This document introduces staff members for various youth programs in different Chicago communities. It provides brief biographies for each staff member, including their name, background, interests and a quote. The staff members include instructors and assistant instructors for programs related to technology, arts, education and community development.
Are you a young woman age 12-20 with an idea to improve your school, community, country, or world? Youth Venture is ready to support up to ten Twin Cities teams in taking action. We'll give you support and up to $1,000 to get started!
Are you a young woman age 12-20 with an idea to improve your school, community, country, or world? Youth Venture is ready to support up to ten Twin Cities teams in taking action. We'll give you support and up to $1,000 to get started!
University of New Hampshire: President's Commission on the Status of Womenguest1c37f1
University of New Hampshire:
President's Commission on the Status of Women, 26th Annual Awards Celebration.
"Lifting As We Climb" - Celebrating the Achievements of Women at University of New Hampshire.
March 25, 2010
Cele
The Schools Foundation’s purpose is to bridge together
community leaders, the business community and our schools. We support the Huntsville City, Madison City and Madison County school districts by providing enhanced professional development and learning opportunities for our principals and teachers which directly
impacts student success. These opportunities are made available through community philanthropic support. In 2015, we will continue to strive to deepen support for education
with the goals of increasing public awareness, commitment and engagement for our schools which, in turn, strengthens our community.
The Youth AfriCamp provides a forum that allows the participating youth to showcase their work in their respective regions. In addition, the camp includes training segments that will allow youth to acquire skills in creative social messaging techniques that they can apply to their work. The YI sees added value in convening the AfriCamp to not only act as facilitator and sponsor, but most importantly, to raise the profile of the work young people are doing under challenging conditions.
Bridge 2019: A gathering for North Carolina's futureMolly Osborne
From April 28-30, 2019, philanthropists, educators, policymakers, and community leaders gathered in Greensboro to understand the work to be done and the work being done to orient all of our students, educators, and leaders towards readiness and attainment. This program outlines the agenda for Bridge.
“Youth-led Tech | Summer 2015” is a technology mentoring program in five Chicago neighborhoods: Austin, Englewood, Humboldt Park, North Lawndale, and Roseland. As part of this program, we’re teaching various classes on digital skills. We’ve open sourced our curriculum through a series of blog posts.
This is the PDF Version of the file
University of New Hampshire: President's Commission on the Status of Womenguest1c37f1
University of New Hampshire:
President's Commission on the Status of Women, 26th Annual Awards Celebration.
"Lifting As We Climb" - Celebrating the Achievements of Women at University of New Hampshire.
March 25, 2010
Cele
The Schools Foundation’s purpose is to bridge together
community leaders, the business community and our schools. We support the Huntsville City, Madison City and Madison County school districts by providing enhanced professional development and learning opportunities for our principals and teachers which directly
impacts student success. These opportunities are made available through community philanthropic support. In 2015, we will continue to strive to deepen support for education
with the goals of increasing public awareness, commitment and engagement for our schools which, in turn, strengthens our community.
The Youth AfriCamp provides a forum that allows the participating youth to showcase their work in their respective regions. In addition, the camp includes training segments that will allow youth to acquire skills in creative social messaging techniques that they can apply to their work. The YI sees added value in convening the AfriCamp to not only act as facilitator and sponsor, but most importantly, to raise the profile of the work young people are doing under challenging conditions.
Bridge 2019: A gathering for North Carolina's futureMolly Osborne
From April 28-30, 2019, philanthropists, educators, policymakers, and community leaders gathered in Greensboro to understand the work to be done and the work being done to orient all of our students, educators, and leaders towards readiness and attainment. This program outlines the agenda for Bridge.
“Youth-led Tech | Summer 2015” is a technology mentoring program in five Chicago neighborhoods: Austin, Englewood, Humboldt Park, North Lawndale, and Roseland. As part of this program, we’re teaching various classes on digital skills. We’ve open sourced our curriculum through a series of blog posts.
