Perry L. Gunn is a nonprofit executive leader with extensive experience in youth development, neighborhood development, and community engagement. He recently retired as the Executive Director of Teamwork Englewood, a community-based organization that is organizing community stakeholders to make positive changes in Englewood. As part of his work at Teamwork Englewood, Perry Gunn led the creation of the Englewood Quality of Life Plan, II, a blueprint for advancing the community through working with five task forces, including education and youth, economic development and jobs, housing, health and wellness, and public safety.

Perry Gunn considers himself a youth practitioner that is committed to helping young people thrive in the world. Starting off as a professional youth worker with the Boys and Girls Clubs, Mr. Gunn created many viable opportunities for youth to grow socially and emotionally and helped thousands to advance their lives and careers. Perry Gunn is known for his ability to recruit and attract young people to the club, helping to increase overall membership by hundreds annually.

Gunn worked in the YMCA as a Youth Program Director, Executive Director and Vice President of Operations in Chicago. He is known for his ability to connect with the communities across the city and bringing quality programming to underserved neighborhoods. In addition, Perry Gunn developed a reputation in the YMCA for providing innovative programs that respond to community needs. For example, he started a community-wide tutoring program to address the reading deficits of community youth as well as a refrigeration repair program that created jobs for residents, but also brought back online working refrigerators for residents dealing with diabetes.

Mr. Gunn also held significant roles with the Chicago Youth Centers where he was Executive Director, Area Director and Regional Executive Director. He is known for his ability to mobilize volunteers and build dynamic relationships with the philanthropic community.

Perry Gunn holds a Masters of Art in Inner City Studies from Northeastern Illinois University. He is a member of the US Bank Community Advisory Committee and serves on the Leadership Council of Growing Home, a community-based urban farming group. Gunn is a fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago and served on Mayor Lori Lightfoot's transition team. ​