| Speakers from May 2011 conf |
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This is the list of Speakers for the May 19-20, 2011 Conference: All of the speakers are volunteers who shared their time and knowledge to help volunteer-based tutoring and/or mentoring programs grow. While most of these speakers and the conferences focus on Chicago, we encourage people from other cities to attend and share their ideas while borrowing ideas to apply in their own communities.
Keynote Participants:
Thursday Morning Networking Session: 9:00am-9:30am Jordan Hestermann, Founder/Executive Director, Becoming We The People Jordan Hestermann is the Founder and Executive Director of Becoming We The People, a non-profit organization working toward ending poverty as a means of realizing equality through several initiatives. She received her bachelor's degree in management and marketing from DePaul University and will receive her MBA from California State University in December. She leads workshops and seminars regularly on leadership, networking, business-related topics, communication, poverty, racism, and more.
Thursday Afternoon Keynote Speaker: 1:00pm-1:30pm Phillip Jackson, Executive Director, The Black Star Project Phillip Jackson has dedicated his life to providing opportunities for and improving the life quality of others. Mr. Jackson is a living demonstration of what is possible with hard work, perseverance and dedication to a cause. During his career, Mr. Jackson has been Vice President and Director of Operations for one of Chicago’s oldest and largest chain of booksellers; President of EF/MS, a family run business; Assistant Budget Director for the City of Chicago; Chief of Staff for Chicago Public Schools; Chief Executive Officer for the Chicago Housing Authority; Chief for Education for the City of Chicago; CEO for Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago; and is currently Executive Director of The Black Star Project, which he founded, that is designed to help children and students realize their educational potential in life. Programs of The Black Star Project include the Fathers Club that connects men with their children; the Student Motivation Program that has provided more than 180,000 students in 220 Chicago-area schools with the inspiration and motivation to succeed in life; the Destination College Program that prepares 7th- through 12th-grade students for college success; the Million Father March that organized about 600,000 thousand fathers in 475 cities to take their children to school on the first day in 2008, and Parental Involvement Programs that help parents to become the first, best and most important teacher for their children. Mr. Jackson has received national attention for his work on eliminating the racial academic achievement gap. Recently, he was honored as the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative’s Ricky Birdsong Father of the Year Award for the State of Illinois, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Monarch Man of the Year Award in Education, the Operation Push Reclaim Our Youth Award, and the Bud Biliken Parade Education Man of the Year, the 7th Congressional District of Illinois’ Educator of the Year. He was also named as one of the Chicago Defender’s “50 Men of Excellence” and he received the 2008 Cook County State’s Attorney’s Community Hero Award. Mr. Jackson earned a bachelors degree in philosophy from Roosevelt University in Chicago. He has dedicated his life to educating Black, Latino, and poor urban children in the United States and he continues to take on larger and more challenging projects with a commitment to making the world a better place. Phillip Jackson has been an example of leadership for countless numbers of public and private employees and is a true “servant of the people.”
Thursday Closing Keynote Speaker: 3:00pm-3:30pm Daniel F. Bassill, President, Tutor/Mentor Connection
Friday Afternoon Keynote Speaker: 1:00pm-1:30pm Senior Pastor Andrew D. Singleton, Jr., Victory Apostolic Church Elder Andrew D. Singleton, Jr. is a devoted servant of God and family man who loves and ministers to the people of God. Elder Singleton was baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy Spirit in 1978 at the age of 27, at the Apostolic Church of God (ACOG) in Chicago, where Bishop Arthur M. Brazier was the Pastor and now his son, Dr. Byron Brazier is the pastor. He received his call to the Ministry in 1979, and has been preaching since 1980. Elder Singleton served in various capacities at ACOG. He was an Assistant Pastor, Director of the Ministerial Alliance, the Director of the Prison Ministry, a Marriage Counselor, and President and Founder of the ACOG Bowling League. He also worked for ten years in the Prayer Room and acted as a financial advisor to Bishop Brazier and other pastors. Elder Singleton is the founding Pastor of Victory Apostolic Church, which started in 1996 with twelve members. God has tremendously blessed Victory to grow to over 3,000 members and to relocate from Chicago Heights to Matteson in a recently completed $20 Million dollar worship facility with 2,500 seats. Elder Singleton was a District Elder in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (P.A.W.). He was also the head of the Pastor’s Alliance in Illinois and chaired the Annual Leadership Conference for the state. Victory left the P.A.W. in 2007 and formed the Victory Association to train church leaders across all Christian denominations. Elder Singleton holds a B.S. Degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In addition, he is also a Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP). He also took classes for five years at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and in 2002 received his Masters of Divinity Degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. Most of all, Elder Singleton cherishes his wife of 37 years, Brenda, who has a Masters Degree in Health Administration, and their three adult children Takara, Karena, and Andrew III, all of whom are saved, serve in the church and have completed their college degrees. They have also been blessed with three wonderful grandchildren.
