I. Ashaki Williams McClain

Ashaki is a youth advocate specializing in establishing meaningful connections that inspire people to fully be themselves. She is deputy director of R3 programs at A Just Harvest, a nonprofit fighting poverty and hunger in Chicago. Previously, she was director of teen girls’ programs and community outreach at Family Matters Chicago. Earlier, while freelancing as a teaching artist, Ashaki developed youth programs for several Chicago Public School high schools and launched her own after-school program focused on arts and academics at Shoesmith Elementary School. Witnessing its transformative impact on students’ learning experience, she went into youth advocacy and has designed and directed multiple programs in arts activism, leadership development and the healing arts. A dancer and a doula, she continues to learn and teach the healing arts, including various styles of yoga. Ashaki earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Florida A&M University.