Imani Morgan ’22 is one of five students city-wide selected for this year’s class of the Bank of America Student Leaders. The Bank of America Student Leaders program provides students a summer of leadership experience, civic engagement, and workforce skills-building. Imani was selected from an application pool of more than 300 other students.
Now in its 17th year, the 8-week paid internship pairs students with a Chicago-based nonprofit for a summer of leadership experience, skills development and community service. Students work 1:1 with nonprofit leadership and those they serve to understand how nonprofits work and the role they play in building up and supporting local communities. This year the students are working with Northern Illinois Food Bank and Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago.
For the last two years, Imani has served as a dedicated group leader with 96 volunteer hours towards Marillac Fine Arts and as a volunteer at the Marillac Daycare Center.
When there was no one to lead the Black Student Union during COVID-19, Imani saw a need for group communication to resume and stepped up to the challenge. By adapting to the circumstances, she used social media to connect with new club members and groups while planning and sharing community service events. As a result, new relationships were formed, and more people became educated about African American issues and racism. Having dedicated 100 hours to this group, Imani solidified her position as the Vice President of the Black Student Union.
With the desire to provide a safe and clean space for her neighborhood, Imani began participating at the Alpha Omega Church which provides a safe haven and resources for the homeless or those in need. After seeing many hopeless people in her community, Imani identified the need to lead by example and become a role model for these individuals and the community as a whole. She is passionate about spreading awareness and acknowledging issues of homelessness, food deserts and lack of job creation in order to remove any stigmas surrounding them.
Imani is an outspoken advocate for social justice in her community and her efforts earned her the Garfield Park Peer Leadership award. She continues to volunteer at her elementary school and keeps herself busy in a variety of organizations.
To learn more about the Bank of America leadership program, click here.
