The westside of Chicago is full of talented individuals who know all too well that opportunities and resources are not always evenly distributed among their community. They are often the frontline community organization or government workers dedicating their lives to the vulnerable population they serve. Their expertise, commitment and enthusiasm are the very qualities that make them successful. Their career path, however, is often stalled in direct service work with no clear roadmap to executive level leadership within their organization or agency. Community Leadership Fellows (CLF) seeks to change this dynamic by breaking down the barriers that prevent upward mobility for the talented citizens of the westside. Community Leadership Fellows is a stipend leadership program that involves; educational workshops, tactical trainings, collaborative learning, coaching, mentoring and networking. We believe that the investment in homegrown talent will lead to sustainable, vibrant communities. By approaching the fellowship with the concept of “do nothing about me without me,” the Fellows will have the support to lay down a foundation that will lead the residents of the westside to reclaim their blocks, their community and their businesses. These communities will then have the power to shift mindsets about the westside. When you invest in people from the community to lead, true economic and social change will take place.