Ebony Campbell

Background

About Ebony Campbell

I disrupt persistent disadvantage for marginalized communities.As Deputy Chief of Resident Services Programs at the Chicago Housing Authority, I lead strategic program development across youth development, education, housing stability, and wealth-building initiatives. My work centers on a simple question: How do we shift power to those furthest from economic justice?The answer is personal. I'm a first-generation college graduate and former CHA resident. My father grew up in Stateway Gardens. My mother graduated from the Family Self-Sufficiency program I now help lead. My family's journey, from public housing to homeownership, taught me that pathways to economic mobility must be intentionally built, not accidentally stumbled upon.Over two decades, I've learned what creates lasting change: Strategic vision paired with authentic community connection. Data-driven decisions grounded in racial equity. Collaborative innovation that centers resident voice and expertise. Leading a $50M portfolio and 100+ professionals, I've coordinated workforce placement for youth, improved college completion rates by 21%, and launched programs that bridge the digital divide for nearly families.But numbers only tell part of the story. True impact happens when systems designed to exclude start working to liberate. When young people from communities like Englewood, where I grew up, can access opportunities that transform not just their lives but their families' futures. When "be who you needed when you were younger" becomes more than a quote but a blueprint for change.My leadership development, from Northwestern Kellogg to the Aspen Institute, has deepened my capacity to see connections across sectors and scale solutions that matter. But the most important teacher has been the residents I serve, whose determination and clarity of purpose fuel my commitment every day.Generational wealth creation begins with unwavering belief in what's possible. Let's build that future together.