This is the PDF Version of the file
By Laurenellen McCann. Edited by Daniel X. O’Neil.
Experimental Modes of Civic Engagement
in Civic Tech is an investigation into what
it means to build civic technology with, not for, real people and real communities. It answers the question, “What’s the difference between sentiment and action?”
The project was conducted by Laurenellen McCann, and it deepens her work in needs- responsive, community-driven processes for creating technology for public good.
This is a project of the Smart Chicago Collaborative, a civic organization devoted to improving lives in Chicago through technology. It was funded by a Knight Community Information Challenge Deep Dive grant given to The Chicago Community Trust by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Three years of organizing, writing, and documenting in Chicago civic tech at the Smart Chicago Collaborative.
By Christopher Whitaker
Edited by Daniel X. O'Neil
Christopher Whitaker was a consultant to the Smart Chicago Collaborative,
a civic organization devoted to improving lives in Chicago through technology, from 2012 to 2015. Smart Chicago focuses on increasing access to the Internet, improving skills for using the Internet, and developing meaningful products from data that measurably contribute to the quality
of life of residents in our region and beyond.
Together, we created a new job type— part documenter, part organizer, part evangelist, part original writer and thinker about an emerging subsector of the technology industry— civic tech.
Presentation and meeting guide for the first Connect Chicago Digital Skills Road Map Working Group hosted at the Chicago Community Trust on September 9, 2016. This working group formed out of conversations from the Connect Chicago Meetup events. Find out more about the Meetup at http://meetup.com/connectchicago
On Monday, November 7, 2016, Smart Chicago Collaborative held the first CUTGroup Collective Community call. The goal of the CUTGroup Collective is to convene organizations and institutions in cities to help others establish new CUTGroups, create a new community, and share and learn from one another. For our first community call, we want to highlight CUTGroup Detroit’s story. Over the last few months, a collaboration across multiple entities invested in Detroit– the City of Detroit, Data Driven Detroit, and Microsoft– recruited for and conducted their first CUTGroup test. On our first call, the team involved will talk about their successes and challenges in building CUTGroup Detroit.
Slides were created by the CUTGroup Detroit team, which includes the City of Detroit, Data Driven Detroit, and Microsoft.
This is a report I prepared about the user testing, redesign, traffic, and usage stats for www.chicagoearlylearning.org.
Lots of details-- good info for developers, project managers, and people interested in stats on civic innovation projects.
For our twenty-fourth Civic User Testing Group (CUTGroup) session, we tested OpenGrid– an open-source interface developed by the City of Chicago that allows residents to search for, interact with and visualize City of Chicago’s datasets.
For the 28th Civic User Testing Group (CUTGroup) test, Smart Chicago Collaborative tested the redesigned homepage of the City of Chicago’s Open Data Portal. The Open Data Portal allows users to find resources and various datasets regarding the city of Chicago. The City of Chicago Department of Innovation and Technology is working with Socrata to redesign the Open Data Portal, focused currently on the homepage, to be more user-friendly while representing multiple data and technology initiatives and applications created with open data.
This is a great primer for any municipality, community foundation, nonprofit, and/or civic tech outfit that is interested in replicating the Smart Chicago model.
As smart cities embrace and deploy innovative technology embedded in public spaces, residents voices need to be represented. To prevent disconnect between residents and their city’s technology, broad engagement is key — not only to inform residents of innovations, but to take inventory of public concerns and questions associated with them.
The purpose of this report is to describe the civic engagement and resident feedback collection process associated with a new Internet of Things (IoT) initiative in Chicago: The Array of Things. This report outlines the methods, decisions, and philosophies that went into this effort to increase Chicagoans’ engagement and involvement with smart city technology. Since the deployment of Internet of Things is so timely for cities around the world, we’ve shared the lessons we gleaned from our work. We hope this information can be of service to similar projects in other cities.
