Our Story
Founded by Charles McKenzie, Englewood First Responders emerged from a desire to transform the community of Chicago. After experiencing the challenges of youth in his early years, McKenzie established this organization to provide support and opportunities for at-risk individuals. EFR began shortly after the inception of his first anti-violence initiative, Cease Fire, at just 15 years old. Today, EFR is a beacon of hope, assisting community members with everything from fixing street lights to snow removal, and even patrolling events at the request of the Mayor's office.