CHICAGO, IL, January 12, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- More than 300 guests gathered at the Garfield Park Conservatory recently to celebrate Habilitative Systems, Inc.'s (HSI) 5th Annual Race & Health Equity Awards, an evening recognizing outstanding education leaders whose work has advanced equity and opportunity across Chicago and beyond.

HSI, a leading behavioral health and human services organization serving 17 Chicago communities, recognized seven honorees for their long-standing commitment to educational excellence, achievement and access — some more than 50 years.

"We must recognize the relationship between race, health equity and education," said Donald J. Dew, HSI President and CEO. "When communities of color face barriers to quality education, those inequities ripple into health outcomes, economic stability, and overall well-being," he said.

The 2025 Race & Health Equity Awards honorees are:

• Paul J. Adams, III, Executive Chairman and Founder, Providence St. Mel School
• Bernard Clay, Executive Director and Founding Member, Introspect Youth Services, Inc.
• Creasie Finney Hairston, Ph.D., Professor and Dean, Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois Chicago
• Haki Madhubuti, MFA, Ph.D., Award Winning Poet, Founder and Publisher of Third World Press, University Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Chicago State University
• Carol D. Lee (Safisha Madhubuti), Edwina S. Tarry Professor Emerita, School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University
• Lisa W. Rollins, Regional Development Director – Chicago Region, United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
• David Sanders, President, Malcolm X College

As a part of the program, Chairman Lester Barclay, Esq., Honorary Consul of Jamaica, Chicago, delivered special remarks of thanks. A portion of the proceeds support Jamaican Hurricane relief efforts in addition to student stipends and HSI's community health initiatives.

While headquartered in Chicago, Dew and HSI have a strong national presence.

Dew recently launched the concept of Historically Black Community Based Organizations (HBCBOs), a national movement which includes a clarion call for increased support and recognition for the crucial role HBCBOs play in bridging gaps in the social safety-net. By sharing strategies and resources, the movement unites organizations to strengthen local communities. Visit https://www.historicallyblackcbo.org/

Additionally, Dew is the first African-American to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an international accrediting agency. Elected in 2022 to a one-year term, Dew has been re-elected and continues to serve as Chair.

In 1991, Dew helped HSI become one of the first African-American led organizations to achieve international CARF accreditation, which it has maintained every year since.

For additional information and/or to donate, visit www.habiitative.org.

ABOUT HABILITATIVE SYSTEMS, INC. (HSI)
Founded in 1978, HSI, a 501(c)3 organization, provides comprehensive behavioral health, housing, and human services to residents across 17 Chicago communities. From mental health and disability support to affordable housing and healthcare transformation, HSI's work continues to strengthen lives and communities across the West and South Sides of Chicago.

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