South Side of Chicago. We operate across five interconnected pillars — violence prevention, workforce development, health & wellness, youth programming, and re-entry services — because no one of these alone is enough.

We believe that the people closest to the problems are closest to the solutions. Everything we do is built with the neighborhood, not for it.

The story

How we got here.

2012 · Founded

Pastor Brooks takes a stand against neighborhood violence by spending 94 nights on a motel rooftop across from a funeral parlor to protest youth gun deaths. Project H.O.O.D. launches soon after.

2015–2020 · Programs scale

Workforce development partnership with local construction firms grows from dozens to hundreds of placements. Violence interruption team formalizes.

2022–2024 · LEO breaks ground

Capital campaign launches for the Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center — a 90,000 sq ft community hub on S. King Drive. Groundbreaking in 2022, 84% funded by 2025.

2025 · Walk Across America

Pastor Brooks walks 900+ miles from Chicago to New York to raise the final $45M and spotlight what's possible. 15,000+ served this year. 2M+ lbs of food distributed. $19/hr average starting wage for job placements.

Founder

Pastor Corey B. Brooks

Pastor, entrepreneur, and community organizer. Founder of Project H.O.O.D. and senior pastor of New Beginnings Church of Chicago. Walked across America in 2025 to fund the LEO Center. Known for meeting kids on the corner before asking them to come to church.

Read Pastor Brooks' letter Book Pastor Brooks
Executive Director

Desmond "Dez" Marshall

Dez joined Project H.O.O.D. as a volunteer and never left. Today he leads a staff of 83+ across multiple divisions, has raised more than $44M in two years, and oversees programs that serve 15,000+ people annually throughout Chicagoland.

Meet Dez →
Speaking & appearances

Book Pastor Brooks

Pastor Brooks speaks on community transformation, faith-driven leadership, entrepreneurship, and what it takes to stay — in a neighborhood, in a mission, in the work. Tell us about your event and we'll follow up within two business days.

Submit a booking inquiry →

We respond within two business days. For urgent requests, call 773.354.8483.

Stewardship

Stewardship, on paper.

Project H.O.O.D. is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 45-3964886). 990s and annual reports are public record. We are independently rated by Charity Navigator and listed on Candid (GuideStar).