Project advisory boards
Guided by two advisory boards at the executive and community levels, the Immigrant and Refugee-Led Capacity Development Network collaborates with the Office of Welcoming Centers and the larger Illinois Welcoming Centers network. In the initial phase, we worked with 17 community-based organizations that operate welcoming centers in Illinois.
Executive Advisory Board Heading link
The Immigrant and Refugee-Led Capacity Development Network established an executive board of nine high-level, service-sector leaders, experienced in serving immigrants and refugees. They provided valuable insights and resources in strategic planning.
Five board meetings, including one with the Community-Based Organization Advisory Board, were held between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2021. Training sessions by individual Executive Advisory Board members are available on the project website.
Ami Gandhi
Ami Gandhi
Senior counsel, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights
Claudia Diaz
Claudia Diaz
Associate director, Great Lakes ADA Center
Chris Zala
Chris Zala
Executive director, Northside Community Resources
Dana Rusch
Dana Rusch
Assistant professor of clinical psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago; director, Immigrant Family Mental Health Advocacy
Debra Watkins
Debra Watkins
John E. Marshal
John E. Marshall
Chicago Metropolitan/Northern Indiana Area Work Incentives SOAR/Homeless coordinator, Social Security Administration
Robin Jones
Robin Jones
Director, Great Lakes ADA Center
Nana Ahmed
Nana Ahmed
Founder and director, Leaders Academy
Francisco Alvarado
Francisco Alvarado
Administrator of operations, Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services
CBO Advisory Board Heading link
Each of the 17 participating community-based organization welcoming centers was represented on the board, which met five times between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2021. They came together as one voice to address the needs of immigrants and refugees around the state.
In these monthly virtual meetings, members provided input on the project’s priorities and strategies, which included:
- Expansion of access to services in Illinois by people in unserved or inadequately served groups, including immigrants/refugees and those living with disabilities
- Identification of materials, strategies and tools to address the needs of diverse communities
- Promotion of disability inclusion across participating welcoming centers
- Direct participation and input by key stakeholders.
CBO Advisory Board Heading link
Arab American Family Services
Akram Salman
Amal Abdallah
Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center
Kenny Martin-Ocasio
Maricela Marquez
Cass County Health Department
Audra Elam
Catholic Charities Waukegan
Xochitl Villareal
Miguel Nunez
Centro de Informacion
Cheryl Wilkins
Elizabeth Venegas
Family Focus
Michelle Ramirez
Yessica Arenas
Mariana Osoria
Cristina Campos
HANA Center
Taneka Jennings
Jennifer Brown
Latino Resource Institute of Illinois
Gustavo Colunga
Abel Ibarra
Mano a Mano Family Resource Center
Astrid Martinez
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Pablo Cruz
Puentes de Esperanza
Kristen Shinn
SAL Family and Community Services
Loredia Nunn-Dixon
Spanish Community Center
Veronica Gloria
Ana Campa Castillo
David Flores
VAI
Thuong Phan
World Relief
Troy Simpson
Amanda Nonnie
Xiiln
Sueylee Chang
Stephanie Gallegos
XiaoHong (Nina) Shi