On August 24, 2001, Mayor Richard Daley appointed Michael Ivers as a CHA Commissioner. Commissioner Ivers served as a Roman Catholic priest in Chicago for 27 years and was the pastor of St. Agatha Parish, pastor of Holy Family Church on Roosevelt Road and Dean of Deanery III-D West Side of Chicago.

Commissioner Ivers spent his active ministry in Chicago’s African American community and, while in North Lawndale, he was instrumental in bringing together bankers, community leaders and executives from Dominick’s to build a Dominick’s Food Store on Kedzie Avenue and Roosevelt Road. Mr. Ivers also helped bring together church leaders from various denominations, union leaders and community organizers to found United Power for Action and Justice, and worked with other community leaders to organize two tenant unions.

Mr. Ivers was also pivotal in launching S.A.F.E. (St. Agatha Family Empowerment), an award-winning program that combats gang activity through comprehensive family enrichment curriculum. Commissioner Ivers has served as chairperson of the Fantus Health Center Community Advisory Board, was a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow from 1990 to 1991, and a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International in 1999.

He was appointed by Mayor Daley as chairperson of the Lawndale Conservation Council in 1999, and is a member of State’s Attorney Devin’s Juvenile Competency Commission. Mr. Ivers is also currently the president of Goodcity (formerly known as MidAmerica Leadership Foundation).