Welcome to the Evolving Man Project’s “Evolved Man of the Week” profile. Each week we will highlight an individual that embodies what it means to be an evolved person, famous and non-famous individual alike. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to the professor, mentor, advocate, and Chicago native Dr. Marlon Haywood.
Dr. Marlon Haywood was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago in the Englewood neighborhood. He received his Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Roosevelt University. He has a Master’s Degree in Adult & Higher Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Northern Illinois University (NIU).
Dr. Haywood has dedicated his life to service and education, especially serving youth in his hometown of Chicago. One of his greatest professional accomplishments was developing and creating the Urban Male Initiative. It’s an organization that provides academic support and mentorship to first-generation male students at Malcolm X College. He serves as its executive director.
Dr. Haywood served as a Health Disparities Research Fellow at Rush University Medical Center, working on the BMO Harris Bank grant project in partnership with Malcolm X College and the Medical Home Network. There he researched and designed curriculum and other initiatives to address the socioeconomic and health disparity issues in low-income communities of Chicago. Marlon served as Program Manager for the Office of Community Engagement at Rush University Medical Center. Marlon serves as Director for Neighborhood and Community Impact at Volunteers of America Illinois. He also serves as a motivational speaker.
I was a fellow Black Male Initiative (BMI) member during our days at Northern Illinois University, where I met Dr. Haywood. We at the Evolving Man Project salute the community work to which Dr. Haywood has dedicated his life and wish him much more future success in uplifting young people in the Second City. Today we honor Dr. Marlon Haywood as our Evolved Man of the Week.
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