Lamell McMorris
Founding Principal & CEO
Lamell McMorris is the founder and managing principal of Greenlining Realty USA, a comprehensive urban property redevelopment firm launched in 2016 in Dr. McMorris’ childhood neighborhood of West Woodlawn on the South Side of Chicago. Greenlining Realty USA is dedicated to reversing the historic effects of redlining in low-income communities by developing quality housing and vibrant commercial corridors. The firm creates pathways to capital essential for neighborhood investment, redevelopment, housing rehabilitation, and home improvement.
Dr. McMorris is also the author of The Power to Persist: 8 Simple Habits to Build Lifelong Resilience and host of the podcast The Power to Persist, where he engages changemakers, leaders, and innovators in thought-provoking conversations about resilience, justice, and transformative leadership.
In addition to leading Greenlining, Dr. McMorris currently serves as CEO of Phase 2 Consulting, a Washington, D.C.-based firm he founded in 2002. With the mission of helping clients navigate their enterprises for the greater good, Phase 2 provides strategic insight and external affairs services to Fortune 100 executives and national decision-makers across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.
A lifelong advocate for civil, economic, and social rights, Dr. McMorris serves on numerous nonprofit and college boards and volunteers with youth-focused and mentoring organizations, including the National Urban League, National Action Network, Rainbow/PUSH, and PGA REACH. Widely recognized for his entrepreneurial leadership and philanthropic vision, he has been featured in The Chicago Tribune, CNN, CBS This Morning, Chicago Agent Magazine, Crain’s New York Business, and Crain’s Chicago Business.
An influential fundraiser, Dr. McMorris has led his companies to raise millions for charitable causes nationwide.
Dr. McMorris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Society from Morehouse College, a Master of Divinity in Social Ethics and Public Policy from Princeton Theological Seminary, an Honorary Doctorate from Saint Augustine’s University, and a Doctor of Law and Policy from Northeastern University.
Through his work at Greenlining, Dr. McMorris continues to reimagine what’s possible for underserved communities, empowering neighborhoods to thrive for generations to come.
+ Education
- Northeastern University, Doctor of Law and Policy (2022)
- Princeton Theological Seminary, M. Div., Social Ethics and Public Policy Concentration (1998)
- Morehouse College, B.A., Religion and Society (1995)
+ BUSINESS & CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS
- Lyft Chicago City Works Council, Member
- Cook County Complete Count Census Commission, Commissioner
- American Red Cross, National Diversity Advisory Council, Chairman Emeritus
- American Heart Association, Greater Miami/ Ft. Lauderdale Board, Member
- Judicial Accountability Political Action Committee, Member
- Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Member
- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Life Member
- Morehouse College National Alumni Association, Member
- Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Committee, Member
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Member
- Washington Government Relations Group, Member
- Washington Board of Trade, Member
+ SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Greenlining Realty USA, Founding Principal, est. 2016
- Phase 2 Consulting (formerly Perennial Strategy Group), Founder & CEO, 2002-2021
- Perennial Sports & Perennial Law Group, Founder and CEO, 2004-2017
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Executive Director and COO, 2001
- Redeem the Dream March on Washington, DC, National Coordinator, 2000
- Chicago Urban League, Youth Development Initiative, Director, 1998
+ PHILANTHROPY & ADVOCACY
- Pete for America 2020, National Co-chair
- PGA REACH Board of Trustees, Member
- Morehouse College Board of Trustees, Member
- Miles College Board of Trustees, Member
- National Urban League Board of Trustees, Member
- National Action Network Board of Directors, Member
- Rainbow PUSH Board of Directors, Member
- Foundation for Progress in Journalism, Member of the Board
- The Crisis Publishing Company Board of Directors, Member
- Life Pieces to Masterpieces Board of Trustees, Member
- NAACP, Diamond Life Member
- NAACP National Board of Directors, Former Member
- Elmhurst College Board of Trustees, Former Member
+ SELECTED HONORS & AWARDS
- StreetWise & The Kaden's Family Foundation, 20 Most Inspiring Chicagoans of 2020
- National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, President’s Circle Leadership Award, 2018
- DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative, Making a Difference Award, 2017
- Saint Augustine’s University, Honorary Doctorate, 2017
- Aqua Foundation for Women, Aqua Ally Award, 2017
- Washington Government Relations Group, President’s Award for Career Achievement, 2013
- National Action Network, Keepers of the Dream Entrepreneurial Award, 2011
- Morehouse College, Homecoming Crown Forum, Keynote Speaker, 2011
- Children’s National Medical Center, Serving the Nation’s Children Award, 2011
- Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Remembrance Event Keynote Speaker, 2008
- StreetWise & The Kaden's Family Foundation, 20 Most Inspiring Chicagoans of 2020
- National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, President’s Circle Leadership Award, 2018
Elizabeth Thomas
Project Consultant
Elizabeth Thomas is a project consultant at Greenlining Realty USA. In this role, Ms. Thomas provides wide-ranging, high-level support on key internal and external priorities, and collaborates directly with the Greenlining Realty USA team on a variety of initiatives to help innovate and advance new processes, to form and accomplish project objectives, and to help implement the agency's events and outreach efforts successfully.
Prior to joining Greenlining Realty USA, Ms. Thomas served as staff assistant, then special assistant and scheduler, for United States Senator Bill Nelson. In those roles, she served as a liaison between the community and the Senator, working with the Senator's regional directors in the state to plan and develop effective outreach strategies. In his D.C. office, Thomas acted as an operations point person to ensure the smooth functioning of activities and processes for the Senator's daily matters.
A native of Tampa, Florida, Ms. Thomas is a University of South Florida alumna. Driven by her desire to engage in public policy impacting community development and sustainability in the Tampa metropolitan area, she was selected to participate in the USF College of Arts and Sciences Community Initiative's competitive Legislative Internship Program. Through that program and under the direction and leadership of a Tampa city councilmember, Ms. Thomas gained invaluable insight into the duties and responsibilities of local government and social activism – an experience she deems integral to her role in fulfilling the mission of Greenlining Realty USA.