Calling Out The Tollway Pastor

What: Action Now will demonstrate outside of New Beginnings Church of Chicago to put pressure on Pastor Corey Brooks to utilize his relationship with Governor Bruce Rauner during the budget debate.

Members are demanding that Pastor Brooks step down from his appointment to the Illinois Tollway Board, and begin fighting for progressive revenue solutions to fix the budget crisis.

A list of demands will be left for the pastor in order to make community and congregation members aware of his broken promises.

When: Wednesday, July 29, 1 p.m.

Where: New Beginnings Church of Chicago, 6620 S. King Drive.

Why: Governor Bruce Rauner continues to propose cuts to important social programs that benefit working families and community members. Brooks, in his public endorsement of Rauner, promised that changes would be made under Rauner to better the community. This proclamation, however, has been broken by the governor's clear jump towards cuts. Brooks has been silent on Rauner's detrimental policies, and for his silence, has received a new $30,000 a year position on the Illinois Tollway Board.

Visuals: About 40 community members will protest in front of the church with signs, chants, and lists of demands to bring visibility to the pastor's silence during the budget fight.

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Previously in Corey Brooks:
* The Weekend In Occupy Chicago (Item No. 4).

* TweetWood.

Corey Brooks, the Tollway Pastor. http://t.co/9Ihxv23dpq

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) July 18, 2015

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Plus:

* From the Rauner campaign, September 2014:

"Pat Quinn has been a failure for the African American Community. Whether on job creation, education or out-of-control violence, he made promises and broke all of them. "The fact is Bruce Rauner isn't a Johnny-come-lately to our community; he and his wife, Diana, have been working in the community for years building schools, helping teachers and empowering parents, and helping those less fortunate."

Dr. Willie Wilson
Mr. Gil Walker
Mr. Lee Walker
Pastor Corey Brooks
Esquire Jerome Butler

* Karen Lewis And Corey Brooks Duke It Out On Twitter.

Including:

@KarenLewisCTU I agree but you do know I am not a prophet nor can I be bought...

— Corey Brooks (@CoreyBBrooks) September 26, 2014

* November 2014: Rauner appoints Brooks to transition committee.

* Friday, July 17, 4:02 p.m.:

Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has made appointments to the Illinois Tollway, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, and the Illinois Community College Board.

Name: Corey Brooks
Position: Board Member - Illinois Tollway

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Pastor Corey Brooks to the Illinois Tollway Board. He has a strong track record of working with private and public entities to affect positive change in his community.

Currently, Brooks is the Senior Pastor at New Beginnings Church in Chicago. He founded the church in 2000. He leads a congregation of more than 2,000 members, including a staff of nearly 70, which has a budget of more than $1 million annually. His leadership has led to the church becoming a resource center for the community.

Previously, Brooks founded Project Hood, where he worked as a community activist. He took steps to combat gun violence in the City of Chicago and provided support to families impacted by the violence.

Brooks is a graduate of Ball State University. He earned a law degree from the University of Florida, as well as graduate degrees from the Dallas Theological Seminary and the Grace Theological Seminary. He lives in Chicago.

* Compensation: Illinois State Tollway Authority board members are paid $31,426 a year.

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