Vote for

on November 5th

Aaron "Jitu" Brown is a lifelong organizer for education justice with over 32 years of experience fighting for equity in public education.

As a volunteer, board member, and staff, he has tirelessly worked for education justice. He played a key role in forming the Grassroots Education Movement, uniting community and labor to fight for equitable education, and was a founding member of the national Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools.

Jitu's dedication extends to his work within Chicago Public Schools (CPS), where he coordinated African-centered youth leadership programs for nearly 20 years and trained teachers on culturally relevant curriculum for five years. He has served for 15 years on various Local School Councils.

Jitu's organizing efforts have led to significant victories, including stopping school closings and expanding sustainable community schools. He developed the Sustainable Community Schools (SCS) model during the fight for Dyett High School, gathering community input to create a model that truly serves students' needs.

CPS PARENT • ORGANIZER • COACH

OUR PRIORITIES

My priority as a School Board representative will be to create of a world-class, pre-k through 12th grade system of education within safe walking distance of every District 5 home. This will be accomplished by:

Responsible expansion of the Sustainable Community Schools model, which centers community input and investment in neighborhood schools.
Ensure equitable access to early childhood education starting with pre-k
Equitable funding from the state of Illinois.
Increase the number of Black and Brown teachers
Support and strengthen local school councils
Culturally relevant curriculum throughout Chicago Public Schools
End punitive standardized testing in Chicago Public Schools

Tara Stamps

Cook County Comissioner

Lakeisha Collins

State Senator

TITLE

“The problem with Chicago Public Schools is we don’t have a voice. The problem with Chicago Public Schools is someone is making decisions for us who is not impacted by those decisions. So when they close our schools up, their children are not the ones who are at risk. When they kick Black teachers out of the classroom, their community is not the one that’s losing teachers."

ENDORSEMENTS

* Look towards the bottom of your ballot to elect a School Board Member

HOW TO VOTE

WHEN TO VOTE

Election Day is Tuesday Nov 5th.

Early Voting starts a the downtown supersite on October 3rd and begins at Early Voting sites in all 50 wards on October 21st.

REGISTERING TO VOTE

You can find details on registering to vote via the Board of Elections here.

You can also register in-person at any Early Voting site or on Election Day with two forms of ID, one listing your current address.

DISTRICT 5

Austin
West Garfield Park
Garfield Park
North Lawndale
West Loop
West Humboldt Park

WHAT ARE SOME NEXT STEPS?

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FIND US ON INSTAGRAM

“I’m excited to have a Board that will not do the bidding of corporations but to have a Board that will do the bidding of the people in our communities”

Rain or shine, my tribe shows up. I’m deeply grateful for every volunteer who dedicated their time at the polls today to support our campaign and my mission to reimagine CPS. This journey truly takes a village, and I’m honored to have such a passionate, committed community by my side. Together, we’re pushing for a stronger, more equitable CPS that serves all our children. Thank you for being part of this movement!

A true community staple, @urban_essentials_coffeecafe has always stood behind what I fight for. Thank you to the team for all your support and for creating a safe space for people to connect and create on the Westside. Change starts with us.

Casted my vote today with my family by my side. Proud to be part of this movement pushing Chicago toward an equitable, holistic education system. If we don’t run it, it’s not for us—let’s change the way CPS is run, together.

It’s going to take a movement to achieve true equity and full funding in CPS! I’m so proud of the long list of endorsers joining me in that mission. 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

Proud to receive this enthusiastic endorsement from the West Side’s Congressman Danny K Davis!

Thank you to Ms. Jones of Douglass HS Local School Council, State Rep Lilian Jiménez, Ald Mike Rodriguez, & Ald Jason Ervin for joining us today.

On this journey to represent Chicago’s Westside on the Chicago School Board, I’ve reconnected with former students I once mentored, bonded with parents and grandparents, spoken to young people about their power and the right of every student to attend a thriving school, advocated for myself at forums, and met with unions across the city—all while staying grounded in my mission: building a CPS that works for ALL students and neighborhoods. Each moment reinforces why I’m committed to creating a better CPS. Together, we’re stronger. Let’s keep moving forward, together, Chicago! Click the link in my bio to volunteer this weekend or on Election Day.

The culture and value system in CPS must change—plain and simple. A change I believe in, have helped shape, and have seen improve schools is transforming them into Sustainable Community Schools. From empowering school communities—educators, parents, students, community organizations—to developing culturally relevant, challenging curriculum and fostering inclusive leadership, this approach is key to building a holistic, well-rounded CPS.

I’ve learned that people fight for what they helped to build. And I’m dedicated to building a better CPS with the community. Thank you so much to the Westside Branch of the NAACP for having me last night.

Vote for me, Aaron Jitu Brown, on November 5th for a better CPS.

I had the privilege of speaking to students at Whitney Young High School about the power of their voices, their education, and their influence. I shared my dedication to uplifting Black and Brown communities and fighting for equitable schools in Chicago. There’s a deep need for change in CPS, and that’s why I’m running for the Chicago School Board. I’m a community organizer, not a career politician—my strength lies in the community we build together. And young people and students are essential to a vision for the way forward in CPS!

What a week! From visiting schools and talking with parents about expanding sustainable community schools, attending forums, seeing my signs around the neighborhood and speaking with Chalkbeat on the need for better funding in Chicago’s schools. Every child deserves access to high-quality education in their neighborhood. This is what I’ve always fought for, and it’s what I’ll continue to advocate for as your representative on the Chicago School Board. Vote for school equity and justice on November 5th.

