As you know, Chicago South Side is home to the most powerful man in the United States, President Barack Obama. It is also home to  many men that people should know, but they don’t.

Thus, it is a great honor to introduce you to men that are doing wonderful things in their homes, communities and workplaces.

Check out the The 16 Most Powerful Men on the South Side in 2014. Also, click on the red links below to visit the websites of these gentlemen.

STEVE BELLINGER

Steve Bellinger was born and raised in Chicago by a single mom who encouraged her kids to read. This is how he discovered Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke and the other masters of classic science fiction. It didn’t take long for him to get the itch to write.

Over the years he has written everything from newspaper articles, comic strips and radio drama to short stories and fan fiction. Steve’s stories usually involve ordinary people, and appeal to more than just sci-fi fans. His new book, THE CHRONOCAR, was selected as the August 2015 Book of the Month by the Black Science Fiction Society.

An alum of the Illinois Institute of Technology, Steve has worked in technology for over 40 years, from cable and satellite TV to computers and the Internet. He worked as a freelance webmaster for many years, creating websites for notable organizations, including the web portal for the Chicago Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Steve is a diehard Trekkie. He and his wife Donna will be celebrating their tenth anniversary with a vow renewal ceremony in full Star Trek style.

ANTHONY “TONY” BRISCOE

Known as The Endurer, ANTHONY BRISCOE is one of the most prolific Spoken Word artists in Chicago and a member of P.O.E.T.

He is also passionate about young people which is evident by his service at work, church and the community. At work, he serves as the Technology Director for one of the largest charter school networks in Chicago. An ordained minister at the Apostolic Church of God, Tony teaches Sunday School and leads the Youth Ministry. In the community, he is a spoken word coach for students at schools on the south side of Chicago. Lastly, he is a mentor in the C.H.A.M.P.S mentoring program at Gary Comer College Prep, recipients of the 2015 White House Film Festival award.

Tony is a member of a devotional writing team and is preparing to publish his first poetry book entitled Drops of Ink: Trials of the Endurer. His first volume will contain a summation of life experiences, some personal and some through encounters with other people. His gift of speaking has positioned him as a highly sought-after motivator for young people and business audiences, including Chicago Public Schools Boeing International.

ERIC “E.B.” BRYANT

Multitalented Chicago native Eric Bryant, better known as “E.B.”, is a singer, actor and entrepreneur in the entertainment industry. He is also a member of the legendary R&B soul group, The Notations.

His musical journey began in the ‘80s when he joined a church choir in Chicago, where he learned how to sing and fuse spiritual and emotional elements into his singing. Inspired by greats such as Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Curtis Mayfield, Ronald Isley and Donny Hathaway, Eric’s musical style is a combination of R&B, Jazz and Neo-Soul.

Eric has been featured on the big screen and on stage. He had a cameo role in the indie film, It Soothes the Soul, and a feature role in Pathways of Life, a film featured at the 2012 Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles, California. His stage performances include a starring role in the stage play, When You Cry, I Cry; one of the Temptations in A Tribute to the Motown Greats; and Preachin and Creepin.

In 2010, Eric founded RISTO ENTERTAINMENT, an entertainment company specializing in Neo-Soul and R&B music, and E.B. Getting It Publishing, a songwriting and music publishing company.

JOHN A. COOK

John A. Cook is a community activist and entrepreneur who owns the BRONZEVILLE COMMUNITY CLUBHOUSE and Bronzeville’s Mattress By Appointment. His 30 years of sales and marketing experience helped shape his mind for business.

Prior to an illustrious sales career, John worked as a social worker and recruiter for Life Source Blood Services where he honed his interpersonal skills and developed his passion for his community.

Over the past 15 years, John has served as the President of the C.L.U.B., where he uses the Bronzeville Community Clubhouse for block club meetings, social events and after school programs for Wendell Phillips Academy. He helped start and sustain the Wendell Phillips Parent Patrol. Its program success evolved into the Chicago Public Schools Safe Passage Program where over 600 people are employed and thousands of youth are protected from violence at their schools. In 2012, he chartered the Bronzeville Little League that serves 150 youth.

John quietly goes about his work as Deacon John for the Archdiocese of Chicago and can be found preaching every other Sunday. He also fulfills another passion as the host of The Black Catholic Initiative, a weekly radio show that airs every Tuesday at 9am on 950am.

