Cydni Polk Blocker serves as senior director of Community Life (CL) for The Community Builders, Inc. (TCB). She supports site staff in the Chicago and Mid-Atlantic regions and collaborates with TCB’s real estate development, property management and fund development teams.

Since joining TCB in 2011 as an education specialist, Cydni served in various roles, most recently as senior director of CL at TCB’s Bronzeville and Southshore communities. In this position, she provided resident-centered strategic approaches to create equitable pathways for resident and neighborhood success. Previously, Cydni served as senior manager of CL at Oakwood Shores. In this position, she led a team dedicated to creating pathways for residents to access opportunities focused on housing stabilization, youth development and education, asset building, community engagement, and senior services. Before that, Cydni served as senior CL specialist, increasing opportunities for resident engagement and helping residents achieve individual goals.

Before joining TCB, Cydni held roles at the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, Gary Comer Youth Center and Huntington Learning Center. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and holds leadership positions at both the chapter and Midwest regional level, focusing on social action and communications and public relations efforts. She is a published photographer.

Cydni holds a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Spertus College and a bachelor’s degree in English from Stillman College. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in organizational leadership from Concordia University. Cydni recently received the Trailblazer of the Year award for her work in youth development from the Chrysalis Program, an organization that fosters girls’ mentorship throughout Chicago.