A Chicago pastor is walking cross-country to raise $15 million for a community center in the Englewood neighborhood, and he’s on the move again after making a brief stop in his hometown. Cold water in tow, Pastor Corey Brooks headed out from his New Beginning Church on Chicago’s South Side Wednesday. He is headed to southwest suburban Joliet. 

Fed up with all the violence in his neighborhood, Brooks set out in June to walk from New York City to Los Angeles to draw attention to street violence and raise funds for a community center.

“Those hills in Pennsylvania were ridiculous and the rain in Ohio was pretty tough - then we had a heat wave come through. We faced a little food poisoning and a couple dogs here and there,” Brooks said. “It’s been challenging but every one of the challenges, we still met them head on. We’re going to be committed regardless of what we face.”

Brooks said his fondest memories are of the thousands of people willing to support and walk with him on his journey. He said he’s raised $650,000 from walking. The pastor previously camped on the roof of a crime-ridden motel across the street from his church for three months. The motel was later demolished. 

Pastor Brooks hopes to reach Los Angeles by October.