From O Block to Opportunity: NYSE Honors Project H.O.O.D. 

_{Friday, April 11, 2025, The New York Stock Exchange welcomes Project H.O.O.D. Communities Development Corp to the podium. To honor the occasion, Pastor Corey Brooks, Founder & CEO, joined by Will Goodwin, Head of Corporate Affairs, NYSE, rings the Opening Bell. (Photo Credit: NYSE)}

Pastor Corey Brooks, founder and CEO of Project H.O.O.D. (Helping Others Obtain Destiny), recently appeared on NYSE TV, where he discussed his organization’s mission to reduce violence and poverty on Chicago’s South Side. Later, in a follow-up interview with Chicago Crusader Managing Editor Sharon Fountain, Brooks spoke in greater depth about the progress his organization has made, its ambitious goals, and the community-driven model fueling its success.

Project H.O.O.D. is rooted in Woodlawn and operates in and around Parkway Gardens, a neighborhood once dubbed “O Block” after O.D. Perry, a young man who was fatally shot there. In 2014, the Chicago Sun-Times named the block the most dangerous in the city, with 19 shootings between mid-2011 and 2014. “We said we’re going to change that,” Brooks recalled. “Now we’re not even in the top 30 most dangerous blocks in Chicago. Matter of fact, we’ve had crime drop 75% because of the work that we do.”

That local success stands in stark contrast to broader city trends. In 2024, Chicago reported 28,443 violent crimes, including 8,039 aggravated assaults—marking a 20-year high. Aggravated batteries rose to 9,132 cases, up 3.1% from the prior year. Although homicides dropped 7.3%, the overall violent crime rate remains elevated across the city, underscoring the significance of what Project H.O.O.D. has accomplished in its target areas.

The organization offers a wide array of programs designed to create economic mobility and reduce violence. These include trade courses in carpentry, plumbing, and automotive repair, as well as an entrepreneurial academy and culinary arts program. Project H.O.O.D. also operates a robust after-school program that serves hundreds of children each year. In addition to tutoring support from University of Chicago volunteers and professionals from the Moody Bible Institute, the program provides free meals and snacks. The kitchen remains stocked with food that children and teens can access throughout the week—no questions asked.

That commitment to nourishment goes beyond after-school hours. Annually, Project H.O.O.D. provides food to more than 10,000 families across the South Side. These large-scale food distributions take place year-round and have become a lifeline for families facing food insecurity.

Staffing is just as intentional as the programming. “We made a conscious decision to have staff members from all four quadrants of Woodlawn,” Brooks said in his interview with the Chicago Crusader. “That’s 40 people who work from the Woodlawn area who work for Project H.O.O.D. It’s through those individuals that we recruit friends, family members, neighbors.”

Children, teens, and young adults have daily access to Pastor Brooks, whose consistent presence has made him a community leader and role model. Whether it’s a handshake, a word of encouragement, or mentorship through one of Project H.O.O.D.’s many programs, Brooks’ engagement has had a profound impact on local youth.

At the heart of the organization’s physical expansion is the Robert R. McCormick Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center, a 90,000-square-foot hub rising at 66th Street and King Drive. “We’ve raised upward of $40 million so far,” Brooks said. “We still have another $10 million that we need to raise.”

The scale of fundraising is no accident. Brooks attributes the success to deliberate planning, donor relations, and mentorship. “It takes a great team. It takes lots of relationships—spending time with donors, explaining your vision. And it’s good to have a mentor help you understand how to raise capital,” he said.

Looking ahead, Brooks envisions purchasing Parkway Gardens to further transform the area from within. Project H.O.O.D. also plans to open a Christian school for boys living below the poverty line and establish a long-term endowment to sustain its mission. The goal is not only to uplift today’s generation but to ensure that the work continues for decades to come.

“Our goal now is to purchase Parkway Gardens. That is on our future list of things to do. We also want to start a Christian school for boys who live below the poverty level. And then thirdly, we would like to create an endowment that will function long after I’m gone. The school will function long after I’m gone. And the transformation of this neighborhood will continue to be,” Brooks said.

As the bell rang on Wall Street, a different kind of momentum was echoing across Chicago’s South Side—proof that with vision, consistency, and community, transformation is possible.