Workshop and Panel Participants:
Brian Banks, Consultant BAC Partners works with nonprofits interested in partnering with business on community economic development and other projects.
Ed Bates, Director of Attendance Services and Dropout Prevention, Lake County Regional Office of Education Since November 1985, Ed Bates has worked for the Lake County Regional Office of Education, PASS (Positive Alternative Student Services) to keep students in school. Bates provides student support services to the students and school districts in Lake County. In addition to writing and receiving special grants to assist at-risk students in schools, he has implemented an in-school Career Development Center, summer jobs, Violence Prevention, life skills training, and truancy prevention programs.Bates is active in community services such as the United Way of Lake County, the Illinois Association for Educating At Risk Youth (ICEARY), Illinois Juvenile Justice Council, and former President of the Rho Tau Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He is also a 2005 recipient of the National Dropout Prevention Center's Crystal Star Award. He was also nominated and selected to serve on the NDPC/N's Executive Board. Bates is also responsible for the School Security Training project to help schools develop effective emergency and crisis response plans.
Christy Beighe-Byrne, Director of Mentor and Volunteer Services, Chicago Youth Centers Christy Beighe-Byrne has been in the volunteer services and mentoring field for the last ten years, working with youth at the Safer Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago, and presently at Chicago Youth Centers. Christy has a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from Post University and a Masters Degree from University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration.
Maya Gumirov, Coordinator of Family Strengthening & Mentorship Project, JCFS Maya Gumirov, MA, LPC, NCC, came to the United States from Russia, as a refugee, in 1995. With her extensive experience as a print and television journalist, she started to work for Chicago's Russian newspaper after two weeks of being in the United States. A year and a half later, HIAS Chicago noticed her knowledge of Chicago’s Russian community and she was hired as a caseworker and outreach coordinator. Maya has been involved in working with refugees and immigrants for more than 14 years and in the Refugee Healthy Marriage Initiative for the past five years. This year, Maya is involved with two new projects: The Smart Money Family Strengthening Project and Mentorship for refugees project. She is known as a presenter at the national and state-wide conferences. She is a Russian radio host and often talks about Immigration and Citizenship, refugee and immigrants' rights, Holocaust and Remembrance, parenting, financial literacy, mentorship for refugees and immigrants, and other topics. Maya completed a Master's program in Counseling at Argosy University (former Illinois School of Professional Psychology). She is Licensed Professional Counselor in state of Illinois and National Certified Counselor. Maya lives in Buffalo Grove, IL with her husband of 25 years, their three children, and her mother. She enjoys travel to exotic destinations, reading adventure and historic books, and spending time with her family.
Toinette M. Gunn, Executive Director, Partnership to Educate and Advance Kids (PEAK) Toinette McClellan Gunn is the current Executive Director for the Partnership to Educate & Advance Kids (PEAK), a non-profit scholarship and mentoring organization for at-risk Chicago high school students. Toi has over 12 years experience in recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers within non profit organizations. Toi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Michigan University in Criminal Justice and Sociology, a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Oakland University, is a candidate for a Ph.D. degree in Counseling Education from Oakland University, and is a Limited Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Michigan with a specialization in Mental Health. She has worked in the Human Service field and non-profit sector for 15 years, working in foster care, substance abuse therapy, child and adolescent mental heath therapy, low-income housing, and mentoring. Toi states that her educational studies and professional endeavors are aligned with her goal of breaking negative intergenerational cycles through educating, mentoring, enhancing, empowering, and improving resources and the quality of life of at-risk youth and/or lower income families.
