Chanel Phillips, Ph.D. is a community psychologist and culturally responsive, equity-based evaluator.  Chanel holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Doctor of Philosophy in Community Psychology from National Louis University-Chicago. Currently, Chanel is the Director of Operations for a local non-profit located in the South Side of Chicago’s Englewood community. Chanel is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Brainerd Family Network, an organization created to increase the quality of life among residents in Brainerd, which is also on Chicago's South Side. Previously, Chanel served as an evaluation fellow at the Center for Disease Control in the Division of Adolescent and School Health. Chanel has also worked with organizations such as the Resident Association of Greater Englewood (R.A.G.E), True Star Foundation, National Hip Hop Political Convention, Hales Franciscan Alumni Association, Focus on Unity Not Defeat (F.O.U.N.D), Joshua D. Kershaw IB World School, The Leadership Lighthouse and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Her highest reward is being a wife and mother of two, yogi, and dog grandmother to Tyson and Stormy Phillips.

CHRISSY JONES founded the “Neighborly Connect” non-for-profit organization with the mission to serve the soul and spirit of the Auburn Gresham community. Chrissy's prior experience includes teaching in Auburn Gresham at CICS Ralph Ellison High School, where she developed after-school programs that successfully resulted in consistently higher grade-point averages, as well as a healthier approach to peer pressure and lifestyle choices. Currently, within the community, Chrissy assists with managing a non-for-profit early learning center, serves as a partner of the Neighborhood Network, and is a member of her blocks club organization in Auburn Gresham where she resides with her three amazing children who were born and raised there. 

CRYSTAL WALSH is a program evaluator with experience in assessing and improving the effectiveness of educational programs.  With a background in research methodology and data analysis, Crystal has worked with a wide range of organizations, including government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions.  Crystal is currently finishing a masters in Measurement, Evaluation, Assessment and Statistics at University of Illinois at Chicago. She also holds an MBA from Northwestern, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from National Louis. Her passion for utilizing evidence-based practices to drive change has been a driver in her career.

FAKELIA GUYTON is an experienced early childhood teacher, administrator, and community psychologist supporting communities in collective wellness, empowerment, collaboration, and social justice centering racial equity. She is leveraging her 21 years of learning and service through her consultancy with strategic planning to early childhood program leadership. In 2022, she became a GEDI Scholar at the American Evaluation Association where she will learn to integrate the Culturally Responsive and Equitable (CRE) evaluation framework in her practice

Priscilia Sossah is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor's in Community Psychology and Graphic Design. With a deep passion for social justice, she actively uses her education and skills to foster positive change. As a NASPA certified peer educator, she is committed to empowering others, drawing support from the lessons she’s learned to support her peers and community. Her design work currently highlights the significance of Black women's natural hair, using her creative talents to celebrate identity and heritage. With two art awards and a solo exhibition under her belt Priscilia continues to work towards her goal of channeling her passion for psychology and design into meaningful social impact.

RAPHEL JACKSON spent the majority of his life incarcerated (16 years old - 43 years old) and frequently begins with that information as it contextualizes how he came to appreciate the importance and value of community member-based evaluation. Raphel was introduced to the discipline of evaluation while incarcerated. He learned it to be a critical tool in resisting and challenging standards, practices, and policies imposed on groups of people by power structures. He believes that all of the following are liberating: the process of helping communities and the organizations that serve them; learning to identify and articulate the issues that impact communities and organizations; learning how to collect and utilize data to support narratives of personal experiences in the search for solutions according to their  experiences, values, and expertise.

SCOTT NOBLE spent his teen years growing up in the Englewood/Auburn Gresham area of Chicago, where he attended private school. He also experienced abuse by his father. Leaving home at a young age, Scott faced numerous incarcerations, substance abuse, mental and physical health challenges. After hitting rock bottom, Scott started a non-for-profit male trauma outreach team. Scott's goal is to give back and offer HOPE. 

SHANYA GRAY has been on faculty at Moraine Valley Community College since 2015. She is an Associate Professor and Counselor who was born and raised on the island of Barbados. At the college, Shanya is known as an equity champion, as well as a faculty leader, chairing several committees including the Faculty Union Anti-Racist Task Force and Scholarship Committee. Prior to being on faculty at Moraine, Shanya worked to improve the mental wellness of hundreds of marginalized children and families on the West side of Chicago, through treatment and advocacy, as well as house close to 100 unhoused mentally ill individuals from the streets of Chicago. She has over 17 years of experience working with mentally ill individuals, teaching, training and consulting in theareas of psychology, career development and diversity, equity, and inclusion.Shanya is an  emerging Community Psychologist, pursuing her PhD in Community Psychology.  She is the founder of the Beverly/Morgan Park Juneteenth Family Festival in 2019, an annual community festival with thousands in  attendance. Shanya has trained hundreds of individuals and led dozens of workshops in topics pertaining to Anti-Racism, Black Heritage and Diversity and Equity. She is the 2020 recipient of Moraine Valley’s Celebrating Diversity award and is co-author of the diversity chapter in the textbook entitled Strategies for College  Success. Finally, and most importantly, Shanya is the proud mother of two handsome boys, Elias 13 and Asher who is 8 years old.