Chicago's Center on Halsted names new CEO
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Joli Angel Robinson. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Drenka.
Joli Angel Robinson will lead the Center on Halsted, the Chicago LGBTQ+ community center announced Tuesday.
Driving the news: Robinson will become the center's new CEO in January.
Why it matters: The center in the Northalsted neighborhood is a major provider of resources for the LGBTQ+ community across the region, offering services ranging from vocational training and job placement to health care and housing programs.
- Opening in 2007, Center on Halsted has long been a safe space for individuals across Chicago and the country.
Context: Robinson comes to the position from Housing Forward in Dallas, where she led efforts aimed at addressing homelessness and advocating for racial equity, securing over $23 million in funding, according to a release.
What's they're saying: "I am inspired by the rich history of the Center and the dedication and passion of this community," Robinson said in a statement.
- "I look forward to the collective impact we will make as we center equity in our work and play an integral role in furthering a more inclusive future in Chicagoland and beyond."
Flashback: Former CEO Modesto Tico Valle stepped down in March after taking a temporary leave in 2022, according to Windy City Times.
- He led the center since its inception on Northalsted, expanded many of the AIDS/HIV services, and established Chicago's first LGBTQ+-friendly senior housing.
- Valle had clashed with staff in the past, with several accusing the CEO in 2015 of aiding a "toxic" environment. He also came under fire in 2019 for hiring a private security form owned by a police officer who had admitted to using racist language during a bar brawl, the Sun-Times reported.