At Grassroots Empowerment Mission (GEM), we are on a mission to transform communities by empowering young leaders to take action and create lasting change. Founded in 2024, GEM emerged to fill a critical gap on Chicago’s Northwest Side—a lack of grassroots organizing and leadership development aimed at empowering residents to shape their community's future.

LISTEN. EQUIP. DISRUPT. BUILD.

At GEM, we believe in the power of relationships, education, and intentionality to create a more equitable future. Together, we are building a movement where communities are not just shaped by systems; they are the driving force behind the change. Join us in empowering the next generation of leaders to build a stronger, more just Northwest Side.

Our Organizing Model

  • STEP ONE

    Bringing people, specifically young people into public life.

  • STEP TWO

    Through public life, build community power through relational organizing.

  • STEP THREE

    Through organizing, empower residents to create systems change in their community.

  • STEP FOUR

    This leads to empowering the community to create their own systems that impact change.

“I used to be shy and quiet. My day consisted of going to school and back home, just trying to fly under the radar. When I started working with GEM, all that changed. I began to understand that I have the power to make a change in my community and to empower others to do the same.”

Emmanuel Garcia, NXT GEM leader