About Diane Latiker

The mother of eight children, "Ms. Diane" has the children refer to her, is a 24 year resident of the Roseland community on the far south side of Chicago. She founded Kids Off The Block, Inc. (KOB) in her home in July of 2003. Ms. Latiker was given this vision through her mother Evangelist Ruth Jackson. Ms. Jackson, saw that the youth in the neighborhood liked and respected her daughter. Looking at the children that were always at her home, Ms. Diane saw health professionals, doctors, lawyers, professional musicians, professional sports figures, politicians, and actresses, and the list goes on. Ms. Diane believed that she could make a difference in the community, and in the many youth that she came in contact with daily. She became encouraged and opened up her home to get these young people off the streets and involved in programs that would benefit them for the rest of their lives. KOB started out with ten neighborhood kids, and now has impacted thousands of lives. "Some say our youth is a lost generation, I don't believe that to be true. I Diane Latiker, Founder and President of Kids Off The Block organization think differently, I have heard the voices and they speak of hope and love. Through forms of compassion, love, and guidance this generation can be led to discovering a spectrum of opportunities and become positive leaders in our communities".

  • CNN Top Ten Hero 2011

  • CNN Hero of the Week in April 2011

  • NAMED TO MAYOR-ELECT RAHM EMMANUEL TRANSITION TEAM (PUBLIC SAFETY) 2011

COALITIONS / PARTNERSHIPS:

  • H.O.P.E (HELPING OUR PEOPLE ENDURE)

  • ROSELAND SAFETY NETWORKS COALITION

  • COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

  • CAPS

  • JISC – SUVENILE INTERVENTION SERVICES

  • WINDY CITY CARES

  • NEHEMIAH PROJECT-YOUTH COMMITTEE CHAIR

  • GREATER ROSELAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE YOUTH

  • COMMITTEE CHAIR

AWARDS:

  • IIFWP - AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE

  • EBONY/PINE-SOL – WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE

  • METHODIST YOUTH SERVICES – EERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION

  • THE BLACK STAR PROJECT – STUDENT MOTIVATIONAL PROGRAM

  • PASTORS NETWORK OF ILLINOIS – COMMUNITY SERVICE

  • COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY – VICTIM SERVICE AWARD

  • SUN-TIMES NEWSPAPER (AUGUST 2008) ONE OF 50 PEOPLE WHO MAKE CHICAGO A BETTER PLACE

  • LEWIS HINES AWARD (NATIONAL CHILD LABOR COMMITTEE)

  • GLOW AWARD

  • FOUNDER DIANE LATIKER WAS 1 OF 3 PEOPLE HONORED ON ANDERSON COOPER (CNN) FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

  • DIANE LATIKER RECEIVED THE EPHRAIM BAHAR COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD IN JULY 2010

  • DIANE LATIKER WAS FEATURED ON WCIU CHANNEL 26 (THE U) AS ONE OF CHICAGO'S POWERFUL WOMEN FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH FEBRUARY 2011

  • DIANE LATIKER RECEIVED THE MARION N'ZINGA STAMPS AWARD AT THE BLACK HERITAGE AWARDS IN FEBRUARY 2011

  • DIANE LATIKER HONORED WITH AN "UNSUNG HERO AWARD" COOK COUNTY PRESIDENT'S OFFICE IN MARCH 2011

  • DIANE LATIKER WAS CNN HERO OF THE WEEK IN APRIL 2011
    YOUTH ADVOCACY AWARD / FENGER HIGH SCHOOL / PRINCIPAL ELIZABETH DOZIER

  • DWAYNE WADE FOUNDATION "VILLAGE KEEPERS AWARD" IN AUGUST 2011

  • FESTIVAL OF THINKERS IN DUBAI (UAE) NOVEMBER 2011

  • CNN TOP 10 HERO IN SEPTEMBER 2011

  • LOU RAWLS COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD

  • COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD (ALLSTARS PROJECT)

  • RED CROSS "COMMUNITY IMPACT" AWARD 3-15-12

  • ETA "RESURRECTING SPIRIT and RECLAIMING COMMUNITY" Award 9-8-12

  • Essence "Style and Substance Award"

MEDIA:

  • N'DIGO MAGAZINE

  • CITIZEN NEWSPAPER (3TIMES)

  • CHICAGO DEFENDER

  • CHICAGO SUN-TIMES NEWSPAPER

  • CHICAGO TRIBUNE (METRO AND MAGAZINE)

  • THE FINAL CALL

  • THE CHICAGO COMMUNICATOR (2 TIMES)

  • CLTV NEWS (3 TIMES)

  • FOX NEWS (2)

  • WGN CHANNEL 9

  • ABC-7 (3 TIMES)

  • CBS NEW YORK

  • KKC RADIO

  • CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY RADIO

  • CNN (4 TIMES)

  • BET

  • THE GAURDIAN (LONDON)

  • THE VOORKANT (NETHERLANDS)

  • EBONY MAGAZINE

  • WYCC (CHANNEL 20)

  • BLACK ENTERPRISE MAGAZINE (TV)

  • WTTW CHANNEL 11 (NEED TO KNOW SERIES)

  • WCIU CHANNEL 26 (THE U)

  • GOSPEL TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER

  • AL-JAZEERA TV (WASHINGTON)

  • WASHINGTON TIMES

  • NEW YORK TIMES

  • MICHAEL BAISDEN SHOW

  • GARY CRUSADER NEWSPAPER

  • BLACK AMERICA (TOM JOYNER)

  • WINDY CITY LIVE

  • CNN TOP 10 TRIBUTE AWARDS SHOW DECEMBER 2011