The Quest for the American Dream: Growing Up Nigerian in Chicago

Join us as Temitope D. Creppy, a young Nigerian Immigrant, shares his experience of coming to Chicago in pursuit of the “American Dream.” His family arrived full of hope and ambition but without a clear map of what success would look like or how to achieve it.

Temi’s story blends personal experience with broader social, political, and cultural insights. Join him as he reflects on the culture, resilience, and community of West African life on Chicago’s North Side. His talk will explore how identity, migration, and community shape the pursuit of opportunity in America. We all will leave with a deeper understanding of what it means to chase an often uncertain, complex, and evolving dream.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Temi came to Chicago with his parents Kehinde and Olamide Creppy as a four-year-old. He attended Rogers Elementary School and grew up playing basketball at Warren Park. As a high school student, he benefited from an Empower Illinois scholarship and a Schuler Scholar gifted program. Those opportunities led him to Howard University, where he graduated in 2025 on the pre-med track.

While attending Howard, he completed research internships with the Harvard Medical School, the University of Chicago and UCLA. He has been recognized for his work with the American Cancer Society, the American Association of Biological Anthropologists, the American College of Cardiology and the UNCF E.E. Just Biomedical Scholar program. His sickle cell research has even contributed to advancing legislation in the Maryland House of Delegates. Temi is now engaged in a fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, with plans to attend medical school in the future.

This event is free and open to all, but capacity is limited. Register in advance to reserve your place.