A search has begun for the next president and chief executive officer of the Chicago Urban League. Cheryle Jackson is returning to corporate America.
A search has begun for the next president and chief executive officer of the Chicago Urban League. Cheryle Jackson is returning to corporate America. “I could stay longer but I’ve accomplished what I set out to accomplish,” Jackson told the Defender, pointing to the small business initiatives and other programs she established during her time at the Urban League. The former U.S. Senate candidate took a leave of absence from the Urban League in September to vie for the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama and currently held by Roland Burris. She lost the Senate primary bid to state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. She will join AAR Corp. at the end of the month as vice president of government affairs and corporate development, something she called a “gigantic step forward.” The announcement of her departure from the Urban League came Tuesday. She joined the 94-year-old civil rights organization in 2006, becoming its first female leader. “It is with great pride in our achievements and deep affection for the work and the people of the Urban League that I have made the difficult decision to embark on a new journey. My new journey will be fueled by the same determination, boldness, passion and urgency to empower people. That is what fueled my decision to join the Urban League; it is what spurred me to run for the U.S. Senate and give voice to those whose voices were not being heard; and it is what drives my next steps,” Jackson said in a written statement announcing her departure. She told the Defender that the time is ripe for her to move on, adding that Urban League programs like its small business mentorship project, nextOne, are “up and running and doing well.” Under her administration, the Urban League launched several initiatives, including the economic agenda projectNEXT that helped create and provide jobs; the nextONE program that helped small business owners and entrepreneurs fulfill their dreams; the launch of the Emmy Award-winning television show nextTV; and securing $10 million for the organization over a multi-year period. And the education civil rights lawsuit the Urban League filed against the state for inequity in education funding is left “in good hands,” she said. Jackson, 45, said her vision was to move the organization in a new direction. During her three-year tenure, which she calls a “true gift,” she was determined to make a difference in the Black community. “I am proud and humbled to have been at the helm during one of the most transformational periods of growth at the Chicago Urban League,” she said. She said running for the Senate seat proved to be a pivotal experience in her life. “You don’t run for the U.S. Senate and not be somehow changed by that experience,” Jackson, who will still be based in the Chicago area, told the Defender. In a statement, the Urban League lauded Jackson for her contributions to the organization. “Cheryle’s talent, energy, and style were a tremendous boost to the Chicago Urban League at a time when the board knew that we wanted to move the organization into a direction that focused more on economic development issues. She was the right leader at the right time and her contributions will have a lasting impact on the Chicago Urban League,” Jim Reynolds, chairman of the Chicago Urban League Board of Directors, said in a statement. Reynolds said Herman Brewer would remain acting president and chief executive officer while the search for the next president continues. At west suburban Wood Dale-based AAR, Jackson will help coordinate the company’s strategies and plans to drive growth and will oversee the development and execution of its branding, government relations, communications, and strategic partnerships and alliances. The company provides products and services for the aerospace and defense industry. “Cheryle’s diverse experience in economic development, government, transportation and media will be invaluable. … I am thrilled that she is bringing the visionary, passionate and results-driven leadership that transformed the Chicago Urban League to AAR,” said David P. Storch, AAR chairman and CEO.
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