Alumni Spotlight: Ciere Boatright—Part One

Alumni Spotlight: Ciere Boatright—Part One
Commissioner, City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development
LINK Alum, LINK Board Member, Former LINK Mentor

Ciere Boatright has come a long way since her years as a LINK Scholar. As a proud LINK Alumna, she is also a former LINK Mentor and a current LINK Board member—as well as serving as the commissioner for the Department of Planning and Development for the City of Chicago!

Ciere’s primary takeaways as a LINK Scholar were the power of having a village around her and the power of education. She believes education is the greatest equalizer! “Students from underserved neighborhoods who are brilliant, who have great families and so much promise, just need some additional support and resources,” she said. “Those tools were a game changer for me, as well as the emphasis on education and excellence—work hard and stand out from the crowd. I remember summer school when all my friends were sleeping in. I remember the ACT and SAT prep. Looking back, I think it definitely separated us as LINK Scholars from others. We were focused, diligent, determined, and we had our eye on the prize. I think instilling those really important characteristics and that strong work ethic in teenagers is a game changer, and I know it served me well.”

Ciere first became a LINK Mentor when she was only 22 years old. After graduating from Hamilton College, she didn’t have the financial means to give to LINK the way she wanted to, but she had the time, energy, and passion to be a Mentor. Her older sister had also been a LINK Scholar, and for Ciere’s first mentoring experience, the two of them mentored a set of twins together. “We both mentored two sisters,” she remembered, “and it was an awesome experience. I learned so much as a Mentor. It was a joy to be able to pull up my sleeves and give back. The one thing I can’t state enough is that this is a reciprocal relationship. You’re not just giving back to young people; they’re giving you so much—their perspective, their passion, their energy. I can give them insight into different career paths, but I would argue that I always gained as much if not more from my students than they gained from me.”

Obviously a strong proponent of mentorship, Ciere attributes much of her success to having amazing mentors around her. “I still benefit from it today,” she acknowledged. “From a mentorship standpoint, it’s not just career and school guidance, it’s life skills and help in navigating tough times. It’s really having someone to say, ‘I see you; I’ve got your back; let’s figure it out together.’ It feels amazing, and I think our young people need that.”

“I still have a great relationship with the husband and wife couple who served as my LINK sponsors and Mentors,” she added. “I love and adore them and they feel like family to me. A decade later, they were at my wedding!”

Having such an appreciation for LINK and all that the organization did for her made Ciere want to do more, and that’s why she became a Board member. “I was intimately familiar with LINK and the positive impact it has on the students,” she said, “and I think it’s important to say I was a Scholar, then a Mentor, and now a Board member. LINK is really a powerful organization, and when I look back to my teenage years, I recognize that LINK is exactly what I needed. Now, serving as a Board member is just a different way that I get to interface with LINK. For me, it has come full circle, and it’s a privilege to be on the Board for LINK as we keep inspiring one another and making a difference for these Scholars. These kids are stars, and they deserve our time, effort, and investment.”

Learn more about Ciere’s life journey and career path in the June issue of the LINK newsletter.