FBI Chicago Announces Recipient of Director’s Community Leadership Award

CHICAGO—Emmerson Buie Jr., special agent-in-charge of the Chicago Field Office, announced today, April 30, 2020, that Quilen Blackwell has been named the 2019 recipient of the FBI’s Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for the Chicago Division. The FBI presents this award annually on behalf of Director Christopher Wray. It was established in 1990 as a way to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts to prevent federal crimes and to enhance law enforcement efforts in their communities.

In 2014, Quilen Blackwell founded Chicago Eco House, an organization dedicated to showing youth in Chicago’s most poverty-stricken areas that there is beauty to be found in their neighborhoods. Under the motto “Using sustainability to alleviate poverty,” Chicago Eco House teaches youth business and collaboration skills to provide alternatives to the cycle of chronic poverty, drug-use, and criminal activity. “Where others saw poverty, Mr. Blackwell saw hope,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Buie. “His dedication to lifting up local youth is a welcome reminder of what our communities are capable of achieving.”

Mr. Blackwell has been instrumental in leading local residents and community groups to create the Stewart Street Farm, a fruit, vegetable, and flower farm covering two city blocks. Owing to his efforts, 32 high school students have received stipends to support their study of urban agriculture. In addition to providing valuable urban farming experience, the Stewart Street Farm initiative converted vacant land into a usable community resource.

In addition to beautifying communities through farming projects, Chicago Eco House engages youth in indoor artistic ventures during the cold, winter months. Under Mr. Blackwell’s direction, Chicago Eco House teaches young adults to create 3D printed jewelry which is then sold in stores on Chicago’s South Side. In addition to gaining marketable STEM skills, student artists receive a portion of the profits from these sales.

Mr. Blackwell was selected by the Chicago Division for the direct and positive impact his work has had on the community. Chicago Eco House focuses on local neighborhoods with substantial socioeconomic challenges such as Englewood, West Woodlawn, and West Garfield Park. The organization provides business skills and alternative options to youth in demographics that facing chronic unemployment makes them at-risk for gang involvement and illegal drug use.

Soldiers in Europe Conduct Virtual Basic Leader Course

April 30, 2020 | BY ARMY SGT. 1ST CLASS JOY DULEN

Due to the onset of COVID-19, classrooms around the world had to drastically change the way they do business. The Army classroom followed suit by embracing the worldwide move to a virtual learning environment to engage its students around the globe.

Junior enlisted soldiers stationed near Kaiserslautern, Germany, are taking part in the first virtual Basic Leader Course being taught in 20 different classrooms across four countries in Europe by instructors with the 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy out of Grafenwoehr, Germany.

Although the primary blocks of instruction are being taught virtually, two Army Reserve noncommissioned officers from the 7th Mission Support Command volunteered to fill all the hands-on leadership gaps as assistant instructors for their students attending the class in Daenner Kaserne, Kaiserslautern, Germany.

''We're assisting with any type of computer issues or any follow-on questions,'' said Army Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Chefan, a detachment sergeant with the 446th Transportation Battalion, 510th Regional Support Group, 7th MSC, and a Basic Leader Course assistant instructor. ''But we're also doing all the grading for physical readiness training, drill and ceremony, and the day-to-day. … The formations, the accountability, the leadership evaluations, that's on us.''

The Basic Leader Course is a required four-week Army leadership course for junior enlisted soldiers who are working to become sergeants. Though it's never been done virtually with locally based assistant instructors, training leaders is nothing new for these 7th Mission Support Command noncommissioned officers, who worked together previously as instructors at the Fort McCoy Noncommissioned Officer Academy in Wisconsin.

''Basic Leader Course requires more hands-on [training], so I think it's been working well with me and Sergeant 1st Class Chefan, because we have the experience as BLC instructors, and we know what's expected,'' said Army Sgt. 1st Class Roi Cavan, the human resources noncommissioned officer in charge with the 361st Civil Affairs Brigade, 7th Mission Support Command, and Basic Leader Course assistant instructor. ''That's the part with leadership, where we need to be here physically. We need to be with the students, because how are they going to get that experience of becoming an NCO without experiencing it through a training environment.''

Abiding by local social distancing guidelines, students in the Daenner Kaserne class are still being evaluated on many different types of leadership roles, from formations and marching to classroom cleanliness.

''I think it's cool to be here in Germany with the first virtual BLC for class instruction,'' said Army Spc. Nicholas Hpkins, a biomedical equipment technician with U.S. Army Medical Center Europe, and a Basic Leader Course student. ''But when we're here, we still have that in-person leadership that helps us develop.''

Cavan and Chefan agree that training to lead, whether virtually or physically, is the fun stuff for NCOs, and it's in their comfort zones.

''You don't really get to lead and train troops all the time, but we're going back to the basics here where we can build that foundation of what an NCO is supposed to be,'' Cavan said. ''And we're hitting both components, active and reserve, so that's really awesome.''

''We're all going through this together,'' Chefan said. ''It's cool to be a part of history.''

(Army Sgt. 1st Class Joy Dulen is assigned to 7th Mission Support Command.)

FBI Memphis Honors Nashville Predators NHL Team with Director’s Community Leadership Award

MEMPHIS, TN – The FBI Memphis Field Office is pleased to announce the Nashville Predators as the recipient of the 2019 Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA). The Nashville Predators, a NHL ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee, build philanthropic partnerships within the community to improve the lives of youth and their families.

“The FBI is proud to present the Nashville Predators with this award,” said Special Agent in Charge M.A. Myers of the Memphis Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “The Nashville Predators are an engaged partner in the community and have made a significant impact on middle Tennessee and beyond. Their commitment is seen through the many programs they have developed to support local charities and organizations.”

The Nashville Predators consistently demonstrate outstanding contributions to the community through service. During the 2018-19 season, the Predators exceeded their goal of 8,000 volunteer hours. Every member of the Predators organization gave back to the community throughout the season—from ownership and players to management and staff, and GNASH, the Predators mascot.

The FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award was formally created in 1990 to honor individuals and organizations for their extraordinary contributions to the prevention of crime and violence in the community. Every year FBI field offices around the country select a community partner to receive the award. The FBI Memphis Field Office recognized Dismas House last year for their efforts to provide temporary housing and support services for individuals transitioning from prisons and jails.

For more information about this prestigious award, please see https://www.fbi.gov/about/community-outreach/dcla.