Introducing Prentice Butler: New Executive Director for The Neighborhood Bridge

Prentice Butler (R) chats with Tara Stamps, 1st District Cook County Commissioner, at the Build Chicago End-of-Summer Bash in August.

When Dan Doody, president of The Neighborhood Bridge Board, met with Prentice Butler—whose application to be hired as the first executive director had floated to the top of some 100 reviewed by the team—he articulated TNB’s vision, as he had in so many community meetings: “The people of Austin are in need, the human services are available, and we just need to connect the two. We’re looking for people who have a strong connection to Austin and feel a real connection with our mission.”

Butler fits that bill, and the hiring committee endorsed him to become the first executive director of the new nonprofit on July 15.

He comes to Neighborhood Bridge from a stint as deputy director of the Illinois Justice Project (ILJP), which led the successful movement to end cash bail in the state. Before that, he was chief of staff for Chicago’s Fourth Ward Alderwoman Sophia King.

Butler, who grew up in South Shore and has lived in Bronzeville since 2007, was valedictorian of Hales Franciscan High School’s class of 1998. He served on the board of the South East Chicago Commission (SECC), which supports economic development in Hyde Park, Kenwood, Oakland, Washington Park and Woodlawn, and is the former president of University of Chicago’s Association of Black Alumni. Butler holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Chicago (UChicago), a master’s in Urban Life Learning from Loyola University Chicago and, most recently, a master’s from the UChicago Harris School of Public Policy.

His parents early on saw to it that young Prentice developed a healthy respect and affection for family, faith, and community. They rose at 4:00 in the morning to work the polls for every election, waking him when they left to say, “Your breakfast is in the refrigerator; you know what to do.” They pressed him to attend Hales Franciscan because his mom “loved what they do for the young men at that school,” Butler recalls. When he needed help with math, his dad sent him to the Calvert House Catholic Center on the UChicago campus for tutoring. He learned to seek out mentors and, later, looked out for young people to mentor. He knows what it means to ask for, and access, help.

Thanks to his considerable experience identifying needs and meeting them, Butler is a guy who can’t take a walk on the beach without someone tugging on his sleeve to say thanks.

During those Calvert House trips, he saw “an oasis of diversity in the middle of the city.” He saw the possibilities and made the most of them. That proved a critical step on his life journey.

Thanks to his considerable experience identifying needs and meeting them, Butler is a guy who can’t take a walk on the beach without someone tugging his sleeve to say thanks. Maybe they lost a job. Or lost their lease. Or took in an elder relative and needed Meals on Wheels. He listened, promised a call back, and usually came up with a solution.

Looking ahead, the new TNB executive director says, “Community support for The Neighborhood Bridge has been gratifying. Plans for the future are muscular. We will want to maintain the mindful approach taken thus far. Stepping up with dollars and hours will bring us closer to one another. It will generate the hands-on help and financial support needed for this worthy work.

“Momentum matters. Let’s get to it.”

Read Prentice Butler’s bio here.

Read Prentice Butler’s interview with the Wednesday Journal and the Austin Weekly.