Partnerships & Initiatives

The Trust is a dedicated team of individuals who strive to make good happen every day. We are honored, challenged and inspired by the daily opportunities to help make change in our communities. We look forward to connecting with you.

Mural in Auburn Gresham neighborhood.
Photo: A Rahmann Statik mural in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood.

Community Desk Chicago

  • Ja’Net Defell

    Director for Community Desk Chicago

    Ja’Net Defell is the director of Community Desk Chicago, a program affiliate of The Chicago Community Trust. Community Desk Chicago leverages private market, philanthropic and…

Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance

  • Cyndi Bergstein

    Program Director for Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance

    Cyndi Bergstein is the communications/program director for Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance. She focuses on industry workforce partnerships and a variety of employer practice change initiatives.…

  • Matthew Bruce

    Executive Director for Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance

    Matthew Bruce is the founding executive director of the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance (CWFA). CWFA is the Chicago region’s workforce development funder collaborative, it invests…

  • Kylin Decker

    Program Director for Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance

    Kylin Decker is the program director for Employer-led Workforce Solutions at the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance. In this role, she serves as the convener of…

  • Adrian Esquivel

    Deputy Director for Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance

    Adrian Esquivel is the deputy director for the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance. In this role, working with a wide variety of stakeholders, Adrian oversees industry-sector…

  • Nadine Fields

    Administrative Assistant for Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance

    Nadine Fields is the office assistant for the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance. Within her role, she manages the administrative tasks such as scheduling, invoice/grants processing,…

  • Karen Riley

    Director of Financial Services Pipeline for Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance

    Karen Riley is the director of the Financial Services Pipeline (FSP) for Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance at The Chicago Community Trust. The FSP is an…

Elevated Chicago

  • Jannice Newson

    Coordinator for Elevated Chicago

    Jannice Newson is the coordinator for Elevated Chicago. She oversees administrative tasks, budgets, event planning, social media, and climate resiliency work.

  • Roberto Requejo

    Executive Director for Elevated Chicago

    Roberto Requejo is the executive director of Elevated Chicago. Requejo is an urban planner and a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practitioner. As Executive Director,…

  • Marly Schott

    Manager for Elevated Chicago

    Marly Schott is manager of Elevated Chicago, a collaboration of public, private and civic organizations promoting racially equitable development in Chicago neighborhoods, with a focus…

Illinois Justice Project

  • Prentice Butler

    Deputy Director for Illinois Justice Project

  • Ahmadou “Mo” Dramé

    Director for Illinois Justice Project

    Ahmadou “Mo” Dramé is the director at the Illinois Justice Project. Previously, he was the Housing and Community Development Policy Manager at the Metropolitan Planning…

  • Isabel Kennon

    Program Specialist for Illinois Justice Project

    Isabel Kennon is a program specialist at the Illinois Justice Project. Passionate about criminal justice and housing policy, Isabel found a niche in reentry housing.…

  • Kelly McNulty

    Program Coordinator for Illinois Justice Project

    Kelly McNulty is the program assistant for the Illinois Justice Project. Her work includes administrative support for the Illinois Reentry Council, Justice 20/20, and ILJP’s…

  • Heena Mohammed

    Program Manager for Illinois Justice Project

  • Annie Sweeney

    Communications Director for Illinois Justice Project

    Annie Sweeney is the communications director for the Illinois Justice Project. She joined the organization in December 2022 after covering crime, violence and policing at…

  • Donovan Williams

    Program Specialist for Illinois Justice Project

  • Paula Wolff

    Policy Advisor for Illinois Justice Project

    Paula Wolff is the policy advisor at the Illinois Justice Project. The Illinois Justice Project is a civic organization implementing policy initiatives and programs to…

Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Greater Chicago

  • Pilar Audain

    Associate Director for Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Greater Chicago

    Pilar Audain is associate director for Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation – Greater Chicago (TRHT), housed at The Chicago Community Trust. She is also founder…

  • José A. Rico

    Director for Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Greater Chicago

    José A. Rico is the executive director for Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Greater Chicago (TRHT). TRHT is a comprehensive, national and community-based process to…

  • Daisy Zamora

    Impact Coordinator for Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Greater Chicago

    Daisy Zamora is an impact coordinator for the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) initiative at The Chicago Community Trust.  Prior to joining the Trust,…

We Rise Together: For an Equitable & Just Recovery

  • Maryah Phillips

    Impact Coordinator for We Rise Together: For an Equitable & Just Recovery

    Maryah Phillips (she/her) is the impact coordinator for We Rise Together: For an Equitable & Just Recovery, an initiative at The Chicago Community Trust. In…

  • Christen Wiggins

    Program Director for We Rise Together: For an Equitable & Just Recovery

    Christen Wiggins is the program director of We Rise Together: For an Equitable & Just Recovery, an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust. In this…