The state of Illinois needs to become top five in education—they owe the people that much. Thank you, @chalkbeatorg , for giving me the platform to discuss the future of education in Chicago and across Illinois. Together, we can make this a reality. Remember, Election Day is November 5th—your vote is your voice. #JituForCPS #EducationJustice

“I know schools. But most importantly I am a servant of my people.”

Thanks Every Block a Village for having me today!

Join the campaign to elect Jitu Brown for Chicago Board of Education 5 on Thursday Oct 10th @ 8PM ET virtually!

From leading youth programs in schools all across the city to being the education organizer at the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization to leading the historic 34-day hunger strike that won the re-opening of Dyett High School after Rahm Emanuel’s massive school closures, Jitu has been on the frontlines of the movement for equity in public education for over 30 years.

Now, for the first time ever, Chicago will elect its Board of Education to oversee a school district that supports more than 320,000 students — a majority of whom are Black & Brown, more than 20,000 of whom are experiencing homelessness — and that districts nearly $10 billion annual budget.

Join us on Thursday October 10th to raise some $ to elect this community organizer, CPS alum & parent, and education justice champion to keep fighting for the world class schools all Chicago young people deserve.

Every week, I visit West Side schools. This week, I stopped by Helzer Elementary to talk with parents about how we can come together to improve conditions for teachers and students. Schools are built by communities—let’s create something great together. #EducationJustice #SustainableSchools #JituForCPS”

Join the campaign to elect Jitu Brown for Chicago School Board and community leaders and friends across the country for a virtual national fundraiser on Oct 10th at 8PM ET!

We are working to elect a true champion of equity in public education in Chicago. Join us! 🌱

Register at the link in bio.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support last night and to Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez and State Senator Lakesia Collins for their immense support. Schools are COMMUNITY organizations and as a Community Organizer I have dedicate my life to representing my community and making sure the children in these communities have well-funded and resourced schools. It starts with us.

Let’s keep pushing. Get involved at the link in our bio.

Today I was proud to join teachers and parents at Hefferan School as apart of @aftunion’s national day of action to advocate for fully funded schools!

It was great to build w/ union delegate Lauren & even run into my former mentee and student from Dyett HS who is now a Hefferan parent! Equity is on everyone’s minds and that’s what I’m running to fight for.

Get involved in our campaign for School Board or make a donation at the links in my bio. Election Day is Nov 5th.

Proud to be supported by educators far and wide!

From the greats like Karen Lewis and Stacy Davis Gates to my collaborators at Teachers for Social Justice and the Network for Public Education Action to CCCTU Local 1600 Chicago and Chicago Teachers Union, it’s an honor to work with fellow educators in the movement for equity in public education! ✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿

Consider making a donation or signing up to get involved at the link in bio.

Ahead of today’s School Board meeting, I joined community members, young people, and parents to speak about the harmful impact of racist school closures in Chicago over the years and against talks of more closures now.

When I am elected to Chicago’s first democratically elected School Board, I am bringing with me the voices of the movement for investment in quality neighborhood schools across the city — particularly on the West and South sides. ✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿

Proud to be endorsed by these incredible members of Chicago City Council: fellow Dyett hunger striker 20th ward Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor, MY Alderman Chris Taliaferro of the 29th Ward, Vice Mayor Alderman Walter Burnett of the 27th Ward, my brother and comrade 25th Alderman Sigcho Lopez, Alderman Jason Ervin with whom I just published a Chicago Tribune op-ed speaking out against school closures, and 22nd Ward Alderman Mike Rodriguez.

I’m ready to collaborate with these folks when I’m elected to represent District 5 on Chicago’s first ever elected school board!

“All of our students deserve a world-class education and shouldn’t have to leave their neighborhood to receive it.

The school cuts and closures of a decade ago are a stain on our city’s history. The pain and disruption they caused are still felt in our neighborhoods (and the people and institutions missing in them) to this day. Anyone with some sense would be moving our district in the farthest opposite direction possible.

The fact that Martinez is leading with cuts instead of conviction means that those even higher up than Martinez either need to take the reins or take a vote so that Chicago can save our schools without the hunger strikes, marches, sweat and tears, and fallout of a decade ago.”

Big gratitude for our OG endorsers who’ve been with our campaign since Day 1!

People United for Action & the 290 IPO are two Black-led independent political organizations committed to building power for the South and West sides.

Cook County Commissioner Tara Stamps is a fellow educator, organizer, and West Side legend.

I could not be more honored to have these at the core of my earliest base of endorsers who helped get our campaing off the ground. Together, we can change the world starting with building a world class pre-k through 12th grade system of education in District 5.

Election Day is Nov 5th and when I’m elected to Chicago’s School Board I’m taking all our voices with me!

aaronjitubrown4cps.org

It’s been almost a decade since the community-led campaign to save Dyett High School culminated in a 34-day hunger strike. This was one of many fights where communities — particularly Black and Brown communities — had to put our bodies on the line to fight for a voice in the decisions that impact our schools and our young people.

Finally, Chicago will vote to elect our first ever elected School Board on Nov 5th. Being an organizer behind community-led fights to save schools like Dyett has been the honor of my lifetime so far. Now, I’m excited to be running to be the organizer committed to equity in education that our communities deserve representing the West Side’s District 5 on School Board.

See the links in bio to tap in!

Gratitude to @loveandstrugglephotos for documenting the hunger strike and so many other important movement moments over the years.

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