Jordan Hestermann, Founder/Executive Director, Becoming We The People Jordan Hestermann is the Founder and Executive Director of Becoming We The People, a non-profit organization working toward ending poverty as a means of realizing equality through several initiatives. She received her bachelor's degree in management and marketing from DePaul University and will receive her MBA from California State University in December. She leads workshops and seminars regularly on leadership, networking, business-related topics, communication, poverty, racism, and more.
Jean Carter-Hill, Executive Director, Imagine Englewood if... Jean Carter-Hill is the Co-Founder of Imagine Englewood if... a Non-Profit Organization. She is a former Coordinator of One Church One School, Community Organizer, and mentor. Ms. Carter-Hill is a champion against lead poisoning in The Englewood Community where she has been active for 35 years. She organized a group of 30 high school youth in 2008 to address issues within the community.
Toinette M. Gunn, Executive Director, Partnership to Educate and Advance Kids (PEAK) Toinette McClellan Gunn is the current Executive Director for the Partnership to Educate & Advance Kids (PEAK), a non-profit scholarship and mentoring organization for at-risk Chicago high school students. Toi has over 12 years experience in recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers within non profit organizations. Toi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Michigan University in Criminal Justice and Sociology, a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Oakland University, is a candidate for a Ph.D. degree in Counseling Education from Oakland University, and is a Limited Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Michigan with a specialization in Mental Health. She has worked in the Human Service field and non-profit sector for 15 years, working in foster care, substance abuse therapy, child and adolescent mental heath therapy, low-income housing, and mentoring. Toi states that her educational studies and professional endeavors are aligned with her goal of breaking negative intergenerational cycles through educating, mentoring, enhancing, empowering, and improving resources and the quality of life of at-risk youth and/or lower income families.
Bernard Key, Technologist, Key Link Technologies Bernard Key, Technology Consultant for Key Link Technologies has been involved in the community and schools for the past 20 years. As a consultant, he was one of the lead project managers responsible for deploying wireless technologies in Chicago schools in the 90s. Mr. Key implemented, designed and deployed WIFI solutions for over 100 public and private schools and community centers. His wireless infrastructure design is now a standard for many of the inner city schools. As a result, students are not confined to the classroom, desk or building. During project deployment, Mr. Key recognized the need to implement technology, engineering, science and math in the inner city schools. To address the gap, Key Link Technologies (KLT) was born. KLT’s mission is to bridge the digital divide while mentoring our youth with opportunities. The company consists of two divisions –the technology group focuses on WIFI development, research and network solutions. The Engineering Group focuses on student technology enrichment programs. Students from kindergarten to college are engaged in robotics, RC (Radio Control) Engineering and WIFI deployment as well as other technology projects.
Rose Mabwa, Manager, Mercy Housing Lakefront Rose Mabwa is a Manager for Mercy Housing Lakefront Chicago whose mission is to end homelessness by creating stable, vibrant, and healthy communities while developing, financing, and operating affordable program-enriched housing for families, seniors and people with special needs who lack the economic resources to access quality safe-housing opportunities. As a manager for employment, Rose is responsible for leveraging resources through partnerships and collaborative efforts to help all Mercy 1,500 residents become employable. Rose also serves on the following boards or advisory committees: OPRF Food Pantry, YWCA, West side of Chicago, Dominican University student Community Outreach for Service Connectors and the Women’s. Rose is a C3 advocate, facilitating workshops to educate the community on environmental issues such as recycling, worm casting, and urban gardening and is the, President of Neighborhood Networks, Illinois Consortium chapter, and volunteers for Chicago Nonprofit Leadership workshops.