Mla Format Essay Title Page. Mla Title Page Template - Online Cover Letter Li...Bobbi Antonacci
Sample Title Page In Mla Format The Document Template - Riset. mla-format-cover-page | Cover page template, Research paper cover page .... Sample Pages in MLA Format | Essay cover page, Essay title page .... Mla Format Essay Quotes. QuotesGram. MLA Format - English Exploration with Ms. Johnson. The Basics of MLA Style | Essay format, 500 word essay, Paragraph essay. Chicago Style Page Number Format. MLA Format Sample Paper, with Cover Page and Outline | MLA Format. 013 Essay Example Mla Format ~ Thatsnotus. Mla Essay Format Template. How to Style Essays Using MLA Format – brainy research writers. 50 Expert Tips: Writing Title of Article in Text MLA - Ultimate Guide 2023. MLA Format: Everything You Need to Know Here. Violence against women essay,college essay . - DCtots , Academic .... Informative Synthesis Essay Outline | PDF. Mla Format Title Page | Hot Sex Picture. 38 Free MLA Format Templates (+MLA Essay Format) ᐅ TemplateLab.
Stephanie has innovated the recruitment strategies of national education and political organizations, working across more than 30 states including California, New York, Texas, and in Florida for President Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign.
Similar to 2016 Smart Chicago Collaborative Youth-Led Tech Instructors (7)
The book summarizes the Chicago School of Data project which included a scan of our local data ecosystem from 2013 - 2014 and a convening we built on top of that scan. Typical with other Smart Chicago projects like CUTGroup and the Array of Things Civic Engagement Project, we also included “meta” sections in the Chicago School of Data book — specific details about how we executed our projects, what tools we used, and the logic or guiding principles behind our program design decisions.
http://www.chicagoschoolofdata.com/
You're invited to a presentation + community conversation about putting urban sensors to use for the public good. Join the operators of the Array of Things project to learn more about their urban sensors, how they can be used, and how they can be put to use to help measure or solve neighborhood challenges like air quality, noise pollution, etc. Learn more about Array of Things at arrayofthings.org
This curriculum, tailored to senior learners and set up for turn-key use for digital trainers, is an introduction to online safety and security. The curriculum overviews information about scams and give tips for how to avoid them.
This document layouts out an introduction to Microsoft's DigiSeniors Curriculum and gives information to prospective instructors/trainers for how to leverage it in their classrooms.
You’re Invited to a Community Technology Forum at the Windsor Park Lutheran Church!
When: Saturday, May 20, 2017 from 1pm – 4pm
Where: 2619 E 76th St.
What: Join community members and local advocates for a civic conversation about the technology in South Shore. What do you love about your community and what is working well? ¿Qué te gusta de tu comunidad? What technology resources do you use a lot and appreciate? ¿Qué recursos tecnológicos utiliza mucho y aprecia? You’re invited to share your ideas and help design solutions that leverage what works to improve what doesn't. This Community Technology Forum is hosted at the Windsor Park Lutheran Church in partnership with DePaul University, the Smart Chicago Collaborative & Connect Chicago. Lunch & refreshments will be provided! Sign up for more information and RSVP at bit.ly/chitechforum2.
The Juvenile Expungement Help Desk can help expunge (erase) your juvenile arrests and delinquency findings from law enforcement and court records.
Located at the Cook County Juvenile Court Center at 1100 S Hamilton, Chicago, Illinois.
On Wednesday, November 30, 2016, Smart Chicago Collaborative, Mikva Challenge, and LAF Chicago presented to The Chicago Community Trust staff about juvenile expungement, Expunge.io, and upcoming changes relevant to the House Bill 5017 being passed. This document is our combined presentation.
This session is designed specifically for the Digital Inclusion Fellows, though other NTC attendees are welcome to attend.
