More than 300 guests gathered at the Garfield Park Conservatory for Habilitative Systems, Inc.'s 5th Annual Race & Health Equity Awards, an evening recognizing seven education leaders for their work advancing equity and opportunity. The honorees, some with more than 50 years of service, were celebrated for their commitment to educational excellence, achievement, and access across Chicago and beyond.
Donald J. Dew, HSI President and CEO, emphasized the foundational link between education and health equity. "We must recognize the relationship between race, health equity and education," Dew said. "When communities of color face barriers to quality education, those inequities ripple into health outcomes, economic stability, and overall well-being." HSI is a leading behavioral health and human services organization serving 17 Chicago communities.
The 2025 honorees are Paul J. Adams, III, Executive Chairman and Founder of Providence St. Mel School; Bernard Clay, Executive Director and Founding Member of Introspect Youth Services, Inc.; Creasie Finney Hairston, Ph.D., Professor and Dean of the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois Chicago; Haki Madhubuti, MFA, Ph.D., Award Winning Poet, Founder and Publisher of Third World Press, and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Chicago State University; Carol D. Lee (Safisha Madhubuti), Edwina S. Tarry Professor Emerita at Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy; Lisa W. Rollins, Regional Development Director for the Chicago Region of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF); and David Sanders, President of Malcolm X College.
Chairman Lester Barclay, Esq., Honorary Consul of Jamaica, Chicago, delivered special remarks. A portion of the event's proceeds support Jamaican Hurricane relief efforts, student stipends, and HSI's community health initiatives.
The awards ceremony underscores a broader national movement championed by Dew. He recently launched the concept of Historically Black Community Based Organizations (HBCBOs), a national movement calling for increased support and recognition for the crucial role these organizations play in bridging gaps in the social safety-net. The movement aims to unite organizations to strengthen local communities by sharing strategies and resources. More information on this initiative can be found at https://www.historicallyblackcbo.org/.
Dew's leadership extends to the international stage, as he is the first African-American to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an international accrediting agency. Elected in 2022 to a one-year term, Dew has been re-elected and continues to serve as Chair. In 1991, he helped HSI become one of the first African-American led organizations to achieve international CARF accreditation, a standard it has maintained annually since.
This event highlights the systemic importance of educational equity as a determinant of community health and stability. By honoring these leaders, HSI draws public attention to the long-term work required to dismantle barriers and the tangible impact that dedicated educators and advocates have on shaping healthier, more equitable futures for communities of color. The recognition of their decades of service serves as a model for sustained commitment to social change.