Scott McFarland, Resources and Information Manager, Serve Illinois Commission Scott hails from the Quad Cities area of Illinois and now lives with his wife, Amber, and daughter, Anastasia, in Springfield. Scott earned his Bachelor of Arts in History with a Teacher’s Certification from Western Illinois University in 2006 and his Master of Public Administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield in 2008. Scott has been a member of the Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service staff for the past five years. He currently serves as the Resources and Information Manager. This position has him overseeing Serve Illinois’ statewide volunteer programs, Illinois’ National Service Disability Inclusion grant, Serve Illinois’ AmeriCorps*VISTA program, the AmeriCorps LeaderCorps program, and www.Serve.Illinois.gov. An Eagle Scout and Scoutmaster, Scott takes great joy from camping, community service, and teaching. He also serves as a Member of the Springfield School District 186 Board of Education. In his personal and professional life, he continues to live by his motto, “better yourself by serving others.”
Bonni McKeown, Teaching Artist, Chicago School of Blues “Barrelhouse Bonni” McKeown is a historian and blues piano player. From Chicago to her home state of West Virginia, she has played and taught with local heritage musicians. She co-wrote Stepson of the Blues: A Chicago Song of Survival, the autobiography of blues drummer/ singer Larry Hill Taylor, and co-produced his debut CD They Were in This House. Her purpose is to maintain the healing art of blues music by giving back to the community and sharing it with new generations. www.barrelhousebonni.com www.stepsonoftheblues.com
Oliver Miller, Community Engaged Scholarship Coordinator/ Americorps VISTA, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) Oliver Miller is the Community Engaged Scholarship Coordinator/ Americorps VISTA at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP). When asked to find a way to expose his students to the use of technology in pseudo-therapeutic settings, his research connected him with Tutor/Mentor Connection. After invaluable conversations with various speakers and attendees, Oliver began a collaboration between TCSPP and Chicago Youth Centers (CYC). Now a year and half into its existence, students from TCSPP meet weekly via Skype with youth from CYC in a ten week program that recently received a small grant from DoSomething.org. Oliver runs various programming designed to provide students with relevant service-based experience while providing community partners with much needed capacity.
Joel Newman, Director of Community Partnerships, Big Brothers Big Sisters Joel Newman is currently serving as Director of Community Partnerships for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley. In this position, he is in charge of all volunteer recruitment, corporate and community relations and fund development within a three-county territory surrounding the Quad Cities.
Annette Phillips, Community Affairs Specialist, Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Annette Phillips is the Community Affairs Specialist at Illinois Student Assistant Commission (ISAC). ISAC is the state agency that administers scholarships, grants, and prepaid tuition programs for students wishing to pursue a college education. The agency’s mission statement is “to make college accessible and affordable for Illinois students.” In support of this mission, Annette engages professionals at schools, churches, government offices, and elsewhere that help students transition to college and works to increase financial aid awareness among students and their families by stressing the importance of active involvement from parents, and mentors, while keeping them informed of new developments regarding the college application process.
Jay Readey, Executive Director, Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc. Jay Readey is the executive director of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the public interest law consortium of Chicago’s leading law firms addressing a broad range of civil rights and economic justice matters. Before joining the Lawyers' Committee, Jay served as President and founder of the MetroAlliance, a consortium of entrepreneurial community change organizations including NeighborScapes, a nonprofit youth and workforce development organization, and MetroAlliance Consulting, Inc., providing strategy and grantwriting assistance to community-based nonprofit organizations. Jay was also a lawyer in private practice at Jenner & Block LLP and SNR Denton. He has a lifelong commitment to youth development organizations and mentoring programs.