Scaling pilot programs and transitioning responsibility from one person, team, or department to another requires intentional documentation, training, and sharing. This session will address how to successfully prepare a program to undergo change, so that work in progress continues and lessons learned support future expansion.
http://www.nten.org/session/digital-inclusion-program-sustainability-documenting-lessons-sharing-successes-and-transitioning-work/
Operation “Blue Star” is the only event in the history of Independent India where the state went into war with its own people. Even after about 40 years it is not clear if it was culmination of states anger over people of the region, a political game of power or start of dictatorial chapter in the democratic setup.
The people of Punjab felt alienated from main stream due to denial of their just demands during a long democratic struggle since independence. As it happen all over the word, it led to militant struggle with great loss of lives of military, police and civilian personnel. Killing of Indira Gandhi and massacre of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and other India cities was also associated with this movement.
Honest Reviews of Tim Han LMA Course Program.pptxtimhan337
Personal development courses are widely available today, with each one promising life-changing outcomes. Tim Han’s Life Mastery Achievers (LMA) Course has drawn a lot of interest. In addition to offering my frank assessment of Success Insider’s LMA Course, this piece examines the course’s effects via a variety of Tim Han LMA course reviews and Success Insider comments.
Embracing GenAI - A Strategic ImperativePeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
Instructions for Submissions thorugh G- Classroom.pptxJheel Barad
This presentation provides a briefing on how to upload submissions and documents in Google Classroom. It was prepared as part of an orientation for new Sainik School in-service teacher trainees. As a training officer, my goal is to ensure that you are comfortable and proficient with this essential tool for managing assignments and fostering student engagement.
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
Welcome to TechSoup New Member Orientation and Q&A (May 2024).pdfTechSoup
In this webinar you will learn how your organization can access TechSoup's wide variety of product discount and donation programs. From hardware to software, we'll give you a tour of the tools available to help your nonprofit with productivity, collaboration, financial management, donor tracking, security, and more.
Synthetic Fiber Construction in lab .pptxPavel ( NSTU)
Synthetic fiber production is a fascinating and complex field that blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science. By understanding these aspects, students can gain a comprehensive view of synthetic fiber production, its impact on society and the environment, and the potential for future innovations. Synthetic fibers play a crucial role in modern society, impacting various aspects of daily life, industry, and the environment. ynthetic fibers are integral to modern life, offering a range of benefits from cost-effectiveness and versatility to innovative applications and performance characteristics. While they pose environmental challenges, ongoing research and development aim to create more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the importance of synthetic fibers helps in appreciating their role in the economy, industry, and daily life, while also emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and innovation.
Unit 8 - Information and Communication Technology (Paper I).pdfThiyagu K
This slides describes the basic concepts of ICT, basics of Email, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives in Education. This presentations aligns with the UGC Paper I syllabus.
3. Austin Staff Members
Meet Jonathan Wallace
Jonathan Wallace was born in Dallas, TX,
raised in Memphis, TN and has been a
Chicago resident for the last 8 years. He is a
graduate of the University of Chicago and
spent the better part of his time serving the
Austin community. Having served in
numerous youth focused programs, as well
as serving as a Youth Pastor, Jonathan's aim
has always been to make a difference in the
lives of others.
"You can't be for people what you can't be for yourself...." Jonathan Wallace
Jonathan Wallace (Instructor)
4. Austin Staff Members
Meet Dr. Ebony Wilkins
Dr. Ebony Wilkins is the author of children’s
fiction, a former pk-12 educator, and education
content developer. She completed her Ph.D. in
education, with a focus on literacy, language,
and culture from the University of Illinois at
Chicago. Her research centers on the
exploration of race in children’s literature and
writing responses. She enjoys traveling, playing
tennis, practicing yoga, and spending time with
family and friends.
"I'm convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere" - Maya
Angelou
Dr. Ebony Wilkins (Assistant
Instructor)
5. Austin Staff Members
Meet Adrianna Alvarez
Andrianna Alvarez serves as a Program Resource Assistant
with the Chicago Public Schools Head Start Department.
