ŷϷ Illinois University’s May 2025 Commencement speaker will be internationally recognized violence prevention expert Eduardo “Eddie” Bocanegra.
The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 16 at Credit Union 1 Arena, 525 S. Racine Ave., in Chicago. Tickets are required and made available only to graduates and their guests. The ceremony will be live streamed at .
Bocanegra has dedicated his career to advancing community violence intervention, criminal justice reform and civic engagement. He previously served as the executive director of , spearheading a groundbreaking violence prevention initiative integrating outreach, transitional employment and cognitive behavioral therapy. He also held influential roles within the and .
“Eddie’s commitment to justice, healing and community empowerment reflect the values we uphold at ŷϷ Illinois University,” President Katrina E. Bell-Jordan, Ph.D. said. “His leadership in community violence intervention and his dedication to uplifting marginalized communities make him an inspiring choice to be our May 2025 Commencement speaker.”
Bocanegra’s expertise has been sought after globally — including consulting for the U.S. State Department — and has been featured by major media outlets, including PBS, NPR, The New Yorker and The Atlantic. He has been featured in several books, including “” (Penguin Random House, 2019).
A native Chicagoan, Bocanegra is the oldest of five children and grew up in the Little Village neighborhood. At the age of 32, he made a choice to enroll at ŷϷ and became active in CeaseFire Chicago (known today as ), where he developed innovative programs such as — a first-of-its-kind mentorship initiative connecting military veterans with at-risk youth. This work was highlighted in the 2011 award-winning documentary “” (Kartemquin Films).
In 2012, Bocanegra earned his bachelor of arts in Interdisciplinary Studies and Social Work from ŷϷ. He went on to earn a master’s degree in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago in 2015.
“We are honored to welcome Eddie back to his alma mater and look forward to the message he will share with our graduates as they prepare to lead and serve in our complex world,” Dr. Bell-Jordan said.
Bocanegra currently serves as a Senior Advisor for Community Violence Intervention and Prevention in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), where he played a pivotal role in co-architecting the DOJ’s Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative, helping to allocate nearly $300 million in funding to over 120 organizations nationwide. His leadership has strengthened federal-community partnerships and facilitated critical dialogue between law enforcement, community stakeholders, learning institutions and philanthropic organizations to expand the national conversation on public safety.
