Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
January 12, 2026
HSI Honors Education Leaders Advancing Race & Health Equity in Chicago
TLDR
- HSI's awards and HBCBO movement offer networking opportunities and recognition that can enhance professional standing in the equity and behavioral health sectors.
- HSI's 5th annual awards recognized seven education leaders, with event proceeds supporting hurricane relief, student stipends, and community health initiatives.
- HSI's awards and initiatives advance health equity by recognizing leaders who break educational barriers, strengthening communities and improving well-being.
- HSI's CEO chairs an international accrediting agency and pioneered the HBCBO movement to unite organizations strengthening local social safety nets.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news highlights the critical intersection of education, racial equity, and public health outcomes in urban communities. When communities of color face systemic barriers to quality education, these disparities directly translate into poorer health outcomes, reduced economic mobility, and diminished overall well-being. By recognizing leaders who have worked for decades to create educational opportunities, HSI underscores how investing in education equity represents a fundamental investment in community health. The expansion of the Historically Black Community Based Organizations movement demonstrates how local organizations can collaborate nationally to address systemic gaps in social services. For readers, this matters because educational equity isn't just about schools—it's about creating healthier, more resilient communities where everyone has the foundation needed to thrive.
Summary
Habilitative Systems, Inc. (HSI), a leading behavioral health and human services organization serving 17 Chicago communities, recently hosted its 5th Annual Race & Health Equity Awards at the Garfield Park Conservatory. The event gathered over 300 guests to celebrate seven education leaders who have demonstrated long-standing commitment to advancing equity and opportunity, with some honorees contributing for more than 50 years. HSI President and CEO Donald J. Dew emphasized the critical connection between race, health equity, and education, noting that barriers to quality education in communities of color create ripple effects on health outcomes, economic stability, and overall well-being.
The distinguished honorees included Paul J. Adams, III of Providence St. Mel School; Bernard Clay of Introspect Youth Services, Inc.; Creasie Finney Hairston, Ph.D. of University of Illinois Chicago; Haki Madhubuti of Third World Press and Chicago State University; Carol D. Lee of Northwestern University; Lisa W. Rollins of United Negro College Fund; and David Sanders of Malcolm X College. The program featured special remarks from Chairman Lester Barclay, Esq., Honorary Consul of Jamaica, with a portion of proceeds supporting Jamaican Hurricane relief efforts, student stipends, and HSI's community health initiatives. For additional information and/or to donate, visit www.habiitative.org.
Beyond the awards ceremony, Dew has launched the concept of Historically Black Community Based Organizations (HBCBOs), a national movement calling for increased support and recognition for organizations that bridge gaps in the social safety-net. This initiative unites organizations to strengthen local communities by sharing strategies and resources. Visit https://www.historicallyblackcbo.org/ to learn more about this important movement. Dew also serves as the first African-American Chair of the Board of Directors of the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), having been re-elected after his initial 2022 appointment. Under his leadership, HSI became one of the first African-American led organizations to achieve international CARF accreditation in 1991, maintaining this distinction annually since then.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, HSI Honors Education Leaders Advancing Race & Health Equity in Chicago