This is her second year working as an Instructor's Assistant
under the Youth Led Tech Program. Her background is
dedicated to building strong community and family
connections through education. Most of all, she has a love
for children and youth and a deep understanding and
respect for early childhood and adolescent educators,
community partners and family relationships.
"Accept everything about yourself -- I mean everything, you are you and that is the
beginning and the end -- no apologies, no regrets.“-Clark Moustakas
Adrianna Alvarez
(Assistant Instructor)
7. Austin Staff Members
Meet Miesha Williamson
Miesha Williamson was trained as a mechanical engineer at the
University of Michigan. She is currently the founder of an Ed-
tech firm, STEM GIRL SOCIAL NETWORK, which hold
classes and workshops to teach girls and women engineering
and technology skills. Her passion is to use technology based
solutions to increase gender and socio-economic diversity in
science and technology. She is currently building an online
educational platform for girls and women to learn math and
technology and hopefully fall in love like I have.
"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first
step."--Dr. Martin Luther King
Miesha Williamson
(Instructor)
8. AUSTIN Staff Members
Meet Sheina King
Sheina King has worked with youth of
varying ages for 5+ years. Currently, King
is serving as a facilitator of the Teen
Outreach Program within CPS high
schools. King will be an assistant
instructor in the Youth-Led Tech
program in the Austin community.
“Nobody can teach me who I am. You can describe parts of me, but who I am-
and what I need- is something I have to find out myself.” -Chinua Achebe
Sheina King ( Assistant
Instructor)
9. Austin Staff Members
Meet Javier Arellano
Javier Arellano is a Chicago native and recent graduate of
DePaul University’s Intercultural Communications
program. He enjoys learning from other people’s
experiences and gaining new perspectives as a way of
thriving. He believes in the value of community work and
educating ourselves collectively to strive for a better
future.
“There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss,
contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the
next time” -Malcolm X
Javier Arellano
(Assistant Instructor)
11. Austin staff members
Meet Quatavia Cooperwood
Quatavia Cooperwood is a very vibrant
individual. Teaching has always been apart of
who she is. She feels teaching is her calling and
she is elated to be a public servant to the
Austin community.
“Have enough courage to love one more time and another if need
be.”--Maya Angelou
Quatavia Cooperwood
(Instructor)
12. Austin Staff Members
Meet Tim Jacobs
Tim is an avid designer and web developer.
Reigning from a heavily technology based
background, he’s not afraid of challenging
endeavors, and experimental methods. Currently
he designs for his consulting agency Fluidity PC, and
can be found at any given time drawing ideas in his
sketchbook.
“Opportunities multiply as they are seized. ” Sun Tzu
Tim Jacobs (Assistant
Instructor)
13. Austin Staff Members
Meet Jamal Portluck
Jamal (also known as ‘Jay’) Portluck, is an outgoing and
positive person. He is dedicated to being of service to
youth and giving and receiving positive vibes and energy.
"Don't have kids until you’re married and don't get married until you're ready"-
MEEZEE
Jamal Portluck (Assistant
Instructor)
14. Austin staff Members
Meet Carrington Edwards
Carrington was raised on the south side of Chicago. You could
say that his arrival wasn’t a lonely one because with him came
some company, his twin sister Courtney Edwards. He is a
graduate of Central State University. Much of the beginning of
his life has been centered around basketball, and as he got
older, other sports such as track and soccer became an
interest. He gained a love for sports and youth outreach
through his father, one of the many shared infatuations that
would help them create a very distinctive community building
relationship. As he matured through adolescence during high
school he developed an even deeper love for music, acting, and
speech and debate.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to
live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to
Carrington Edwards
(Assistant Instructor/
Floater)
15. Austin Staff members
Meet Velvet Gunn
Velvet Gunn is a Graduate of Lane College
and holds a Bachelor's of Arts In Music. She
is lover of teaching and the performing arts.
Working with various non-profit
organizations, Velvet believes that the
power of inspiration ,opportunity and love
can change a community.
"Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organize your life around it" --- Brian
Tracy
Velvet Gunn (Assistant
Instructor/floater)
17. North Lawndale Staff members
Meet Julius Bell
Julius Bell is a born and raised Chicagoan,
“tech head” and app enthusiast He loves
giving back to the community and paying it
forward.
"When you lose, never forget the lesson"- The Dali Lama
Julius Bell ( Assistant
Instructor)
18. North Lawndale Staff members
Meet Jakarra Jenkins
Jakarra Jenkins has practiced coding
JavaScript for two years. She is currently
studying Health Science at Indiana State
University.
"Ars longa, vita brevis" Hippocrates English translation life is short, art is limitless or
long.”
Jakarra Jenkins
(Assistant Intructor)
20. North Lawndale Staff Members
Meet Tanya Nash
Tanya Nash is a tech professional and
lifelong learner with a degree in
Management Information Systems.
She also has extensive experience
developing web sites and web and
mobile applications.
"Life doesn't happen the same for everyone, the same goes for living." – Tanya
Nash
Tanya Nash
(Instructor)
21. North Lawndale Staff Members
Meet Kenardo Press
Kenardro Press is a recent high school
graduate and Smart Chicago Collaborative,
Youth Led Tech (YLT) alumni. As a result
of his experience last year, Kenardro
desires to be of service by being an assistant
instructor this year for YLT. He has an
interest in computers and teaching.
"Your eye are gate ways to your world and so they should be open more”
-Kenardo Press
Kenardo Press
(Assistant Instructor)
22. North Lawndale Staff Members
Meet Jasmine Turner
Jasmine received her Bachelors of Science in
Criminal Justice and is a certified coach. Since
then, she has dedicated her time to helping
others build successful relationships and
communication skills.
"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take
up his cross daily and follow me"-Jesus
Jasmine Turner (Assistant
Instructor/Floater)
23. North Lawndale Staff Members
Meet Virnette Adams
Virnette Adams was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. She
is currently in school attending Columbia College Chicago,
majoring in International Arts Management. Virnette is a
student to life, always eager to learn, always ready to share
her own personal experiences in hopes that it can come to
the aid of those who need it.
"I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do
it." - Pablo Picasso
Virnette Adams
(Assisstant Instructor
25. north Lawndale staff Members
Meet Maria Calderon
Maria Calderon is a recent graduate from Jane
Addams School of Social Work. She is
dedicated and grateful to be a part of the
positive movement towards change that
Chicago deserves. She enjoys the adventures
in life such as hiking, road trips, roller coasters
and skydiving.
“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love
yourself to get anything done in this world.” – Lucille Ball
Maria Calderon
(Instructor)
26. North Lawndale Staff members
Meet John Wagenmaker
John Wagenmaker is Chicago native, born and
raised in North Lawndale. He is a recent
graduate of Whitney M. Young High School and
currently a student at Michigan State
University, studying computer science and
hopes to earn a second degree in history. He
considers himself to be a self-proclaimed ‘tech
junkie’, and he spends much of his time solving
related issues."
"When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen,
you may learn something new" - the Dalai Lama
John Wagenmaker
(Assistant Instructor)
27. North Lawndale Staff Members
Meet April Thomas
April Thomas is currently a lunchroom
manager at Chicago Public Schools. She
has been living in the North Lawndale
community for 29 years. She is loves
poetry, dancing, and anything of the arts.
“Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely.” - Henry
Ford
April Thomas (Assistant
Instructor)
28. Meet Bryan Williamson
Bryan Williamson defines himself with his relationship
with Jesus. As far as career interests, he seeks to
serve in the medical field to help people be their best
selves. In his leisure time he enjoys being able to
interact with others and listening to music.
North Lawndale Staff Members
“Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t waste energy trying to cover up failure. Learn
from your failures and go on to the next challenge. It’s ok to fail. If you’re
not failing, you’re not growing.” - H. Stanley Judd
Meet Bryan Williamson
(Assistant
Instructor/Floater)
30. JTDC Staff Members
Meet Lucia Gonzalez
Lucia is a highschool teacher on
Chicago's West Side. She was born on
Chicago's Southeast Side and she
currently lives in her community, She is
passionate about educational access
and equality.
