By Staff
Tell us about your non-profit organization.
The Nehemiah Community Project (NCP), a 501(c)3 organization, which begun in 2017 by Chris Chambliss, a lifelong resident of Maywood, IL. NCP provides comprehensive social services to underserved residents. NCP has also formed partnerships with other agencies, state, county, and local entities, faith leaders, hospitals, and legislators.
Most outstanding is trauma that people experienced and are still affected by. Our T.A.C.T. (Trauma Awareness Capacity Training) model brings awareness, coping tools, and focuses on helping trauma-affected individuals. NCP helps individuals or groups to navigate through challenges and recognize why experienced traumatic events trigger certain behaviors and guides the participant to embrace more socially acceptable and personally beneficial behaviors.
What is your definition of a man?
My definition of a man from a traditional perspective is a male that seeks to understand his identity, purpose and sets standards for himself and his family both naturally and spiritually and leaves legacy for his children’s children.
Tell us about your program that deals with men and mental health.
En-Game– is An Emotional Support Group for men, that combines objectives of removing mental health barriers with the perceived idea of manhood, with exercises that promote practical outcomes. Participants learn coping and support strategies and are empowered to communicate.
What kind of impact do you feel your work is providing?
Our work is having a lasting impact on the lives that we have touched. Our early work with youth showed us that among many challenges, communication skills rank high for adolescent black males. Those with histories of disruptive behavior in the classroom, experience difficulty expressing themselves, socially interacting and engaging in conversation without it leading to a “beef” or even a physical altercation. We found that our students were in dire need of a “safe place” to feel free enough to truly express their feelings, without fear of repercussions. This is the place where they can express themselves freely, receive honest reactions, confront one another safely and learn problem-solving, anger management, and become part of a cohesive group. Those who evolve as leaders become mentors to the next group of students who join “2Gain” during the next academic year.
What does success look like for you?
What success looks like for me are goals that I’ve set for myself, that I’ve achieved and that are felt for generations to come.
Given the weight that life has for Black men, how do you stay motivated?
Being a Black man, I know firsthand the stress and demand that is required to just wake up every morning and put “foot to floor”. I get hope and stay motivated by the lives that I experience daily and the hope that I walk away with that another man has the resilience to take another step towards purpose.
Where would you like to see your organization in the next five years?
Because we don’t limit our capacity, we consider ourselves a local, regional, and global organization. With that, in the next five years we envision ourselves as the prototype for mental health havens for men. Creating hubs of spaces where men can find refuge and refueling. This would be possible by identifying men from current hubs that would extend these ‘Hubs’ throughout the country into their communities that will impact change. Complimented by trusted partnerships.
About
Christopher L. Chambliss is an innovative thinker with broad based expertise in Strategic Business Development and Non-Profit Management. He has a successful track record of managing key projects and excels at leading highly effective teams. He began his career working with the underserved and has a strong background working with young men of color. This led Chris to his hybrid approach of trauma informed care and counseling to help men address their personal traumas and achieve success.
A strong, hands-on advocate and ambassador for the community, he strives to raise awareness of the effects of violence and trauma to a man’s soul and strongly believes in the adage from Frederick Douglas “It is easier to build strong children than repair broken men.” He has put in the work with public school administrators, parents, social workers legislators, business owners, law enforcement and community members to help bring wholeness and help to individuals so that they may in turn positively impact their own communities for the better. He provides the tools for organizations to begin the work of equipping men to thrive by addressing sometimes dormant traumas that they have incurred but failed to process.
He played a key role in establishing C.A.R.E. (Caring And Resilient Environment) Rooms within school buildings which have proved to positively alter outcomes for students in crisis by providing them the comfort and compassionate support that is critical in a time of crisis to help them begin to address their suppressed traumas while also enhancing safety for administrators and teachers by providing a space to de-escalate events in real time to reduce further trauma.
Chris is the founder and CEO of The Nehemiah Community Project (NCP) in Maywood, IL which he started in 2017 after leaving the corporate sector. Since its inception, Chris and his team have directly implemented and facilitated trauma informed work with underserved men from various walks of life who have been impacted by trauma. “Changing lives is what it’s all about,” Says Chris as he reflects on the work as he and his team continue the transformative work of helping people heal in Maywood, Proviso Township and beyond. His innovative, action oriented programs have been partnered with organizations such as: Best of Proviso Township (BTP), Cook County Department of Public Health, Proviso Partners for Health (PP4H), Ignite (Program for homeless youth), Oak Park River Forest Foundation and countless high schools on Chicago’s West side.
Chris and his wife Denise enjoy spending time with their 6 children. They are active members of a local congregation in their hometown. When Chris is not working, you can find him at his wife’s bakery, SweetNeecy’s in Naperville. Denise is an award winning pastry chef who makes the most delicious treats this side of heaven.
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Bio for Christopher Chambliss
Christopher L. Chambliss is the founder and CEO of The Nehemiah Community Project, (501(c)3 organization focused on helping men ages 15 and up identify and rectify their personal traumas so they can thrive. While the focus is mainly advocating for wholeness and healing for all, he has established unique programs that address the needs of underserved teens and their families as well as US veterans following the lead of Nehemiah in the bible, an intercessor in passionate pursuit of healing for his community.
Originally from Maywood, Illinois, Chris has a strong desire to serve the community that made him. He excels at leading diverse teams and is focused on meeting the needs of others as his top priority. A compassionate giver and natural connector of people, he utilizes his relationships and resources to help improve the lives of others. His innovative, action oriented programs have been partnered with Best of Proviso Township (BTP), Cook County Department of Public Health, Proviso Partners for Health (PP4H), Ignite (Program for homeless youth), Oak Park River Forest Foundation and countless high schools on Chicago’s West side.
Chris and his wife Denise are the proud parents of 6 children and reside in the western suburbs of Chicago where Denise, an award winning pastry chef, owns and operates a cake boutique.
