Pastor Corey Brooks, the well-known Chicago faith leader and founder of Project H.O.O.D., joined Chicago’s Morning Answer to push back against government-centered approaches to solving violence and to share details of his bold new initiative: a 3,000-mile walk across America to raise $25 million for underserved communities.
Brooks was responding to comments made by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and local pastor John Hannah during a church event on the city’s South Side. Johnson touted a modest reduction in shootings over holiday weekends, attributing it to local leadership, while Hannah suggested that the city’s gun violence issues are primarily a federal responsibility. Brooks rejected both assertions.
“Government can legislate laws, but it can’t change hearts,” Brooks said. “What we need is better leadership and personal transformation, and that comes from the ground up—through churches, nonprofits, and communities willing to get involved.”
Brooks noted that Chicago already has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, yet violence persists. He argued the root causes are behavioral and cultural, not regulatory, and pointed to the daily efforts of organizations like his own in changing mindsets and offering alternatives to violence.
As for Johnson’s leadership, Brooks was blunt: “His leadership is faulty. It’s failing us.” He credited the decline in violent crime not to city hall but to the tireless work of grassroots organizations that intervene directly in the lives of at-risk individuals.
To expand the reach of that work, Brooks is undertaking a massive challenge: walking from New York City to Los Angeles, beginning September 1. Over the course of a year, he’ll walk 12.5 miles each weekday, aiming to raise $25 million to complete Project H.O.O.D.’s community center on the South Side, start a private school for struggling boys, and begin replicating the model in other urban areas.
The logistics are being coordinated by a dedicated team, with an RV and support vehicles providing transportation and shelter along the way. A live-streaming setup will allow supporters to follow Brooks in real time, and churches and civic groups are being invited to join and host events along the route.
The journey is not just about funding, Brooks emphasized—it’s a declaration of independence from government dependency. “We’re not asking for entitlements. We’re putting in the work and asking the American people to join us,” he said.
The pastor, who once gained national attention for spending months living on a rooftop to protest gun violence, says this latest challenge is a natural next step. With no government funding, Brooks sees creative fundraising as essential to long-term sustainability—and a powerful example for communities across the country.
Details and route information for the Walk Across America can be found at projecthood.org, where supporters can also learn how to participate, donate, or walk alongside Brooks for part of the journey.