Board of Directors

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Cheryl Cooke
Director, Dept. of Planning & Dev.
Cook County, Illinios

Cheryl Cooke advances community relations, develops partnerships and creates socially impactful programs on behalf of Allstate Insurance Company to enhance the quality of life in Chicago’s urban under-served neighborhoods. A seasoned corporate funder, Cheryl specializes in creating economic development strategies for dis-invested neighborhoods by leveraging the resources of existing stakeholders. At Allstate, Cheryl manages the administration of Allstate’s $4 million “Hometown” giving budget. At The Boeing Company, Cheryl funded “PlaceMaking” programs and initiatives that influenced culture, community development, civic discussion and environmental practices and policies in communities located both nationally and internationally. Prior to her work at The Boeing Company, Cheryl served as Deputy Director at the Fannie Mae Corporation. At Fannie Mae, Cheryl was responsible for business development and financing of affordable housing and mixed-use developments in the Illinois region. Her work also included funding the revitalization of public housing, redevelopment plans for public housing sites, regional master planning and neighborhood violence prevention strategies. In addition, Cheryl managed Fannie Mae’s Illinois corporate giving budget. At Fannie Mae, Cheryl won the “Community Business Center of the Year” award. Cheryl also worked at the City of Chicago as Assistant Commissioner in the Department of Planning and Development where she was responsible for facilitating the development of more than $55 million in new commercial and mixed-income housing on Chicago’s southeast side.

Cheryl has served on the boards of numerous organizations including: the North Lawndale Employment Network, Genesis Housing Development Corporation and Court Theatre. Cheryl attended Georgetown University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and History and graduated with honors from Tufts University with a Master’s in Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy.

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