Work / Our Programs
Brother Mike Awards
Investing in mentors who care for Chicago youth.
The Brother Mike Awards are awards to honor outstanding
out-of-school time mentors with $5,000 no-strings-attached
financial support. The award is named after Mike Hawkins, better known
as Brother Mike.
Brother Mike was a loving partner, father, leader at Digital Youth Network (DYN), member of the Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX) network, mentor to hundreds of youth, and cornerstone of one of the most innovative and popular teen spaces in Chicago—the YOUmedia Center at Chicago Public Library’s Harold Washington Library Center.
To honor Brother Mike's impact and support the next generation of mentors, we solicit nominations for the Brother Mike Awards from the Chicago youth-development community. The Brother Mike Award is given to mentors who demonstrate excellence in their work with Chicago youth as well as a deep commitment to social justice and racial equity.
2025 - Knowledge Theodore, Marcus Flenaugh, Jaquanda M. Saulter
2024 - Pinqy Ring, Jeffrey Shelby, Ronnie Taylor Jr.
2023 - Arinique Allen, Maricela Ramírez, l o t i walker