Dr. Amanda Henderson

“Amanda Henderson, Ph.D., is a serial entrepreneur, real estate developer, and philanthropist who has founded or funded 6 pioneering companies and organizations. Dr. Henderson is a strong believer in social impact and economic empowerment within under-resourced neighborhoods. As an entrepreneurial executive, Amanda is the President of H & H Fast Properties, a development company focused on positively impacting neighborhood economics by creating jobs and access to quality homes and commercial properties. Amanda has most recently initiated the Buy Back the Block/Buy Back the Business program.

She operates H&H headquarters in the Chatham neighborhood. There she has created a community coworking space for entrepreneurs and early-stage investors. Dr. Henderson regularly hosts home buyer seminars, as well as aid in carpentry training programs. She has partnered with Chicagoland Prison Outreach, MAAFA, Lebron Group Home, and Lawndale Christian Development Corporation in collaboration with the former United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Additionally, Dr. Henderson serves on Desire to Aspire’s Mentoring Program board of directors and the Executive Director of the I Am Youth Training Center.

Prior to entrepreneurship, Dr. Henderson held academic lecture positions at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), the Morton Arboretum, and DePaul University in the Biological Sciences department, along with several years as a National Science Foundation researcher.

A native Chicagoan, Dr. Henderson is a proud Chicago Public School graduate. She has a BS from DePaul University and earned her doctorate degree from UIC. In her spare time, Dr. Henderson enjoys hiking, traveling, and natural history.