ROBERT FLETCHER, SR.

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Robert Fletcher, Sr. has been playing baseball since he was five years old as a member of Jackie Robinson Little League. He was fortunate enough to make all-star teams every year.

In high school, he was an All City baseball player and was offered scholarships to several universities. He selected Grambling State University and excelled on the baseball field, earning All SWAC and team MVP in 1995. Robert received several offers to play professionally in the Independent League after college but declined them to get a job so he could take care of his son who was born in his junior year. He’s now the father of five.

With the help of his mentor, he was blessed to get a job with Chicago Public Schools. Immediately his former coach at Simeon High School named him the Head Sophomore Coach of the baseball team. Under his leadership, his teams won the 2000 City Championship and the 2012 Varsity Championship.

In 2007, he started working as a coach and the Coordinator of College Placement for the Chicago White Sox ACE Program. He has helped send over 200 students to college on baseball scholarships.

MELVIN HAYES

MELVIN HAYES is a driven individual with global aspirations. His work thus far is a testament to his passion for business management and product branding. As a business development executive at Cavenger Agency, he was instrumental in recreating brand images for a number of NFL players.

Having set his sights high at the start of his career, Melvin is currently the founder of Up World Inc., NFP. His organization will provide international and multicultural experiences for 150 entrepreneurial high school students. He has raised an endowment of $150,000 which will help send students overseas to connect with other entrepreneurs and companies.

Prior to starting his organization, Melvin founded a program with a mission of increasing high school graduation rates, college attendance and graduation rates of black males at a local community college. Under his leadership, high school graduation rates increased by 30%.

Today he travels around the world working and speaking with innovative organizations that are committed to improving the lives of people in the communities they serve. As a result of his great community service, he was a Champions of Change honoree at the White House this year.

DOMETI PONGO

A true jack of all trades, DOMETI PONGO is a radio personality, journalist and poet. He is the news director at WVON 1690AM and can be heard every morning from 6am to 12pm. Prior to working in broadcasting, he put his economics degree to use as a business analyst for a Fortune 500 corporation.

Even so, his heart has always been with the arts and finding ways to use his resources to aid underserved communities. Dometi has worked on several service-oriented projects in the Metro East area. He was the youngest math and science counselor for the Upward Bound Program in East St. Louis. Additionally, he has made significant literary contributions to the culturalfront.org and the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE) Black Studies Program, including donating a Malcolm X inspired poetry project that continues to fund the program’s initiatives.

Dometi’s work as a mentor within the Goal-Oriented African American Men Excel Program at SIUE earned him the esteemed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award in 2009. He’s building a legacy in Chicago by mentoring the next generation of broadcasters at the Illinois Media School through his work as Program Director for WindyCityUnderground.com.

OLATUNJI OBOI REED

An active cyclist for over ten years, Olatunji Oboi Reed rides at the intersection of community, culture and health. As the President & Co-Founder of the SLOW ROLL CHICAGO (Slow Roll) bicycle movement in Chicago, he is most proud of his efforts to create partnerships between people, organizations and businesses to build an equitable, diverse and inclusive bicycle culture in the city. Slow Roll is utilizing bikes and the activity of cycling as vehicles for social change, contributing to reducing violence, improving health and creating jobs.

Olatunji Oboi was the recipient of the 2015 Transportation Champion of Change award by The White House and the United States Department of Transportation.

Prior to Slow Roll, Olatunji Oboi served as the Regional Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility & Community Affairs at Nike and the Vice President & Director of Community Relations at Citibank. He studied Economics at Roosevelt University and continues to study the Health Economics of Candomble traditional healing in the African-Brazilian population of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

GLENN REEDUS

A tour of the Chicago Tribune newspapers in the mid-1960s sparked Glenn Reedus’ interest in newspaper reporting and today he continues that childhood dream as an independent journalist. His journey from typewriters to terabytes created opportunities for the St. Ignatius College Preparatory School graduate to work as a reporter, metro editor and online editor at daily newspapers in Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio and Michigan.

Although he’s been working as a reporter full time since 1975, and despite covering thousands of stories, the most poignant moment in his career was when he began working as executive editor of the Chicago Defender. He had the honor of working at the same desk that was used by John Sengstacke, the founder of this historical publication. Reedus’s first job with a weekly newspaper was at the Chicago Crusader where he served as managing editor from 2011-2015.

