About the Author
Behind Protecting a Dream is a life shaped by legacy, loss, travel, teaching, and a deep commitment to helping young people understand who they are and who they can become.
Dr. Gilo Kwesi Logan
Dr. Gilo Kwesi Logan is an author, educator, global traveler, and community leader whose life’s work centers on identity, leadership, and intergenerational storytelling. A fifth-generation Evanstonian, he is deeply rooted in the history, people, and values of the community that raised him - and committed to ensuring those stories are not forgotten.
He is the son of Chief William “Bill” Logan Jr., Evanston’s first Black police chief and the man entrusted with protecting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during two visits to the city. Growing up, Dr. Logan witnessed leadership not as an abstract idea, but as daily practice - lived through service, fairness, courage, and love.
Protecting a Dream was written to honor that legacy and to pass forward the wisdom of a generation that understood something essential: dreams do not protect themselves. They are protected through character, community, and conscious choices.
For more than 25 years, Dr. Logan has taught, consulted, and spoken with schools, universities, nonprofits, and organizations around the world. He has lived, worked, and learned in twenty-four countries, often alongside Indigenous communities where storytelling is not entertainment - but a source of survival, healing, and identity.
He is the founder of S.O.U.L. Creations, an arts-in-education organization dedicated to youth development through culture, history, and the arts, and a Fulbright-Hays Scholar with extensive experience in multicultural and culturally responsive education.
Today, Dr. Logan brings these lived experiences into his writing, speaking, and community work - bridging history and hope, truth and healing, past and future. Protecting a Dream is both a tribute to his father’s legacy and a call to action. It is part of a growing movement inviting young people - and all people - to see themselves as leaders, changemakers, and Dream Protectors, capable of carrying legacy forward with courage, justice, and love.
Dr. Gilo Kwesi Logan’s work at the intersection of identity, leadership, education, and cultural storytelling has reached audiences locally, nationally, and internationally. His voice and programs have been featured by major media outlets, educational institutions, philanthropic organizations, and community-centered initiatives committed to equity, leadership development, and social impact.
Trusted by Organizations. Featured in Media. Respected Worldwide.
Dr. Logan’s work has been featured in:
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Chicago Sun-Times
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Chicago Tribune
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Ebony Magazine
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Cosmopolitan
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ABC News Chicago
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CBS Chicago
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WGN-TV
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CLTV
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N’Digo
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Financial Survival Network
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Chicago Korean Radio Broadcasting Company
International media appearances include:
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Kia Ora FM (New Zealand)
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Radio Kledu (Mali)
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The Fiji Sun (Fiji Islands)
Dr. Logan has worked with and alongside:
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MacArthur Foundation
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McDonald’s Corporation
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American Bar Association
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Rotary International
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National Geographic Learning (Cengage)
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Northwestern University
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DePaul University
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Loyola University
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Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
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Global Youth Leadership Institute
Global & Community Impact
Over the past 25+ years, Dr. Logan has:
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Lived, worked, and taught in 24 countries
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Led cultural immersion, leadership development, and identity-based education programs internationally
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Designed and facilitated programs rooted in Africentric pedagogy, storytelling, music, and restorative practices
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Helped educators and organizations build culturally responsive, inclusive, and human-centered approaches to leadership and learning
This breadth of experience informs Protecting a Dream and the broader movement it represents - bridging community history, global wisdom, and youth leadership across generations.
My Journey
I didn’t always know I would become a writer. Growing up, I was a remedial reader and writer who needed additional academic support just to keep up. School did not come easily to me, and confidence came even slower.
I grew up in Evanston surrounded by elders who believed that stories mattered - stories about who we are, where we come from, and what we are responsible for carrying forward. I listened as they spoke about family members who marched for justice, served their communities, built businesses, taught children, and lived with integrity long before recognition ever came. Those stories planted seeds, even when I didn’t yet understand their power.
Still, like many young people, I lost my way.
As a young adult, I struggled - academically, personally, and spiritually. I hit rock bottom. I failed. I had to rebuild myself from the inside out. That rebuilding led me far from home and deep into the world. Over more than seven years, I lived and worked in 24 countries, often alongside Indigenous communities where storytelling is sacred and identity is collective. I hitchhiked, worked odd jobs, and endured hardship - including being lost overnight in the forest, surviving a plane crash landing, and battling multiple bouts of malaria. Along the way, I learned from people who valued connection, culture, and community over status or success.
