12 Parents, grandparents, community members and supporters from around Chicago started a hunger strike on August, 17th. 


On September 19th, day 34, the hunger strikers have ended this phase of the #FightForDyett. The hunger strike is over, but the fight for a community driven sustainable green technology high school continues. The hunger strike forced CPS to stop their delaying tactics and commit to re-opening Dyett as a publicly accountable neighborhood high school. The hunger strike prevented the privatization of Dyett, but there is still work to be done. The #FightForDyett continues. 

These are the faces of the #FightForDyett 

Dr. Aisha Wade-Bey is a veteran educator, Bronzeville resident. Dr. Wade-Bey is a member of the Chicago Teachers Union Black Caucus, Kenwood Oakland Community Organization and Coalition to Revitalize Dyett HS. Dr. Bey committed hundreds of hours with many other Coalition members to complete the Dyett RFP.

Anna Jones is an empathic Bronzeville parent of 4 and community leader, parent advisory council member at Woodson and parent mentor.

April Stogner is a lifelong Bronzeville resident, mother of three, grandmother three. Education leader and advocate, proud  KOCO leader and member of the MidSouth Education Association.

Cathy Dale is a former CPS parent, LSC member at Mollison and King College Prep. Member of KOCO, Trinity United Church of Christ and proud grandmother of a 6 week old.

Irene Robinson was born and raised in Bronzeville and has been a parent to youth in the community for over 30 years. Ms. Robinson is parent of 6, and grandparent of 14. She has served as a foster parent for 20 years and is proud of the fact that all of her foster children returned home successfully. She was an active parent at Anthony Overton School and served as an LSC member and parent leader since the 90's. Ms. Robinson worked with other parents at Overton and Mollison when Overton School was unjustly closed and was recently sold.  She is an active LSC member at Mollison and is a proud leader of the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization. Ms. Robinson like scores of others committed hundreds of hours with other Coalition members to complete the Dyett Global Leadership & Green Technology Plan as  a member of the Coalition to Revitalize Dyett.

Jeanette Taylor-Ramann is a lifelong Bronzeville resident, mother of 5 and soon to be grandmother. Ms. Taylor-Ramann has served as a  Local School Council member at Mollison Elementary for 20 years and is currently the Chair of Mollison Local School Council. She is a parent organizer at the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization and member of the Coalition to Revitalize Dyett. She  committed hundreds of hours with other Coalition members to complete the Dyett RFP.

Jitu Brown is the epitome of a lover of all children and the belief that all children deserve a world-class education in their community. He has mentored thousands of young people in Bronzeville and beyond for the last 22 years and is a the director of the Journey for Justice Alliance and lifelong member and leader with KOCO.  Jitu has served on Dyett's Local School Council since 2003 and is a member of the Coalition to Revitalize Dyett and committed hundreds of thousands of hours on the School Alignment Process and the Bronzeville Global Achievers Village that eventually became the Dyett Global Leadership & Green Technology Plan.

Marc Kaplan is a long-time organizer, Board member and leader at Northside Action for Justice. Parent, husband, local school council member at Uplift High School in Uptown.  Marc has been involved in organizing against gentrification and for people' s power in Uptown and around the city since 1972.

Dr. Monique Redeaux-Smith is a longtime Bronzeville resident and homeowner, parent, mother, member of Teachers for Social Justice and veteran educator.

Nelson Soza is a lifelong activist and organizer that has worked in all communities for justice. Husband and father of three and is the the Executive Director of Pilsen Alliance.

Prudence Browne is a doctoral student at the University of Illinois  College of Education    Curriculum and Instruction Program and proud member of Teachers for Social Justice. Her research focuses on new teachers in New Orleans Post Hurricane Katrina.  Ms. Browne is a member of the Coalition to Revitalize Dyett and committed hundreds of hours with other Coalition members to complete the Dyett RFP.

Rev. Robert Jones has been a pastoral  minister for 35 years. He is the Minister & Pastor of Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. He has been married for 15 years. father of 4, grandfather of 10. He has served on the Dunbar LSC for 3 years and is dedicated to standing for the rights of those whose voices are not heard.