Eva Maria Lewis

Human rights advocate and activist Eva Maria Lewis founded the Free Root Operation (FRO) in 2015 while she was still in high school. As founder and executive director, she works to intercept poverty-induced gun violence in Chicago through community programs that invest in the healing and empowerment of the Black and Brown communities. Through educational resources and food-pairing programs, Lewis has delivered customized grocery orders to more than 500 families and has raised thousands of dollars for her community.

Lewis continues to be a strong advocate for social justice issues such as intersectional feminism, anti-gun violence, and community justice. She has received numerous awards for her community work, including the Reebok Human Rights Award, the Pioneer Award from the Chicago Foundation for Women, Princeton Prize in Race Relations, and the Rising Star award from the DuSable Museum of African American History. In 2016, she participated in the United Nations’ 60th Annual Commission on the Status of Women in New York. That same year, she spoke at the U.N. again for International Day of the Girl Child, performing spoken word during the opening of the event; in addition, she gave a speech during the proceedings. In 2023, she was also named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Local - Chicago list for the impact she and her work have had on the city.