Tio Hardiman

Tio Hardimon is director of gang mediation and community organizing for Cease Fire, a Chicago-based anti-violence group dedicated to reducing shootings and homicides among young people.  Hardiman grew up in Chicago’s Henry Horner housing project and had to drop out of Hirsch High School in order to work to support his family.  Through persistence, he earned his bachelors and masters degrees from Northeastern University.  He then worked for the Chicago Alliance for Neighborhood Safety, and later Bethel New Life, in support of community efforts to reduce crime in Chicago.  His recent efforts at Cease Fire have helped reduce shootings by more than 40 percent in key neighborhoods.