ABOUT US

AALR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has served African Americans in the western suburbs of Chicago since 2000.

Originally, AALR referred to African American Leadership Roundtable, an organization focused on improving the overall well-being of African Americans by addressing various issues of concern in our community. AALR sought to build leadership, provide information, and collaborate with civic, religious, and voluntary organizations to tackle the many challenging issues faced by African Americans. While the overall goal of AALR remains the same, the organization has sharpened its focus on the education of our youth in particular. In keeping with this new laser focus on educational achievement, AALR adopted a new mission and vision statement in 2014 and revised its acronym to now stand for Asserting Achievement Literacy & Resiliency.

For 20 years, AALR has a history of supporting the success of African-Americans partnering with community stakeholders for the well-being of our beloved community. Read more about AALR's history by clicking here.

In November 2021, the AALR Board voted to accept Ubuntu House as its newest initiative. During the past 3 years, we have transitioned all of our programming to center on racial trauma healing. This has been approved by the Board of Directors. Effective January 1, 2025, we will be continuing to devote our attention toward racial trauma healing through our current initiatives focused on racial trauma healing education, training, and research.

Board of Directors

President, Amania Drane

Secretary, Juliet Allen

Treasurer, Connie Brown

Justin Allen, Esq.

Tammy Kaiser

Yvor Stoakley

We are currently seeking new members for our Board. If you are interested in the work we do and would like to learn more about board membership, please contact our President, Amania Drane,

at niaenterprises1@comcast.net

OUR CURRENT INITIATIVES

UBUNTU HOUSE--Seeking to establish a physical space for an Ubuntu House location as a home of mental, spiritual, and physical respite.

Youth Arts, Music & Culture (YAMC)--A program for elementary school students (and their parents/guardians) to expand their view of the world through arts and music.

HEAL Well-- Bringing faith and community stakeholders together to create a more sustainable society for the present and the the future through planting trees and aiding in community gardens.

OUR PARTNERS

We are grateful to our many partners who have contributed to the success of our programs. Over the years, churches, civic and social organizations, non-profit organizations, community volunteers, and parents have been invaluable assets. Our current partners include:

Northern Illinois Conference https://www.umcnic.org/Healwell

Friendship United Methodist Church, www.friendshipchurchumc.org
DuPage A.M.E. Church
CYD--Community and Youth Development of DuPage County
Giving DuPage
Community Volunteers