"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." Milton Berle
Lucia Gonzalez
(Instructor)
31. JTDC Staff Members
Meet Candace Kerby
Candace is an early childhood educator for
Chicago Public Schools. She enjoys cooking,
singing and spending time with family and
friends. She is a huge fan of rhythm and blues
and frequently attends music concerts of my
favorite artists.
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer
yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you
know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go.” -Dr. Suess
Candace Kerby
(Assistant Instructor)
32. JTDC STaff
Meet Eric Walker
Eric Walker has been a teaching artist in
Chicago for over ten years. He has worked
with youth at Storycatchers as well as
Precious Blood ministries to name a few. One
of the highlights while working with youth
was sharing the screening of film they
created at the Black Harvest Film Festival.
"The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his
integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively." - Bob Marley
Eric Walker(Assistant
Instructor)
33. jtdc staff Members
Meet Eugene “Gene” Booth
Eugene “Gene” Booth is a high school teacher. He
likes poetry, comics, old movies, soul music, Curtis
Mayfield, Etta James, Marvin Gaye and Aretha
Franklin. He plays Pokémon with his son and reads
to his daughter.
"Pessimism of the spirit; optimism of the will." Antonio Gramsci
Eugene “Gene” Booth
(Instructor)
34. JTDC Staff Members
Meet LaKeisha Hamilton
Lakeisha is a dedicated Youth Development
Practitioner who believes in standing against
the odds. According to her, “On my watch,
your circumstances will not dictate your
destiny.”
“We will make lemonade out of the lemons which life throws our way.”-Unknown
LaKeisha
Hamilton(Assistant
Instructor)
35. jtdc staff Members
Jeremy Cooper (Assistant
Instructor)
Meet Jeremy Cooper
Jeremy is a sophomore in college at Southern
Illinois University majoring in agricultural
business. He resides in the south side of
Chicago. He is a positive role model and
mentor in his community.
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who
prepare for it today” –Malcom X
36. JTDC Staff Members
Meet Kamal Williams
Kamal serves as one the two Lead Instructor for the Youth-Led Tech
Summer program at the JTDC. He has a natural interest in emerging
technologies and the latest gizmos and gadgets, and is always looking
for ways to enhance his entrepreneurial endeavors. Though Kamal is
a filmmaker by trade, he developed an interest in youth mentorship
after teaching Broadcast Technology at Hirsch Metropolitan High
School during the 2014-1015 school year. His curriculum engaged
students in learning how to write, record, edit, and complete their
own video packages. One tenet he continuously repeated to his
students at Hirsch when creating there own content came from tennis
legend Arthur Ashe: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do
what you can.” Basically, don’t wait for the circumstances or money
to be right, just start! That same tenet gets repeated to his students
in the Youth Led Tech program.
Kamal
Williams(Assistant
Instructor)
"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving
happier." - Mother Teresa
38. Roseland staff Members
Meet Courtney Edwards
Courtney has a passion for film and media and
she encompasses those passions through
technology. She believes that technology is no
longer the future it is the now and we must be
pro-active about increasing our knowledge
within the field. As an instructor, Courtney
plans to bring her expertise in film writing, film
production, digital content development and
Google Analytics.
"God created everyone to be more than average, so if you give each task your all
God will definitely see you through" -Courtney Edwards
Courtney
Edwards(Instructor)
39. roseland staff Members
Meet Ronald Gary
Ronald Gary worked as a Professional
Sales Representative, District Sales
Manager, Special Education Teacher and
foster parent. Undergraduate degrees in
Marketing and Economics and graduate
degrees in Public Administration and
Special Education.