Those experiences saved me.
They taught me that healing comes from knowing who you are - and that young people need real stories, not perfect heroes, to understand who they can become. Stories of struggle, resilience, accountability, and growth. Stories that help them see themselves clearly and imagine what’s possible.
When my father passed, writing Protecting a Dream became part of my healing. It was my way of honoring his life, processing loss, and ensuring that his values - and the history of our community - would not be forgotten. Writing the book allowed me to sit with grief, gratitude, and love all at once, and to transform them into something that could serve others.
This book is my offering.
And the Protecting a Dream movement is my commitment - to help young people develop identity, character, and courage, and to protect what matters most: their dreams, their communities, their identities, and the legacies they inherit.
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My Journey
For young readers
When I was your age, I didn’t think I would ever become a writer.
In school, reading and writing were hard for me. I needed extra help just to keep up, and sometimes I felt like I wasn’t very smart. My confidence grew slowly - but I kept going.
I grew up in Evanston surrounded by elders who loved to tell stories. They told stories about our family, our community, and people who stood up for what was right. They talked about marching for justice, serving others, building businesses, teaching children, and living with honesty and courage. Even when I didn’t understand it yet, those stories were planting seeds inside me.
Like many kids and young people, I lost my way for a while.
As I got older, I struggled. I made mistakes. I failed. I had to learn how to rebuild myself from the inside out. That journey took me far from home and out into the world. Over many years, I lived and worked in 24 different countries. I learned from Indigenous communities where stories are not just for fun - they help people heal, remember who they are, and stay connected to one another.
Those experiences changed my life.
They taught me that knowing who you are matters. They also taught me that young people don’t need perfect heroes - they need real stories. Stories about struggle, resilience, and growth. Stories that show it’s okay to fall, as long as you learn and keep going.
When my father passed away, writing Protecting a Dream became part of my healing. Writing helped me honor his life, remember his values, and make sure his story - and our community’s history - would live on for future generations.
This book is my gift to you.
And the Protecting a Dream movement is my promise - to help you believe in yourself, build your character, find your courage, and protect what matters most: your dreams, your community, your identity, and the legacy you carry forward.
Why I Wrote Protecting a Dream
I wrote Protecting a Dream to honor my father’s life and to ensure that his story, the wisdom of his generation, and the history of our community - was not forgotten. Growing up, I witnessed my father live his values daily: fairness, courage, service, and love for community. At the time, I didn’t fully grasp how extraordinary that example was.
After my father’s passing, writing this book became an important part of my healing process. It allowed me to reflect on his legacy and to transform grief into purpose.
Through seven years of global travel and living with Indigenous communities, I came to understand the vital role storytelling plays in shaping identity, resilience, and belonging. As an educator, parent, and community leader, I recognized how deeply young people need authentic stories - real examples of leadership, integrity, and service.
Protecting a Dream was written for young people, families, and educators who understand that dreams are sustained not by chance, but by character, community, and intentional action.
The book serves as the foundation of the Protecting a Dream movement, which inspires youth and adults to see themselves as leaders, Dream Protectors, and stewards of a more just and compassionate future.
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Why I Wrote Protecting a Dream
For young readers
I wrote Protecting a Dream to honor my dad and to make sure his story - and the story of our community - was not forgotten. Growing up, I watched my father live his values every day. He treated people fairly, stood up for what was right, and cared deeply about others, even when it was hard. At the time, I didn’t realize how special that was.
After my dad passed away, writing this book became part of my healing. It helped me remember who he was, what he stood for, and how his love still lives on through our family and community.
As I traveled to different countries and lived with Indigenous communities, I learned how important storytelling is. Stories help young people understand who they are, where they come from, and what they can become. As a parent and educator, I saw how powerful it is for kids to learn from real people and real examples.
Protecting a Dream is for young people, families, and teachers who believe that dreams don’t protect themselves. They are protected by courage, character, and community.
This book is part of the Protecting a Dream movement - an invitation for young people to become Dream Protectors and carry hope, justice, and love forward.
Credentials & Experience
Dr. Gilo Kwesi Logan brings together lived experience, scholarly training, global immersion, and decades of applied leadership work. His credibility is rooted not only in degrees and certifications - but in sustained impact across education, community development, cultural leadership, and identity-centered learning.
