Adam Alonso – CEO of Build, a nonprofit focused on violence prevention, gang intervention and youth development – announced in June that, come July, he’s moving on to be CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. 

As Alonso takes the next step in his career after over a decade with Build, he’s anticipating lots of changes. 

For one, Alonso said, the budget for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, which covers the city and surrounding suburbs, is about four times that of Build’s. And while that covers YMCA offerings in addition to youth violence prevention services, Alonso is excited to bring his expertise to that area of the organization.

Alonso’s predecessor, Dorri McWhorter, became CEO in 2021 and led the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s transition to a community hub model. While the YMCA still offers sports programs and early learning services, the new model better addresses local needs. YMCA community hubs offer financial literacy and mental health services, food banks, and partner with other organizations to provide their services to YMCA attendees. 

Adam Alonso CEO of BUILD

“There are growing needs above and beyond what the Y’ currently offers,” Alonso said. “The city needs as many institutions supporting neighborhoods [as possible] – not just kids, but their families.” 

It’s a mindset that Build has had since it started in 1969. Today, the nonprofit provides free services to over 6,500 youth and their families annually.

As Alonso reflects on Build’s biggest successes since he’s been at the helm, perhaps the most recent was the opening of Build’s renovated and expanded Austin campus in February 2023. The construction took the 10,000-square-foot campus to over 50,000 square feet and marked the first time Alonso had led a capital campaign of such a size.

“I’d never done it at this scale before and this level of fundraising. To raise $28 million [for renovations] while also raising your $20 million operating budget, that was huge,” Alonso said. 

He also notes Build’s mobile mental health vans, which launched amidst the pandemic and continue to offer integrated behavioral healthcare to locals around the West Side.

“I’m proud of the work that we do to be responsive in the community,” Alonso said. 

Alonso joined Build as CEO in 2015, and within the first year or two of his leadership, noted several initiatives he’s proud of. 

Soon after Alonso came aboard, Build repurposed its space in a small building that used to house a bank, opening a renovated teen center for Austin youth.

“Gun violence was on the rise, particularly in Austin,” Alonso said of that time. 

According to the city’s violence reduction dashboard, in Austin, there were 274 shooting victimizations in 2015. The following year, that number nearly doubled to 521. 

In 2017, the number of shooting victimizations in Austin decreased to 447, possibly in part because of the Austin Response Team.

Alonso was part of the inaugural Austin Response Team, through which, in collaboration with the Chicago Police Department’s 15th District, nonprofits and faith-based organizations, Build regularly sets up on a street corner to provide resources, like counseling and healthcare, to those who have been impacted by violent crime. The Austin Response Team also sends outreach workers into affected neighborhoods.

“In response to shootings, we would go out and meet with communities on the blocks where we were anticipating some sort of retaliation,” Alonso said. “We were able to drive down rates of violence by 2017, and there weren’t any incidences of retaliation once we did responses.” 

Also in 2017, Build launched its program Building Girls 2 Women after then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced citywide funds for male mentoring. After Alonso met with his team and donors, they decided to launch their own mentorship initiative for young women.

“Our young girls are struggling with a whole bunch of other bullshit that the guys don’t ever have to manage or deal with, and they really need support,” Alonso said. A private donor and the Chicago Foundation for Women helped fund Building Girls 2 Women.

It was in 2017 that Build and dozens of other nonprofits held the first Summer of Opportunity, a festival in Columbus Park with a parade, performers and organizations with resource tables and job offerings.

“That was just the start of knowing how important it was to mobilize in the community, knowing that there were so many of us who really cared about our community and young people,” Alonso said. Now, Build puts on an End of Summer bash every year that attracts around 3,000 people, Alonso estimated. This year’s bash is Aug. 8 at 5100 W. Harrison St.

Alonso, though, recognizes that Build’s successes didn’t come from his actions alone. 

As Alonso moves on, Build’s interim CEO is Bradly Johnson. Most recently, Johnson, a West Side resident, has served as Build’s chief community officer. Alonso said they’ve worked together for eight years at Build, and Johnson is just as much a part of the organization’s accomplishments.

“Bradly’s been a part of all of these initiatives that have launched,” Alonso said, in addition to other Build leadership team members. “From meeting constituents to being in meetings around the community, talking with donors, trying to find space for other partners so we can figure this out together, collectively – that’s work we have all done.” 

“My focus will be on ensuring stability, supporting our incredible team, and continuing to build a strong foundation for the future,” Johnson said at a June 10 press conference announcing Build’s leadership change. “I also want to extend my deepest thanks to Adam for his outstanding leadership and unwavering dedication to Build. He leaves behind big shoes to fill, and I’m truly humbled by the opportunity to lead as we carry the work forward.” 

Alonso added that, as he’s leaving Johnson in charge, Build is in a solid financial situation. As Build’s next fiscal year starts in July, Alonso said leadership expects the organization to plateau a bit in the coming months. After nine years of consecutive growth and recent federal funding cuts, “We knew that for fiscal year ‘26, and probably for the next three years, Build was going to be in a position to be leveled off and maintained,” Alonso said. He added that Build will continue responding to community needs while building its donor base in case of reduced government funding.

“I’m grateful to our board and Build, which supported me and trusted me in my leadership,” Alonso said. He’s also thankful for Build staff, elected officials who campaigned for much of Build’s funding, and the Austin community. “They’ve been very welcoming, and we’ve been able to learn and grow together.”

“And the young people who show up every day,” Alonso added to his list of gratitudes.“It’s just great to see their smiles and to see them feel safe here.”   

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