Chico Tillmon

Dr. Chico A. Tillmon is a nationally recognized leader, researcher, and practitioner in community violence prevention and intervention. As Executive Director of the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Leadership Academy (CVILA) at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, Dr. Tillmon leads the nation’s first executive leadership program designed to empower frontline leaders of community-based organizations, violence prevention offices, and hospital-based intervention programs.

Under his direction, CVILA strengthens the national CVI ecosystem by advancing evidence-informed, trauma-responsive, and community-centered strategies that reduce violence and foster healing. The academy has trained leaders from more than 85 organizations across 50 cities nationwide, and its inaugural cohort was honored by the Vice President of the United States, who hosted the first graduation ceremony at the White House.

Before joining the University of Chicago, Dr. Tillmon served as Executive Director of the READI National Center for Safer Communities at Heartland Alliance, where he provided technical assistance, capacity building, and training to cities across the country. His leadership advanced the READI model — integrating employment, cognitive behavioral therapy, and skill-building — to support individuals at highest risk for involvement in gun violence. He has also been a key contributor to the Black and Brown Peace Consortium and the Fund Peace initiative, advancing collaboration and equity within the national CVI movement.

A respected violence prevention expert, Dr. Tillmon previously led the YMCA of Metro Chicago’s Youth Safety and Violence Prevention programs and has been a sought-after consultant for cities, counties, and nonprofit organizations focused on reentry, violence reduction, and community capacity building. His passion for transformation is deeply personal — as someone who has overcome systemic challenges, he has spent more than a decade mentoring youth, empowering marginalized communities, and creating pathways to opportunity.

Dr. Tillmon has partnered with numerous jurisdictions and organizations, including Harris County (City of Houston), the City of Austin, the City of Syracuse, Cities United, Live Free, Life Camp (Queens, NY), and the City of Birmingham, Alabama. His work focuses on the intersection of leadership development, economic mobility, and public safety, rooted in the belief that professional growth leads to community growth.

In Chicago, Dr. Tillmon has worked with hundreds of young adults — many of them returning citizens — on the city’s South and West sides, while his national work has reached thousands more across the United States. His mentoring and leadership have played a vital role in developing the next generation of African American leaders and community builders.

Dr. Tillmon’s groundbreaking contributions have earned him numerous honors, including being named the 2022 Alumnus of the Year by the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Department of Criminology, Law, and Justice. In 2021, he was recognized by President Joe Biden for his national violence prevention leadership and invited to the White House. His other accolades include the 2018 Congressional Veterans Braintrust Award, the 2017 Ford Men of Courage Award, and the 2016 Practitioner of the Year Award from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Driven by faith, purpose, and a lifelong commitment to equity, Dr. Tillmon continues to build bridges between academia, government, and community — transforming systems, cultivating leadership, and proving that authentic, data-driven compassion can change lives.