We are proud to honor and celebrate Myetie Hamilton, CEO of Leadership Greater Chicago and a proud alum of our College and Career Preparation program, as the 2026 recipient of the Ada S. McKinley Legacy Award.
The Ada S. McKinley Legacy Award honors an alum of our College and Career Preparation program whose career reflects outstanding leadership and a lasting impact in the communities they serve. Previous recipients include:
- Cheryl Burton, News Anchor/Reporter, ABC 7 Chicago
- Torrence Hinton, Former President, Peoples Gas; Current President, FirstEnergy-Ohio
- Charles Williams, Global Vice President, Men’s Footwear-Nike
- Stanley S. Moore, Cook County Commissioner
- Mattie Hunter, Illinois State Senator
Myetie Hamilton brings over 25 years of experience leading innovative change in Chicago’s education, non-profit, and public sectors. As the Chief Executive Officer of Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC), Myetie is the first Black woman to hold this position and is responsible for leading the organization to greater levels of strategic influence, impact, and innovation as the region’s premier organization for fostering and growing civic leadership. Prior to joining LGC, she served as the Executive Director of City Year Chicago where she led the largest site of AmeriCorps Members across the national organization.
Myetie is the Vice Chair for the Provident Foundation, and a board member of the Museum of Science and Industry and A Better Chicago. She has received several awards and honors, including being acknowledged by Crain’s Chicago Business as a Notable Leader in Community Development, a Notable Black Leader, and named among the 2026 Who’s Who in Chicago Business. She is a 2025 Chicago United Business Leaders of Chicago honoree, has been recognized by lifestyle media outlet Make It Better as one of Chicago’s 38 Top Black Women of Impact, and is a 2018 Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Award recipient. Myetie holds a bachelor’s degree from Alabama A&M University, a master’s degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and has been a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow since 2016.
