Keana Lindo’s journey into leadership is rooted in her lived experiences, her deep love for her family, and her unwavering commitment to her community. A proud mother of four children, ages 27, 23, 22, and 20—Keana has watched two of her children graduate college while the younger two have recently begun their own college journeys. Her dedication to building a better future for her family reflects the same passion she brings to her work every day.
Growing up in Cabrini-Green and moving to the south side of Chicago at 18, Keana understands firsthand the challenges many families face. Her path into organizing began while volunteering at Donald L. Morrill School. What started as simple volunteer work quickly turned into something more when she became involved in parent mentor meetings and parent cafés with the school principal. Through those spaces, she was introduced to the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) and saw the impact they were making.
“I had seen that SWOP was doing a lot of good in the community, and they had a lot of resources that I was interested in,” Keana said.
Her first major campaign was advocating for driver’s licenses for undocumented residents—a cause that hit close to home after she was struck by a vehicle driven by someone without a license. She also became involved in SWOP’s reclaiming efforts, spoke publicly at events, and helped fight for the expansion of healthcare access through the All-Kids program to ensure all children receive Medicaid. Her leadership continued to grow as she served on SWOP’s Strategy Team for three years.
Keana’s commitment opened doors to new opportunities. She became a Parent Mentor Coordinator at Gage Park High School and Claremont Academy, then served as a Teen Reach Coordinator and later supervised contact tracers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each step strengthened her leadership and deepened her sense of purpose, ultimately leading her to her current role as a Case Manager with SWOP’s Community Violence Intervention team, Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P).
In her role today, Keana works directly with participants to help them rebuild their lives. She connects individuals to housing, job opportunities, legal aid, counseling, and other critical resources.
“This work is necessary because a lot of people don’t know where to go when they want to get out of the streets,” she said. “When people get out, they are worried that they won't be able to get a job, and we make sure we connect them with pathways that are friendly to those backgrounds.”
Though she initially viewed the position as job security, Keana quickly realized it was something much deeper.
“This is not hard work, this is heart work—to quote Rafi,” she said. “You have to have empathy and sympathy to do this work, and you have to have patience and understanding. I’ve had participants call me at 9pm, and I made sure they were met with the care that they needed in those moments.”
Her passion for helping others is also deeply personal. As a survivor of domestic violence herself, Keana knows the fear, isolation, and uncertainty survivors face. When she began working with participants who were also survivors, she was struck by how difficult it was to find safe housing and support.
“When you come from that background, you feel discouraged and like no one understands, which can lead to going back to their abuser or ending up on the streets,” she said. “I want to be able to say, ‘I got you,’ and ‘This is what we’re gonna do,’ so they never have to face the worst-case scenario.”
Determined to make a difference, Keana started a Domestic Violence support group and continues working toward her vision of bringing resources together under one umbrella so survivors can find the help they need more easily.
“We need more inclusion, and when I say that, it means that all people matter,” she said. “No matter what background they come from, they should be treated with the same courtesy and respect that you would treat anyone else. Think about the community as a whole.”
Today, in addition to her work, Keana is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in social work, continuing to grow both personally and professionally.
Keana’s story is one of resilience, compassion, and purpose. From a parent volunteer to a leader supporting some of the most vulnerable members of her community, she embodies what it means to grow through service.
