Chicago's "Neighborhood Heroes" Take A Bow During Black History Month

ComEd launches "The Power of One" campaign

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Jan 30, 2014, 02:13 ET

CHICAGO, Jan. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Diane Latiker, a mother of eight and grandmother to 13, began her outreach by opening her home as a safe haven to kids on the block. Her compassion to help a few has created an award-winning non-profit organization, "Kids off the Block," dedicated to providing more than 1,500 young people positive alternatives to gangs, drugs, truancy, violence, and the juvenile justice system. Today she has a center that services nearly 50 young people each day for tutoring, counseling or activities such as sports, drama, dance and music.

In honor of Black History Month, ComEd launched its "Power of One" campaign to recognize unsung heroes, like Diane, who are making a difference in the community. The campaign profiles 28 inspiring Chicago-area "Neighborhood Heroes," and their unique stories of how they are powering lives.

"We are pleased to honor our heroes for their remarkable contributions to their neighborhoods and Chicago's rich African American heritage," said Kevin Brookins, senior vice president of strategy and administration, ComEd. "For more than 100 years, ComEd has been committed to serving the communities where our customers and employees live and work, and this campaign is an extension of this longstanding commitment."

"The Power of One" campaign includes videos profiling the neighborhood heroes. Beginning Feb. 1, all heroes will be profiled on ComEd's website ComEd.com/PowerOfOne, and its social media channels Facebook.com/ComEd and Twitter (@ComEd). In addition, the heroes will be highlighted in a series of radio, out of home, print and digital advertisements.

ComEd also invites the general public to nominate someone to be the next featured neighborhood hero. Visit ComEd.com/PowerOfOne and click on the "Nominate" section for more information.

ComEd's "The Power of One" neighborhood heroes:

Name	Neighborhood	Organization
Anta Njie	West Chatham	Anta's Promise: Collect, Care and Share
Betty Price	Englewood	Feed, Clothe, Help the Needy (FCHN)
Brenda Palms Barber	North Lawndale	North Lawndale Employment Network
Carl D. West	Bronzeville	TRUTH 4 Literacy After School Program
Charisma Cannon	South Shore	ShoeHeals
Charles Leeks	North Lawndale	Neighborhood Housing Services
Che "Rhymefest" Smith	Chatham	Donda's House
Cheryl Johnson	Altgeld Gardens	People for Community Recovery
Cliff Rome	Bronzeville	Rome's Joy Catering
David Peterson, Jr.	Pullman	A. Phillip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum
Diane Latiker	Roseland	Kids Off The Block
Elizabeth Gardner	Woodlawn	The Woodlawn Community Summit
Ernest Dawkins	Englewood	Englewood Jazz Festival
Felicia Houston	South Loop	Anointed Wives Ministry
Halleemah Nash	South Loop	Israel Idonije Foundation
J. Michael Carr, Jr.	South Shore	The Fathers for the Future Foundation
Jackie Taylor	Uptown	Black Ensemble Theater
Kamau Murray	Washington Park	XS Tennis and Education Foundation
Kelly Fair	Roseland	Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program
Kim Tyler	Bronzeville	ENDURE Productions
Kimberley Rudd	Auburn Gresham	Shift to Fitness
Larry Roberts, Jr.	Glendale Heights	Larry's Barber College
Leonardo D. Gilbert	Roseland	West Pullman Food Network
Mable Taplin	South Shore	Joanie Girl's Heart
Mark Harris	Englewood	Englewood Film Festival
Naomi Davis	Woodlawn	Blacks In Green (BIG)
Rev. Gregory Powell	Matteson	New Faith Baptist International
Tina Harbin	Englewood	Greater Englewood Community Development Corporation

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation's leading competitive energy provider, with approximately 6.6 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population.

SOURCE ComEd