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Meet the Leader
Cinaiya Stubbs is a nonprofit leader whose work is rooted in service to youth and families living in some of Chicago’s most underserved communities. She is committed to helping them build capacity by creating access and expanding equity. Growing up in Chicago, a city that is systemically and geographically segregated, has given her a deeply enlightened perspective, one that she uses to inform her efforts.
Cinaiya has worked in the nonprofit sector since 2003 when she began designing and implementing before and after school programs at a CPS school in the city’s West Garfield Park neighborhood. The past 18 years have provided a wealth of experience that includes staff development, organizational culture building, strategic planning, board and community relations, and fundraising. Cinaiya believes that each child, no matter their zip code, deserves the opportunity to live outside of poverty and believes that serving the whole child is the most promising route to get them there.
About the Organization
Children’s Place Association provides vital services often lacking in under-resourced neighborhoods, such as early education, trauma therapy, support groups, and primary healthcare. They develop personalized plans for each child and family to enhance their well-being.
Their mission is to empower children and families in under-resourced areas to overcome barriers, foster resilience, improve health, and equip them with the knowledge to navigate life’s challenges successfully.
Meet All the Awardees
Each leader is transforming education across the United States. They're building new learning models, developing talent pipelines for the classroom and beyond, and creating pathways to economic power for Black students and communities.
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