2024 Brother Mike Awards

The Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX) is pleased to present the 5th annual Brother Mike Awards honoring Chicago youth mentorship community September 17 at The Second City.

Vic Mensa, Norman Teague, and many other notable Chicago artists have been influenced by one person: “Brother Mike” Hawkins. Ten years after the untimely death of the renowned educator and mentor, Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX)—a backbone organization for the out-of-school-time (OST) community—will gather at Second City on September 17 from 6-8pm to celebrate his legacy and give out $15,000 in total to three outstanding Chicago-based mentors at the 5th annual Brother Mike Awards.

“Mentors in Chicago play so many roles for Chicago youth from confidant, skill builder, to mental health support, and they are in need of celebration and recognition,” said Sana Jafri, Executive Director for CLX. Mentors nominated for the Brother Mike Awards this year highlight the rich tapestry of the OST field as well as the promise of positive youth mentorship in improving the quality of life for young people in Chicago. This year CLX received the most nominations ever from participating youth from many organizations, large, well-established institutions along with innovative startups that make up the Chicago OST ecosystem. The revolutionary potential for youth voice and the ability to activate that voice through poetry, the arts and cultural production is one of the legacy left by “Brother Mike” Hawkins.

At this year’s ceremony, the youth mentorship community will celebrate the past, present and future of the field with a program that includes a star-studded tribute to “Brother Mike” Hawkins in addition to a featured performance by Chicago-bred singer-songwriter, educator and award-winning poet Jamila Woods. Guests will enjoy complimentary food and drinks at the supper club style venue at Second City. This year’s lineup includes Chicago historian Sherman “Dilla” Thomas and a special appearance by Chicago’s hip-hop community which will gather to pay tribute to “Brother Mike” Hawkins.

Tickets for the 2024 Brother Mike Awards on sale now through September 17th. $150 for GeneraI Admission, financial assistance available. For more information email Chicago Learning Exchange at info@chicagolx.org.

Press Contact: Elisheba Fowlkes; efowlkes@chicagolx.org; (646) 337-8035

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The Brother Mike Award is presented by the Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX) in recognition of outstanding mentors and named after the late Brother Mike Hawkins. In addition to being a Chicago-based poet, activist, digital media educator, and mentor—Brother Mike was a loving partner, coordinator for Digital Youth Network, and member of the CLX network. He was also pivotal to the foundation of two of the most innovative and popular teen spaces in Chicago—YOUmedia Center at the Harold Washington Public Library and MetaMedia in Evanston, where he mentored hundreds of youth from middle-school to high-school and beyond. Some of his former mentees—such as Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, NoName, to name a few—credit Brother Mike for transforming their lives.

About the Chicago Learning Exchange

Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX) is a nonprofit organization that cultivates a growing community of more than 200 organizations to remake learning so that it is driven by learners’ interests, enhanced by technology, and connected to opportunities. For more information specifically on the Chicago Learning Exchange, visit www.chicagolx.org or follow CLX on Twitter (@CLXchange), Facebook (@CLXchange), LinkedIn, and Instagram (@CLXchange).

The Brother Mike Awards is sponsored by

PRESENTING SPONSOR:

The Field Foundation

Kirkland & Ellis | WFund

INNOVATOR SPONSOR:

The Chicago Community Trust | Huron Consulting | Wintrust

Julia Stasch & Connie Yowell

MAKER SPONSOR:

Digital Youth Network | Valerie Chang | Polk Bros. Foundation