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Friends, Supporters and Partners,
As you know, I founded Bright Star Community Outreach (BSCO - BrightStarCommunityOutreach.com) over 14 years ago and have enjoyed watching our 501c3 go from infancy to a well-developed, multi-million-dollar annual budget organization with more than 115+ employees. As we continue our efforts to grow and thrive in our Greater Bronzeville Community, I am thrilled to share some exciting news with you! I am passing the baton to a new Executive Director, LaKreshia Kindred. This marks a significant milestone for us as an organization, as we proudly appoint an African-American woman to this leadership role for the first time. LaKreshia Kindred brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to our mission, team and community.
Before joining Bright Star Community Outreach, Lakreshia served for twenty years in the financial services industry, operating in various positions of increasing responsibility, such as HR Director, Chief Strategy Officer, and Engagement Director. She is a native of Chicago, born and raised on the south side. Lakreshia openly shares that she is a proud graduate of Chicago Public Schools who earned her Bachelor's in Rhetoric from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and her Master's in Non-Profit Management from Keller Graduate School. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
With a career rooted in the for-profit sector, Lakreshia has accumulated a wealth of experience and expertise, including strategic planning, organizational development, and program management. Her commitment to making a positive impact extends beyond corporate boundaries. For more than 10 years, Lakreshia has been actively engaged in the non-profit arena, generously volunteering her time and skills to contribute meaningfully to Bright Star Church, St. James Ministries, and Bright Star Community Outreach community initiatives. We are enthusiastic about the positive impact she’ll bring to our community. This groundbreaking moment is a testament to our dedication to fostering inclusivity, and we’re excited about the opportunities that lie ahead under LaKreshia Kindred’s leadership.
Not to worry, I will still be here as the founder and CEO of BSCO. However, Lakreshia and our BSCO Executive Leadership team will help me to be laser-focused on raising capital, raising awareness, scaling, and replicating our work in other communities and cities. Our TURN (The Urban Resilience Network) Center in Bronzeville is now open, and we have welcomed our newest community partner, Centers For New Horizons into our 68,000 sq. ft. facility (see video & our impact below). This step will also allow me to lean in even more as pastor of Bright Star Church Chicago (Greater Bronzeville) and St. James Church Chicago (Roseland/West Pullman), as well as continue the important work of community organizing, rebuilding historic bridges between African American and Jewish communities, strengthening local schools, housing and more.
Join us in celebrating this milestone, and if you have any questions or want to learn more, feel free to reach out. We’re looking forward to this new chapter and the positive changes it will bring to our community, city and beyond. I, along with our Board Chair Skip Schrayer and the entire BSCO Board would like to thank all of you for your support over the past 14 years, and we will need even more of it as we focus on scaling and replicating the impact we have made in the great city of Chicago.
“Doing What I Can; While I Can; With What I Have; Within HIS Will.”
Pastor Chris Harris - Founder & CEO of BSCO
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