In the mid-1980s, Glenn shifted from newspapers to work as the public information officer for the City of Pontiac, Michigan. He was also an adjunct professor at Michigan State University. Additionally, he has earned fellowships from the University of Missouri-Columbia for economics reporting and the Newspaper Association for America for newspaper website development and marketing.

He is husband to Michelle Thomas-Reedus and father of three sons.

REV. DR. MARC A. ROBERTSON

Rev. Dr. Marc A. Robertson lives in the south side neighborhood of Chatham. He is a dedicated community servant who values the legacy of Chatham and strives to sustain a quality of life which fosters peace, unity, safety and harmony for all businesses and residents. This is why he accepted the position of President of Chatham Avalon Park Community Council on August 10, 2015.

He is dedicated to speaking the truth and standing firm in the face of opposition. His power and strength comes from God. Rev. Dr. Marc believes firmly that “If God be for us, who can be against us” and that when people in a community unite, positive change occurs.

Rev. Dr. Marc put these beliefs into action when he gathered residents to stage a boycott against a local gas station, and later assembled them to vote unanimously to prevent a pawn shop from coming into the community.

This brother of Omega Psi Phi fraternity holds a Bachelor of Arts from Kent State University; Masters of Arts in Religion from Trinity International University; and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary.

 ELVIS SLAUGHTER, SR.

Elvis Slaughter, Sr. is a retired law enforcement manager with more than 30 years of experience in criminal justice and law enforcement. He is a security consultant, an auditor for the American Correctional Association and former president of the Illinois Academy of Criminology. Early in his career, he served as an intern investigator with the Cook County Public Defender’s Office.

Since his retirement, Elvis has worked in several positions in elementary and high schools as a certified staff member, public safety officer and parent liaison, teaching parenting skills to parents and recruiting professional people with a desire to inspire youths to excel in school and life. He also enjoys mentoring young people.

Elvis holds a Master’s in Criminal Justice and Corrections, a Bachelor’s in Law Enforcement/Board of Governors Program and an Associate’s in Electronic Engineering. He has taught criminal justice and corrections at the college level as a part-time instructor.

Throughout his career, he has received many awards; held no-salaried board and administrative positions with nonprofit organizations such as the NAACP and Citizen’s Alert; and has published five books.

Elvis is married and dad of three successful adult children.

MITCHELL SMITH

Working his way up from children’s library associate through four Chicago Public Library branches, Mitchell Smith is currently the Branch Manager of the Whitney Young Library located in the heart of the Chatham community, a neighborhood near and dear to his heart.

In his current position, Mitchell developed the Meet the Author Spring and Fall Series which spotlight local authors. He also partnered with several organizations and businesses to stay abreast of what’s happening different neighborhoods.

During his 30-year tenure, Mitchell has been awarded over $50,000 in grants to implement children programs at the library. He’s also received several scholarships and awards for professional and community service, including being nominated for the 2007 Chicago Public Library Librarian of the Year Award. In addition, he’s a member of several professional associations and has led organizations and committees as Chairman.

Mitchell received his Bachelor of Science Fine Arts from Southern Illinois University and Masters of Library Science from Rosary College.

LORENZO YOUNG

Lorenzo Young is a third generation Bronzeville resident with a great passion for telling the Bronzeville story. A graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he is a recipient of the Rochelle Lee Award, a nominee for the 2014 Chicago Innovation Award and has taught in both public and private schools.  Lorenzo connects with both students and their families through his Family History Project and Parent Storytelling workshops. The Family History Project aims to encourage students to develop an interest in their ancestry, while parents learn to create family legends and become family storytellers.

He has been a docent for Chicago Trolley and Double Decker city tours, Shoreline Sightseeing lake tours and the Bronzeville Visitors Information Center tours. His professional affiliations include: The National Storytelling Network, The National Association of Black Storytellers, The Chicago Association of Black Storytellers, The Bronzeville Historical Society, The Bronzeville Alliance, and The Black Metropolis Convention and Tourism Council.

On a mission to bridge gaps and strengthen generational ties, Lorenzo interviews prominent contributors to the Chicago community as co-host of the Let the Elders Speak radio show on www.UrbanBroadcastMedia.com, which airs 11am CST.