We The People Media

We The People Media was formed as a not-for-profit organization in late 1999 by 10 prominent journalists, scholars, community and business leaders who wanted to ensure the survival of Residents' Journal and the Urban Youth International Journalism Program.

In June 1999, shortly after the takeover of the CHA by city officials, the new administration terminated CHA's prior agreement with Residents' Journal and instructed the staff to either integrate the publication into the agency's public relations strategy or expedite the transition to publication by an independent not-for-profit organization. The Residents' Journal staff opted to separate from CHA.

After months of fundraising and other preparation, We The People Media assumed responsibility for Residents' Journal and the Urban Youth International Journalism Program in August 2000.

We The People's guidance has enabled the Urban Youth International Journalism Program to hire new staff and redesign its Journalism 101 curriculum to enhance training for young people throughout the city's low-income communities.

Board of Directors

President: Eugene Scott
President, Chicago Defender Charities

Secretary/Treasurer: Stelios Valavanis
President and Founder, On Shore Communications

Maner Jean Wiley
Local Advisory Council President, Hillard Homes

Sandra Young
Local Advisory Council President, Ida B. Wells, CHA Board Commissioner

Francine Washington
Local Advisory Council President, Stateway Gardens

Dr. Nathaniel Deutsch
Swarthmore College

Barbara Moore
Local Advisory Council Vice President, Robert Taylor Homes

U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis
Congressman from the Seventh District of Illinois

Dr. Sudhir Venkatesh
Columbia University

Jamie Kalven
Author

Sunil Garg

Jonathan Rothstein
Attorney at Law

Photos by Ethan Michaeli