April 22, 2025

City Club event description:

Black men in Illinois face a persistent workforce crisis, with Chicago ranking lowest among major U.S. cities in labor force participation. In response, Equity & Transformation (EAT) and Fathers, Families & Healthy Communities (FFHC) conducted in-depth research to understand the barriers Black men and fathers face in securing stable employment. Their findings, to be released in the upcoming report, Breaking the Chains: Reclaiming Wealth, Power, and Dignity for Black Men, outline urgent, actionable solutions—including targeted guaranteed income, job training with wraparound support, fatherhood and mentorship programs, and investment in Black-owned businesses. This initiative aims to drive systemic change, ensuring Black men have access to opportunities that strengthen families and Chicago’s economy.

In partnership with the Field Foundation.

Speakers

Daniel O. Ash
Daniel Ash is president of the Field Foundation, a private and independent foundation that invests in civic infrastructure, the cultural sector, local news outlets, and organizers to support power building in Chicago. Alongside its strategic partners, the Field Foundation distributes more than $10 million annually to nonprofit organizations and leaders, focusing primarily on the city’s South and West Sides.

Prior to his current role, Daniel was associate vice president of Community Impact for The Chicago Community Trust, and he previously served as the Trust’s chief marketing officer. Before that, Daniel spent ten years as vice president of Chicago Public Media.

Daniel earned his M.P.P. from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago and a B.A. in Economics from Oberlin College. He completed a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship at Princeton University.

Daniel was selected as a Leadership Greater Chicago Daniel Burnham Fellow in 2023, and he has been recognized as a Crain’s Chicago Notable Leader in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Deon Hodrick
Deon Hodrick is a lifelong Austin resident, entrepreneur, father, and community advocate. Since participating in the Chicago Future Fund, Deon has become an active member of Equity and Transformation, speaking at City Hall events, attending guaranteed income conferences, and building local power in his community.

City Club video

Dr. Clinton Boyd, Jr.
Dr. Clinton Boyd, Jr. is a visionary leader and advocate for resilient families, whose work bridges research, advocacy, and community action. Since 2021, he has served as Executive Director of Fathers, Families, & Healthy Communities (FFHC) and as a Researcher at Chapin Hall. In these roles, Dr. Boyd draws on his lived and academic experiences to champion policies and programs that empower resilient fathers, strengthen families, and address systemic inequities. His work reimagines justice systems and uplifts communities through transformative, equity-focused initiatives.

Dr. Boyd’s professional achievements are driven by a personal mission to speak truth to power. He has authored numerous articles, book chapters, and policy reports exploring father engagement, family resilience, and racial justice at the intersections of early childhood development and youth programming. At FFHC, he has spearheaded innovative programs to elevate the voices of resilient fathers, while his work at Chapin Hall employs participatory action research to drive systemic reforms in juvenile justice and community violence prevention.

A proud first-generation college graduate, Dr. Boyd earned a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University Chicago, a Master of Arts from DePaul University, and a Ph.D. from Georgia State University. He also completed postdoctoral training at Duke University’s Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity. A Prevent Child Abuse America National Board Member and ZERO TO THREE Academy Fellow, he champions initiatives that improve outcomes for families and advance racial equity.

Dr. Boyd’s leadership and impact have earned him national recognition, including the 2024 Aspen Institute Ascend Fellowship and the 2024 Chicago Changemaker of the Year award from DePaul University. Balancing his professional accomplishments with his most cherished role as a father of two, Dr. Boyd exemplifies his belief that Black fathers are essential assets to their families and communities.

Richard Wallace
Richard Wallace is an author, organizer, and the Founding Executive Director of Equity and Transformation (EAT), an organization dedicated to advancing social and economic equity for Black informal workers. Under his leadership, EAT launched the Chicago Future Fund in 2021, a groundbreaking Guaranteed Income pilot for formerly incarcerated individuals.

A Roosevelt University graduate and recipient of their prestigious Matthew Freeman Social Justice Award, Wallace has published over a dozen writings in prominent outlets, including The Chicago Tribune and The Washington Post. His contributions to social justice have earned him numerous distinctions, including the Atlantic Fellowship for Racial Equity, Soros Justice Fellowship, Margaret Burroughs Fellowship at UIC, Galaxy Leaders Fellowship, and Voqal Fellowship—recognitions that highlight his unwavering commitment to racial and economic justice.