Rafi (Hugh) Peterson

Rafi (Hugh) Peterson brings over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector and advises Illuminated Cities with best practices related to sustainable organizational ecosystem. He also advises on the relevance, feasibility, and impact of IC’s programming in relation to the communities with whom we are requested to collaborate. He has worked as the Street Outreach Director for the Southwest Organizing Project, as an employee of Ceasefire Chicago, and as a employee and later Board Member of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN).  He has also worked as a mentor at Marquette Elementary School and Cook County Jail Div.11 Maximum Security.  He is the recipient of the following awards: Community Heroes Award from Local Initiative Support Corporation; the Making a Difference Recognition Award from Inner City Muslim Action Network (IMAN); State Department Nominated Member to Represent the US Delegation to the Netherlands; as well as the Serving, Community Award from Holy Cross Hospital. Currently, Rafi is working on Project Restore Industries which he started because he saw the challenges that formerly incarcerated people and the communities they come from face everyday.  For example, he saw how difficult it was to hire someone to make improvements on your home or feel secure and safe on the block where you live.  He also saw the importance of employing ex-offenders, which gave him a sense of obligation to make things right in the community where he lives on the Southwest side of Chicago.