Karen D. Royster-James, Director, Science and Math Learning Center, Columbia College Chicago
Jacquita Smith, Director of Operations & Programs, Camp of Dreams Jacquita Smith is the Director of Programs & Operations at Camp of Dreams, an educational and cultural enrichment non-profit organization for underserved Chicago youth. She is responsible for developing and implementing year-round programming for youths aged 8-18, as well as, supervising all operational and administrative functions for the organization. Jacquita has over 10 years of experience mentoring, advising, and counseling youth in non-profit and educational settings. In addition to providing direct services to youth, she is dedicated to helping non-profits expand their organizational capacity. Jacquita earned a B.A. in Journalism and a B.A. in Geography/Urban Planning from The University of Alabama before pursuing graduate studies in Urban Policy Studies/Non-profit Management from the Andrew Young School of Public Policy at Georgia State University. Having lived in the South her entire life, she recently moved from Atlanta, GA, to get a taste of Chicago. In her spare time, Jacquita still runs a girls mentoring program in her native Mississippi, volunteers at various organizations, and tries to adjust to people saying “you guys” instead of “y’all”.
Ron Song is the Interim Director of Annual Giving for the University of Chicago. He has been working in Direct Response Fundraising for the past 7 years. He has partnered with a mobile giving company to develop a plan to increase overall donor participation and track channel performance for future retention purposes. He has been with the University for over four years, but in that time grown the program from supporting 4 units to 18 units, schools, divisions, and programs.
Tekla A. Syers, Managing Partner, Ideation First Tekla Syers is a pragmatic, goal-oriented professional with 30+ years of progressively responsible experience in the non-profit sector and 15+ years of fundraising and public relations experience. Since February 2007, Syers has been a managing partner in Ideation First, a fundraising and management consulting company to non-profit organizations. From June 2001-August 2007 Tekla Syers worked at the Institute of Food Technologists, IFT. She began as Director of Foundation Development and advanced to become vice president and chief operating officer of the IFT Foundation. From 1997 to 2001, Syers was chief development officer for Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center. Prior to Aunt Martha’s, Syers held progressively responsible positions in midwestern Girl Scout Councils from 1977 to 1997, including the roles of director of educational services and director of communications and development. Syers holds current membership with Association of Fundraising Professionals, AFP-Chicago Chapter and has served on the board, executive committee and nominating committee. She has held the positions of AFP board secretary and chair of the Long Range Planning Committee. She currently serves on the AFP Peer Mentoring Committee as a coach to mentors and protégés; the board and executive committee of Blacks in Development where she serves as vice president; and the board and executive committee of Acts of Faith, a faith-based association of churches working to improve health status in African American communities, where she holds the office of parliamentarian. In addition to undergraduate work in sociology at the University of Illinois, Syers has received training from the William Glasser Institute, Indiana University School of Philanthropy, University of Chicago, Association of Fundraising Professionals, American Society of Association Executives, Illinois CPA Foundation, Motorola University, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and other professional organizations and local agencies. Syers became a certified Association of Fundraising Professionals Master Trainer in 2010. Syers has conducted trainings and workshops for local and national non-profit organizations, including the midwestern region and Chicago Chapter of AFP; Youth Network Council, Axelson Center-North Park University, Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, Chicago State University Foundation, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Mujeres Latinas En Accion; Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.; Blacks in Development; DuSable Museum of African American History Board of Directors and Hales Franciscan High School Board of Directors. Syers is a member of Christ Universal Temple and a licensed Universal Foundation for Better Living Teacher.
Miss Taj, Teaching Artist, Chicago School of Blues Miss Taj is an American dancer who teaches mind/body disciplines using holistic art and science. Working worldwide through foundations, corporations, private groups and neighborhood arts centers, she leads people to self-awareness through movement, toward healing and peace. On her journey, she has written four books: the beautifully photographed Final Feliz I and II: An Exploration in Human Communication, and her journal of travel insights on pursuit and achievement, RocStar. ("Final Feliz" is Portugese for “happy ending.”) Her new children's book is Twinklz Finds a Star, was released January 2011. www.misstaj.com www.finalfelizfoundation.org
Ylonda M. Ware, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Naelewa Counseling Services Ylonda M. Ware is currently a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor. Ms. Ware serves as Professional School Counselor at Charles Henderson Elementary School and as a Therapist for CLO psychological services for the past 10 years. Ms. Ware is currently finishing an M.A. in Educational Leadership and a Chicago Public School Administration Certification.
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