About Us
Embracing Living Innovation
We believe housing is the foundation of every other good thing — health, work, family, and hope.
Ebony Shaw
Founder & Executive Director
I. AM. PHENOMENAL LLC
About Our Founder: Ebony Shaw
This started with a plate of food and a promise.
"My passion has always been for people. I know in my heart that this is the calling God placed on my life and what I was put on this earth to do. I find so much pure joy in being able to assist someone, lift them up, and make a real, lasting change in their life."
Leadership rooted in love, service, and faith.
Ebony leads I. AM. PHENOMENAL with the conviction that every person deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated. Her work blends hands-on outreach with structured supportive housing — meeting immediate needs while building long-term pathways to stability.
People | Places | Possibilities Stronger Lives. Brighter Tomorrows.
Her Journey
Chicago born. World raised. Called back home.
Ebony was born in Chicago and raised in Dallas, attended school in Germany, graduated high school a year early, and returned to Chicago for college. Coming home, she saw a harsh reality she could not look away from: neighbors taking shelter under cold viaducts, without stability and without dignity.
She also noticed what "help" usually looked like — a brown paper bag with cold cuts, a bag of chips, a piece of fruit, and a bottle of water. Grateful, but never enough. So in 2019 she began pouring directly into the Chicago area with a different standard.
That same spirit now drives the organization's expansion into Northwest Indiana — giving back to the community while providing stable, dignified housing across all five programs.
"I noticed your crown was tilted and wanted to remind you, you have a purpose. Hold your head up and readjust your crown."
— Ebony Shaw
Called to serve, committed to restoring dignity
The Heart of I. AM. PHENOMENAL
A higher standard of care.
Ebony made it imperative that I. AM. PHENOMENAL serves hearty, home-cooked hot meals — the kind of nourishment our unhoused neighbors rarely get day to day — always paired with comprehensive toiletries, hygiene essentials, and personal care necessities.
That standard of unconditional respect and dignity is what fueled our growth into supportive housing — expanding from Chicago into Northwest Indiana so neighbors don't just receive a meal, but a roof, peace of mind, and a path forward.
A brown paper bag
Cold cuts, chips, a piece of fruit, a bottle of water.
A hot, home-cooked meal
Hearty plates served with warmth, plus toiletries and hygiene essentials.
A handout
Passing through, no name, no follow-up.
A roof and a path forward
24+ beds across 4 residences, case management, and a community that knows your name.
"I noticed your crown was tilted and wanted to remind you, you have a purpose. Hold your head up and readjust your crown."
— Ebony Shaw
A reminder that dignity is never lost — only waiting to be reclaimed. We help every neighbor straighten their crown and step forward with pride.
Our Founding Journey
From community outreach to supportive housing
- 2019
A passion becomes a mission
Back home in Chicago and unable to unsee neighbors sheltering under viaducts, Ebony Shaw founds I. AM. PHENOMENAL.
- Chicago
Pouring in, hands-on
Hot meals served curbside, essential supplies distributed, and trust built block by block across the Chicago area.
- Today
From outreach to housing
Five housing programs — County, VA (Veterans), Senior, Independent Living, and Sober Living — with 24+ beds across 4 residences.
- Next
Northwest Indiana & beyond
Expanding into Northwest Indiana to keep giving back and to open more doors to stable, dignified housing.
Who We Are
The team behind the mission
Leadership and volunteers who show up on the sidewalk, in the kitchen, and at the front door of every home.
Our Pillars
People | Places | Possibilities
People
Dignity first. We listen before we plan, and every resident shapes their own path.
Places
Safe, clean, inspection-ready homes that feel like home — not an institution.
Possibilities
Housing is the start. Jobs, recovery, benefits, and reconnection are the destination.