Meet Our Visionary

Corey Brooks (CEO)

Pastor Corey B. Brooks, a visionary leader committed to eradicating violence and transforming lives in Chicago's South Side, is the founder and Senior Pastor of New Beginnings Church of Chicago and the CEO of Project H.O.O.D. Communities Development Corporation. His academic journey took him through Ball State University, University of Florida, Dallas Theological Seminary, and Grace Theological Seminary1.

In a daring act of advocacy, Pastor Brooks spent 343 nights on the rooftop of a dilapidated motel across from his church, drawing national attention to the rampant drugs, prostitution, and violence plaguing the area. This bold step was a sequel to his previous 94-day rooftop vigil, the funds from which led to the demolition of the crime-infested motel. The most recent rooftop stay ended with Pastor Brooks breaking ground on a state-of-the-art community center in Woodlawn, marking a significant milestone towards realizing his dream of a violence-free neighborhood and improved life quality2.

The community center project received a substantial boost with an $8 million donation from the McCormick Foundation, bringing the total funds raised to $28.5 million. This financial milestone edges Pastor Brooks closer to the center's completion, which aims to be a nurturing hub for children and a citadel of support for the community, thus, driving down violence and fostering a safer environment3.

Pastor Brooks, along with his wife Delilah, is at the vanguard of Project H.O.O.D., a community initiative striving to revitalize Woodlawn. Through this initiative, they are nurturing a new cadre of peacemakers, problem solvers, and entrepreneurs. They continue to offer programs like Core and Carpentry Level I course, entrepreneurship courses, business workshops, and community-wide events, significantly impacting the neighborhood's socio-economic landscape.

On November 20, 2021, Pastor Brooks rekindled his rooftop advocacy, this time atop a replica of the future Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center, to kickstart Project H.O.O.D.'s capital campaign. The campaign has since amassed over $28.5 million and garnered more than 20,000 new donors nationwide.

In 2019, he was appointed Illinois Director for St. Francis Community Services, Inc., extending his humanitarian reach to cater to the needs of children and youth.