Meet Brandi Price: A Voice for the People [Part 1]
Meet Brandi Price, an educator, entrepreneur, and creative leader dedicated to making a lasting impact in her community. As the Co-Founder and Lead Graphic Designer of CR8tv Design Technologies LLC and a Special Education Teacher and Learning Behavior Specialist with Chicago Public Schools, Price has built a career centered on service, innovation, and advocacy. Guided by faith, perseverance, and a passion for creating opportunities for underserved communities, she has overcome personal and professional challenges while continuing to pursue higher education, business leadership, and meaningful change.
Inspired Commitment to Serving and Investing in the Community
What has inspired my commitment to serving others and investing in my community is spending time outside of it and seeing both what we lack and what we are capable of becoming. I have always had a genuine love for my city, even when I did not feel that love was returned. Over the years, I learned that my responsibility to give back is not dependent on recognition, appreciation, or validation. I have a duty to reinvest in the community that helped shape me into the woman I am today.
People can say whatever they want about Kankakee, but I believe it produces some of the most resilient, talented, and special people in the world. I know this because everywhere I go, people often tell me that I am different. The truth is, this is simply who I am. The values, work ethic, strength, and determination that define me were cultivated by the city that raised me.
Kankakee toughened my skin, strengthened my character, and prepared me to navigate spaces that were not always designed for people like me. It taught me how to persevere, adapt, and continue moving forward despite obstacles. Because of that, I would be doing both myself and my community a disservice if I did not return that love through service, advocacy, and investment.
Efforts Needed to Create Lasting Improvements for Residents
First and foremost, people need to vote. Too many decisions are being made that directly impact our communities, yet many people are not exercising the rights and power they do have. If we want change, we have to participate in the process.
When it comes to education, I believe we need to take a hard look at the systems that are currently in place. Year after year, many school boards continue to produce the same outcomes while expecting different results. As someone who attended Bradley-Bourbonnais schools and now works in education, I have seen firsthand the disparities that exist between neighboring districts. How can two school systems located right next to each other have such vastly different resources, staffing, opportunities, and outcomes for students? Why do some districts have access to more qualified and certified educators while others struggle to attract and retain talent?
The answer is not simply to complain about these issues. We need more people willing to pursue higher education, leadership positions, and policy-making roles so they can sit at the tables where decisions are actually being made. Real change happens when people from the community are in positions of influence. The question is: how many people are actively preparing themselves to do that work?
Economically, our city faces challenges as well. Leadership matters, and elections matter. Too often, we know who candidates are before they take office, yet we fail to show up at the polls. Community leaders must also do a better job of creating spaces where residents can engage in difficult conversations productively and respectfully. We cannot solve problems if people do not feel heard.
Housing is another issue that deserves attention. Many neighborhoods have gone years without meaningful investment, leaving residents with aging homes and limited resources for improvement. At the same time, we continue to see licenses approved for more gas stations, liquor stores, and smoke shops while families are asking for resources that actually strengthen communities. Where are the youth programs? Where are the investments in neighborhoods? Where is the funding being allocated, and how is it benefiting residents?
