Pastor Corey Brooks Walks Across America to Fund Transformative Chicago Center for Youth
CHICAGO, Ill. — As Christmas approaches, Pastor Corey Brooks is embarking on a remarkable journey across America, walking thousands of miles to raise $25 million to complete a groundbreaking facility aimed at transforming the lives of Chicago’s most vulnerable children. The Robert R. McCormick Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center, a 90,000-square-foot complex under construction on the South Side, will offer vocational training, a private Christian school, trauma counseling, and recreational amenities designed to provide hope and opportunity where they are desperately needed.
Brooks, founder of Project H.O.O.D., has long witnessed the struggles faced by children growing up in neighborhoods marked by poverty, violence, and fractured families. “These precious boys and girls, many from broken single-parent homes, hang their stockings and dream of gifts and joy,” Brooks said in a recent interview. “But deep down, what they really want this Christmas is not the latest toy, but real opportunity, genuine safety, quality education, and unbreakable hope.”
Since September, Brooks has been walking from Times Square in New York City on a 3,000-mile trek to raise the remaining funds needed to finish the center. This effort is not a political stunt but a stand for merit, hard work, faith, and the American Dream. The center, named after Robert R. McCormick, a historic Chicago philanthropist, is designed to be a beacon of renewal in a community long neglected by decades of failed policies.
Construction is well underway, with steel beams rising and concrete being poured for the upper floors. The facility will house vocational trades programs with a 94% graduation rate, entrepreneurship hubs, trauma counseling services, a theater, basketball courts, and even a swimming pool. At its core will be a private Christian school focused on boys from single-parent homes, emphasizing academic excellence, responsibility, and biblical values.
Brooks shared stories of transformation from Project H.O.O.D.’s existing programs, including Devin Howard, who escaped the cycle of violence through vocational training and now leads a dignified life in the construction industry. “These aren’t isolated stories; they’re everyday miracles happening right now,” Brooks said. The center aims to expand these successes exponentially.
The initiative aligns with broader efforts to address systemic challenges facing underserved communities. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Chicago’s South Side experiences some of the highest poverty rates in the nation, with limited access to quality education and economic opportunity. Programs like Project H.O.O.D. complement federal and state efforts to reduce poverty and improve outcomes for disadvantaged youth.
Brooks’ walk also highlights the importance of community-led solutions and faith-based initiatives in tackling social issues. The Administration for Children and Families supports many programs that combine education, job training, and counseling to break cycles of poverty, recognizing that holistic approaches yield the best results.
As Brooks continues his journey, he calls on Americans to support the vision of a safer, more hopeful future for Chicago’s children. “This Christmas, the greatest gift isn’t presents or programs, but the chance to finish our center debt-free — building safety through healing and education rooted in biblical truth and excellence,” he said.
The Robert R. McCormick Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center stands as a testament to resilience and the power of faith and community to transform lives. For more information or to contribute to the project, visit the Project H.O.O.D. official website.
Pastor Brooks’ walk and the center’s construction underscore a vital message: lasting change requires sustained effort, belief in potential, and the courage to invest in communities often overlooked. As the holiday season unfolds, his mission offers a powerful reminder that hope remains the most precious gift of all.
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