Kamilah Jarvis, Founder & President was blessed with the vision to start the organization in 2002.  Having worked in education and non profit for a number of years she witnessed the effects of low income communities being faced with limited choices after graduation. 

Ms. Jarvis is a graduate of the University of Illinois and graduate student at Chicago State University.  She has previously worked with The Boys & Girls Club, TRIO Programs, Educational Talent Search, Youth Outreach services and taught in Chicago Public School System.  Her time and life are devoted to seeing youth excel to heights that they could not have imagined.  Not only has Ms. Jarvis developed a career in education, but her free time has consisted of countless hours as a Girl Scouts Leader, Children & Youth Ministry Worker, Chicago Urban League - Metro Board member and volunteer with Rainbow PUSH Coalition.  Her passion for youth and communities to grow are simply the results of what she’s witnessed by working in and with communities across Chicago. 

The Village Foundation of Illinois is an organization that can only exist if everyone plays a part in developing youth.  We believe in the cycle of giving. The Village Foundation of Illinois’s main focus is to assist youth to encourage youth to accept responsibility for their education, social awareness, and promote economic empowerment. 

The Village Foundation of Illinois chooses to be the catalyst that changes communities and society. We can only exist if everyone plays a part in developing youth.  We believe in the cycle of giving, people give to us so that we can give programs & scholarships to youth, scholarship recipients and professionals give time as mentors to other youth.  Hence the youth who receive learn the importance of giving.  How can an organization whose primary purpose is to give back, teach essential tools and motivate people to reach their dreams, not be a success.