Regret and profound sadness

It is with deep regret and profound sadness that we inform you of the passing of Mrs. Hill.

Jean Carter-Hill and Helen Arnold-Massey co-founded IEI, a 501©3 community-based, direct-service organization. While working together in the Chicago Public School system, Ms. Hill and Ms. Massey experienced first-hand the plight of inner city youth and families from their educational vantage point. Their fervent desire to engage in activities that would help change conditions and the mindset of residents led them to become involved in the One Church-One School effort. They eventually expanded their linkage to Imagine Chicago, a non-profit advocacy organization whose mission is to train citizen leaders to facilitate change in their local communities. In 1998, the two women brought the "Citizen Leader" training program to Englewood, and in September of that year they began the first Imagine Englewood If Citizen Leader program. These early organizing efforts focused on training, creating and engaging local citizen leaders to actualize their dreams for the community through team-based projects, and supported them as they launched initiatives including a neighborhood garden and a community clean-up club.

We will forever miss her and her dynamic work in Englewood. Her work is an inspiration and will continue through those she has touched. Our love and sympathies are with the family of Ms. Jean Carter-Hill.

July 5, 1937 – June 24, 2016