This blend of academic grounding and real-world practice informs everything he writes, teaches, and builds.
Education & Academic Training
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Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) - Adult & Continuing Education. National Louis University, Chicago, IL. Do
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Research focus: Racial & ethnic identity development, culturally relevant pedagogy, critical thinking
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Master in the Art of Teaching - Elementary Education. National Louis University, Chicago, IL.
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Focus: Learning styles, multicultural education, culturally responsive teaching
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Bachelor of Science - Business Marketing. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL.
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Focus: International Marketing
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Dr. Logan’s academic training grounds his work in research-based practice while remaining accessible, human-centered, and community-rooted.
Certifications & Professional Credentials
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Certified Family Life Educator - Chicago Public School’s Department of Instructional Support, Family Life Education Program
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Fulbright-Hays Scholar - Language, culture, and social transformation (Jamaica, West Indies)
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Certified Diversity Professional - National Diversity Council
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Certified Diversity Practitioner - Workforce Diversity Institute
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Member – Illinois Diversity Council
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Inductee – Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education
These credentials reflect Dr. Logan’s commitment to lifelong learning, ethical practice, and leadership excellence across diverse environments.
Higher Education & Teaching Experience
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Former Adjunct Professor, Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU)
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Justice Studies & African & African American Studies
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Courses include:
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Introduction to Diversity & Social Justice
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Race and Ethnic Relations
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Globalization and the Pursuit of Justice
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Introduction to Inner City Studies
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Former faculty, International Academy of Design & Technology
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Courses include:
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Interpersonal Communications and Human Relations
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Critical Thinking
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African Culture & Civilization
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Former faculty, Harper College – Multicultural Resource Center
For over 15 years, Dr. Logan has taught and mentored undergraduate and graduate students - connecting scholarship to lived experience, social responsibility, and leadership development.
Global Experience & Cultural Immersion
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Lived, worked, and studied in 24 countries across five continents
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Spent over seven years immersed in Indigenous and non-Western communities
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Faculty Leader - Alternative Spring Break Border Awareness Immersion Experience
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Participated in:
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Cultural immersion in West Africa, Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, Central and South America, the Middle East, the Caribbean
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African Summer Institute (NEIU)
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African Heritage Delegation to Israel & Palestine (Interfaith Peace-Builders)
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These experiences shaped Dr. Logan’s belief that storytelling, identity, and community are essential to human development - not optional extras.
Organizational Leadership & Program Development
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Founder & Executive Director — S.O.U.L. Creations
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An arts-in-education nonprofit blending music, storytelling, history, and identity development to empower youth.
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Led hundreds of school and community programs
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Reached thousands of young people through performance, curriculum, and workshops
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Designed Africentric, culturally grounded learning experiences
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President — Logan Consulting Services
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Provides leadership development, coaching, workshops, and consulting for:
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School districts
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Universities
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Nonprofits
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Law enforcement agencies
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Foundations and corporations
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Awards, Recognition & Media (Selected)
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RHOyal Educator Award
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Student Organization Advisor of the Year
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Indelible Mark Award
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Staff Award of Excellence
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Those Who Make a Difference Award
Featured in / Worked with (partial list)
Chicago Sun-Times • Chicago Tribune • Ebony Magazine • ABC News Chicago • CBS Chicago • WGN-TV • CLTV • N’Digo • Cosmopolitan • Financial Survival Network • Kia Ora FM (New Zealand) • Radio Kledu (Mali) • The Fiji Sun
Institutions & Organizations
MacArthur Foundation • McDonald’s Corporation • American Bar Association • Rotary International • National Geographic Learning (Cengage) • Northwestern University • DePaul University • Loyola University • Illinois Holocaust Museum • School districts, nonprofits, and community organizations nationwide
Why These Credentials Matter
Dr. Logan’s credentials are not about titles - they are tools.
They allow him to:
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Translate complex ideas into accessible learning
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Build trust across institutions and communities
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Bridge research and lived experience
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Design programs that honor identity, culture, and humanity
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Guide young people and adults toward purpose-driven leadership
This foundation informs Protecting a Dream and the broader Protecting a Dream movement - ensuring that stories of legacy, leadership, and justice are carried forward with integrity.
