Jerel Matthews is a scholar studying Youth Organizing and Social Justice. He was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. He comes from a West Indian family that immigrated to Chicago from Trinidad.

​

Jerel is a proponent of ending mass incarceration. He believes it starts with the youth in marginalized neighborhoods like Auburn Gresham and similar places around the United States. Jerel’s goal is galvanize young people to collectively work towards reimagining, restructuring, and reinvesting in themselves and their communities.

​

He is also an awesome cook.

​

*Visit the bottom of the page to offer your reflections and feedback!