CHICAGO (September 1, 2022) – South East Chicago Commission (SECC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jourdan H. Sorrell as the new Board President. Sorrell succeeds Elvin Charity, who served as the SECC’s Board President for the past four years.
Charity joined SECC’s Board in 2010 when SECC pivoted its focus to economic development services that propelled the expansion from serving Hyde Park, Kenwood, and Oakland communities to including Washington Park and Woodlawn. Charity led the SECC Board as the Transition Committee Chair when SECC transitioned from the University of Chicago to an independent nonprofit in 2017 and then appointed Board President in 2018.
Prior to his service to the SECC, Charity was appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley as Chairman of the Chicago-Gary Regional Airport Authority in 2006, a position which he still holds today and has impacted regional transportation that affects millions. From 1992 until January 2000, Elvin served as Chairman of the Community Development Commission of the City of Chicago.
Before serving at the SECC, Charity was appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley as Chairman of the Chicago-Gary Regional Airport Authority in 2006, a position he still holds today and has impacted regional transportation that affects millions. From 1992 until January 2000, Elvin served as Chairman of the Community Development Commission of the City of Chicago.
Charity was a resident and homeowner of North Kenwood-Oakland for over 20 years and recently moved to Hyde Park. He has over 30 years of experience in real estate law and is the Principle of Charity & Associates, P.C., specializing in commercial real estate and municipal finance.
“The SECC is extremely grateful for Elvin’s dedicated and impactful tenure. He helped lead the SECC into a new era focusing on the SECC’s future, and expanded SECC as a fully autonomous nonprofit organization. His commitment to our community is unwavering, and we are grateful that he will remain on the Board to help us through our next phase of growth as we look towards the future of the SECC,”
Jourdan Sorrell
In his new role as Board President, Jourdan Sorrell will lead the implementation of the next phase of SECC’s growth, sustainability and vision.
“We are pleased to welcome Jourdan as our new Board President. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise and will be a tremendous asset to SECC’s leadership as we further our mission of facilitating and supporting economic and community development within the Southeast lakefront communities,”
Diane Burnham, Executive Director of the SECC
Sorrell was raised in Hyde Park and has served on the Board of the SECC since 2018. Most recently serving as the Board’s Assistant Treasurer. Sorrell is presently the Senior Manager of External Affairs at Comcast Corporation. His work focuses on initiatives in the Greater Chicago Region that ensure everyone has connectivity and builds their digital skills to participate and excel in an increasingly digital economy. Before Comcast, Sorrell served as Director of Public Policy for Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore, 4th District. He also worked in the Cook County Clerk’s Office, LINK Unlimited Scholars, and the Chicago Community Trust.
He is active in civic organizations such as the 100 Black Men of Chicago, the New Leaders Council, and the United Way of Metro Chicago’s Corporate Social Responsibility Executive Committee. He is also the founding President of the Rotary Club for Social Impact and Equity. Jourdan earned a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.
SECC is honored to announce our new slate of Officers for 2022-23 and grateful for their commitment:
- Jourdan H. Sorrell, Board President
- James Poueymirou, Vice President
- JoAnn Newsome, 2nd Vice President
- Danita Childers, Treasurer
- Elizabeth Gardner, Assistant Treasurer
- Phaedra Leslie, Secretary
- Ben Anderson, Assistant Secretary
SECC has a long legacy of impressive leadership. Visit “About Us” to see the entire list of staff and Board members.
About the South East Chicago Commission
The South East Chicago Commission is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that works to facilitate and support economic development within the Southeast lakefront communities of Hyde Park, Kenwood, Oakland, Washington Park and Woodlawn and to foster collaboration and coordination among businesses, organizations and institutions to promote the creation of jobs, investment and economic vitality.