Oji Eggleston was placed as the executive director of The Renaissance Collaborative (TRC), located in Chicago’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood. Founded by a group of passionate community leaders in 1992, the nonprofit community-based social impact organization is dedicated to promoting self-sufficiency through an innovative and comprehensive network of supportive housing, employment, and educational services. TRC manages 172 apartment units, including a 71-unit senior housing facility; to date, the organization has secured employment for approximately 1,200 low-income residents, developed and provided housing for over 400 homeless residents, provided affordable housing for over 120 low-income senior residents, and conducted outreach to over 10,000 residents in low-income communities. In his role, Oji will partner with the board of directors and staff to steward and grow the mission and impact of TRC, executing strategic plans and annual goals and objectives, and ensuring strong financial oversight and high-quality operations and services.
Oji comes to TRC from Chicago Survivors, Inc., an organization dedicated to the empowerment and healing of victims of crime. As executive director, Oji diversified funding streams and created a new strategic plan in the face of the COVID pandemic, revamped the organizational structure to meet existing needs and anticipated growth, expanded the scope of the board, and enhanced marketing; he was also a thought leader and political advocate across the state.
Previously, Oji served as a program director with Near West Side Community Development Corporation, for which he helped implement a community transformation plan to empower Chicago Housing Authority residents, and he was the founder of Legacy4ME, which purchased and rehabbed single- and multi-family homes in underserved Chicago neighborhoods. Oji began his career as a sales representative for Merck & Co. Pharmaceuticals. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Xavier University in New Orleans, and an MBA in marketing from the University of New Orleans.
Originally from the South Side of Chicago, Oji enjoys yoga and traveling in his spare time. He is also very active in professional and community activities.
