Program Overview
The DeBerry Civic Scholars at Northwestern is a leadership development and community engagement program designed for a cohort of selected first, second, or third year students at Northwestern. The program provides students with the opportunity to engage in meaningful public service rooted in the local community and the reflection space to process those experiences. The goal is to build meaningful relationships and practice valuable leadership skills while wrestling with issues of power/privilege in our local context. DeBerry Civic Scholars Program is named in honor of a family of community activists in Rogers Park (Ebony and Caleb pictured below).
Program Format
The DeBerry Civic Scholars program consists of group meetings and directed civic engagement work in the North of Howard Chicago neighborhood in Rogers Park. The cohort runs from the middle of the fall quarter until the end of the academic year. After selection in the fall quarter, the DeBerry Civic Scholars cohort meets weekly as a group to prepare for community engaged learning. During the winter and spring quarters, DeBerry Civic Scholars spend weekly time in direct service in the community at Gale Community Academy or one of the nearby non-profits in addition to continued cohort meetings on campus.
Program Application
DeBerry Scholars are:
- Willing to be an active learners and committed cohort members
- Energized to explore how to be a social change agent
- Prepared to give weekly time for community-engaged learning and service
Application Process & Timeline
Applications for Cohort 2025-2026 are currently open.
Applications close on Sunday, October 5 at 11:59 PM
Ms. Ebony DeBerry:
Ebony DeBerry (she/her) is the Manager of Educational Initiatives, running the Women of Color Table and overseeing the Parent Mentor program at ONE Northside, an organization that builds collective power through bold and innovative community organizing. She also recruits for Grow Your Own Teachers, an organization that supports all individuals who have a desire to become teachers in their own communities. She has lived in Rogers Park her whole life, attending Chicago Public Schools as a student at Gale Elementary and Sullivan High School, and later deciding to teach in the district. Read more about Ebony here.
Mr. Caleb DeBerry:
Caleb DeBerry (he/him) was born and raised in the Rogers Park area. Educated by the Chicago Public Schools system through attending Gale Elementary, Disney Magnet, and Northside Prep, he is currently a student at Howard University, majoring in political science and minoring in sociology. His civic engagement started when he attended organizing meetings alongside his mother. Read more about Caleb here.
Questions? val.buchanan@northwestern.edu