Mike Ivers
Mike Ivers lives on the cusp.
After graduating from DePaul University and studying at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary and the Institute of Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University in New Orleans, Mike spent 27 years as a Catholic priest. He spent his active ministry in Chicago’s African-American community, most recently as Pastor of St. Agatha Church in North Lawndale, where he served from 1988-2000, walking the streets, visiting homes, organizing efforts to combat gangs and build new housing, and building a sense of community.
He chaired the advisory Board of the Fantus Health Center and accepted Cardinal Bernadin’s appointment to the Archdiocesan Priest placement Board, assisting in the placement of 750 priests with positions in parishes. With Commonwealth Edison he co-founded Look to the Future, an organization with a mission to paint the homes of the elderly and disabled in nineteen communities, played a key role in the creation of United Power for Action and Justice and chaired the Lawndale Conservation Council. Mike also played a key role in the creation of United Power for Action and Justice—250 institutions paying $450,000 in annual dues bringing together diverse people for relational power—and chaired the Lawndale Conservation Council from 1990 to 2000.
Mike was president of Goodcity from May 2001 to November 2011, focusing his energy on building relationships among people, churches, organizations and civic entities to build a better Chicago.
Mike’s leadership in Chicago has been frequently recognized. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International in 1999 and in 2000 was named the Distinguished Fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago. He was a board member of Chicago Communities in School from 2002 until 2011 and received the Award of Excellence from Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas for being the ‘Prophet of Non-profits.’ He was the 2009 CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Cook County Spirit Award Recipient. Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed Mike to the Board of the Chicago Housing Authority in September 2001 and he served two terms as a CHA commissioner until June 2011 when Mayor Rahm Emmanuel appointed him as a commissioner of Chicago’s Zoning Board of Appeals, a role that continued until November, 2011 when he relocated to Yuma, Arizona.
Since then Mike has served as President and CEO of the Yuma Community Food Bank. Currently serving on the Board of the Yuma Area Non-Profit Institute and on the Board of advisors of Catholic Community Services, Mike is married to Dr. Greta Ivers.
