{"id":27545,"date":"2025-06-30T16:22:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T16:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/27545\/"},"modified":"2025-06-30T16:22:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T16:22:09","slug":"build-ceo-adam-alonso-moves-on-to-ymca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/27545\/","title":{"rendered":"Build CEO Adam Alonso moves on to YMCA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Adam Alonso<\/a> \u2013 CEO of Build, a nonprofit focused on violence prevention, gang intervention and youth development \u2013 announced in June that, come July, he\u2019s moving on to be CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As Alonso takes the next step in his career after over a decade with Build, he\u2019s anticipating lots of changes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u2019s. 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.<\/p>\n

Alonso\u2019s predecessor, Dorri McWhorter<\/a>, became CEO in 2021 and led the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Adam Alonso CEO of BUILD<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are growing needs above and beyond what the Y\u2019 currently offers,\u201d Alonso said. \u201cThe city needs as many institutions supporting neighborhoods [as possible] \u2013 not just kids, but their families.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a mindset that Build has had since it started in 1969. Today, the nonprofit provides free services to over\u202f6,500 youth and their families annually.<\/p>\n

As Alonso reflects on Build\u2019s biggest successes since he\u2019s been at the helm, perhaps the most recent was the opening of Build\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d 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,\u201d Alonso said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He also notes Build\u2019s mobile mental health vans<\/a>, which launched amidst the pandemic and continue to offer integrated behavioral healthcare to locals around the West Side.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud of the work that we do to be responsive in the community,\u201d Alonso said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alonso joined Build as CEO in 2015, and within the first year or two of his leadership, noted several initiatives he\u2019s proud of.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cGun violence was on the rise, particularly in Austin,\u201d Alonso said of that time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to the city\u2019s violence reduction dashboard<\/a>, in Austin, there were 274 shooting victimizations in 2015. The following year, that number nearly doubled to 521.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 2017, the number of shooting victimizations in Austin decreased to 447, possibly in part because of the Austin Response Team.<\/p>\n

Alonso was part of the inaugural Austin Response Team, through which, in collaboration with the Chicago Police Department\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn response to shootings, we would go out and meet with communities on the blocks where we were anticipating some sort of retaliation,\u201d Alonso said. \u201cWe were able to drive down rates of violence by 2017, and there weren\u2019t any incidences of retaliation once we did responses.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Also in 2017, Build launched its program Building Girls 2 Women<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur young girls are struggling with a whole bunch of other bullshit that the guys don\u2019t ever have to manage or deal with, and they really need support,\u201d Alonso said. A private donor and the Chicago Foundation for Women helped fund Building Girls 2 Women.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cThat 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,\u201d Alonso said. Now, Build puts on an End of Summer bash every year that attracts around 3,000 people, Alonso estimated. This year\u2019s bash<\/a> is Aug. 8 at 5100 W. Harrison St.<\/p>\n

Alonso, though, recognizes that Build\u2019s successes didn\u2019t come from his actions alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As Alonso moves on, Build\u2019s interim CEO is Bradly Johnson. Most recently, Johnson, a West Side resident, has served as Build\u2019s chief community officer. Alonso said they\u2019ve worked together for eight years at Build, and Johnson is just as much a part of the organization\u2019s accomplishments.<\/p>\n

\u201cBradly\u2019s been a part of all of these initiatives that have launched,\u201d Alonso said, in addition to other Build leadership team members. \u201cFrom 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 \u2013 that\u2019s work we have all done.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMy focus will be on ensuring stability, supporting our incredible team, and continuing to build a strong foundation for the future,\u201d Johnson said at a June 10 press conference announcing Build\u2019s leadership change. \u201cI 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\u2019m truly humbled by the opportunity to lead as we carry the work forward.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alonso added that, as he\u2019s leaving Johnson in charge, Build is in a solid financial situation. As Build\u2019s 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, \u201cWe knew that for fiscal year \u201826, and probably for the next three years, Build was going to be in a position to be leveled off and maintained,\u201d Alonso said. He added that Build will continue responding to community needs while building its donor base in case of reduced government funding.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m grateful to our board and Build, which supported me and trusted me in my leadership,\u201d Alonso said. He\u2019s also thankful for Build staff, elected officials who campaigned for much of Build\u2019s funding, and the Austin community. \u201cThey\u2019ve been very welcoming, and we\u2019ve been able to learn and grow together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the young people who show up every day,\u201d Alonso added to his list of gratitudes.\u201cIt\u2019s just great to see their smiles and to see them feel safe here.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

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