Student Deondre Rutues has always helped his community of Austin on the west side of Chicago. The global changes that marked 2020 didn’t change that – only made him work differently.
Deondre, a second-year doctoral student in the business psychology program, uses his passion for his community as motivation to succeed. Prior to the pandemic, Deondre was very active in his community and here at The Chicago School. From working with the local youth to being an outstanding leader in his classroom, Deondre proves that he is determined to help those around him.
“Deondre wants to transform himself and ultimately the community and which he works. He persists, and he succeeds,” explains Dr. George Hay, Business Psychology Associate Department Chair at the Chicago Campus.
Even in the midst of a pandemic, this still stands true.
Beyond the Classroom
During the most recent moments of civil unrest, Deondre continued to serve his community. One way he did this was by co-creating The Network of Communities. Deondre explains, “The Network of Neighbors is an initiative to develop community leaders by going block by block, door by door, in a 40-block radius.”
This community network was developed to create new leaders in his community and build a stronger sense of unity. “Our goal is to find at least one leader per block and get them connected to one another. The leader will be able to spread information to the rest of the block, and keeping other community members informed.”
Changing the Perception
Deondre has also been collaborating with the local police department. “As an ambassador, my responsibilities are to take the officers throughout the community to get them acclimated to the culture, climate, and history. I’ve taken them on tours of the local businesses in neighborhood, and have helped them locate resources in the community.”
Deondre is partnering with the police department to help change the negative perception that can be associated with police in his community. “The goal of the initiative is to help with community engagement that the Chicago Police Department oftentimes lacks. It’s an attempt to build, rebuild and repair the relationship between CPD and the community,” Deondre explains.
During a time when it can be easy to isolate from others and focus on personal needs, Deondre continues to selflessly show up for those who need it most. “We want the community to have a say into how to improve safety that empowers everyone and makes them feel a part of something greater than themselves,” states Deondre.
Connect with Deondre: LinkedIn, Twitter: @DeondreRutues, Instagram: @businesspsychd
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Learn more about The Chicago School
If you would like to learn more about the academic programs available at The Chicago School, please fill out the form below to request more information, or you can apply today through our application portal.