“I believe that everyone is born with a talent.”-Maya Angelou
Ronald Gary(Assistant
Instructor)
40. roseland staff Members
Meet Angel V. Rodriguez
Angel V. Rodriguez is a photographer, and
works well with his peers and people in
general. He currently resides in the Southeast
side community and is giving back to his
community by taking pictures for their special
events. He is also passionate about his work in
photography and strongly believes that
photography helps every one see. Angel V. Rodriguez
(Assistant Instructor)
"Good, better, best. Never let it rest. 'Til your good is better and your better is
best."— St. Jerome
41. Roseland Staff Members
Meet Emani Si’mone Thomas
Emani Si'mone Thomas is an artist and mentor,
who loves working with youth and giving back
to the community. Since a young child, she has
always been passionate about making others
smile and expanding her own knowledge as
well as those around her.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful
beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves,
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?"
-Marianne Williamson
Emani Si’mone Thomas
(Assistant Instructor)
42. roseland staff Members
Meet Daniel Gibson
Daniel Gibson is currently a teacher at Excel academy of
South Shore High School where he teaches math. He
also has experience in community development and
youth mentoring. He is member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity, Inc. Daniel holds a Bachelor of Science degree
in biology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
and is also a 2016 graduate of Roosevelt University
where he received a masters in biology.
"Don't stop, get it get it!"--Uncle Luke
Daniel Gibson
(Assistant
Instructor/Floater)
44. Roseland Staff Members
Meet Janelle Cole
Janelle was born and raised on the south side of
Chicago, which led to her passion for community
service. As she graduated from Southern Illinois
University, she went to study abroad in Kenya,
Africa. Her experience in Kenya guided her to
work with non-profit organizations in under-
resourced neighborhoods to create and innovate
resources that the youth lack.
"To Whom Much Is Given , Much Is Required" -Luke 12:48
Janelle Cole
(Instructor)
45. roseland Staff members
Meet Aaron Brown
Aaron grew up in the Englewood, south shore,
and Roseland neighborhoods. Growing up he
was told by his mother to never be a product
of your environment. At the age of 18 he was
the first to graduate from high school in his
family and at 19 he and a few others started a
black owned greeting card company.
Aaron Brown (Assistant
Instructor)
“A mans pride will bring him low, but the humble will retain honor....
Although this quote is in the Bible that's not where I heard it, my grandmother told
me to always to remember that when I get angry” -Helen Brown
46. Roseland staff Members
Meet Ariel Pennix
Ariel Pennix a sophomore in college majoring in
mass communication with a concentration of
public relations studying at Dillard University in
New Orleans, Louisiana. She resides in the
south side of Chicago and intends to, one day,
start her own magazine company.
"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot
fly." - Langston Hughes
Ariel Pennix (Assistant
Instructor)
48. roseland Staff Members
Meet Wilbur Scott
Wilbur Scott is a passionate youth advocate whose
spent over 10 years with youth development,
mentoring, and program implementation. Mr. Scott
has work with youth ages 4-18 years of age and
believes the world will change when we invest more
into our youth.
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."--
Mahatma Gandhi
Wilbur Scott
(Instructor)
49. roseland staff members
Meet Michael Gore
Michael Gore is a graduate of Columbia College (2014),
receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration
on Contemporary Urban Pop Music. He is an
accomplished musician and has accompanied such artists
as Joan Osborne and Jon Faddis. Michael has had the
opportunity to teach various age groups and backgrounds
throughout Chicago.
Michael Gore
(Assistant Instructor)
" A mind is a terrible thing to waste"--Arthur Fletcher
50. Roseland Staff members
Meet Akya Gossitt
Akya Gossitt was one of the original Smart Chicago
Collaborative, Youth led tech instructors at the
Englewood location of Summer 2015. She recently
studied Social Work abroad in Accra, Ghana at the
University of Ghana and worked at the Methodist Basic
School where she taught life skills and conflict resolution.
Ms. Gossitt is working towards Bachelors degree in
Social Work at Governors State University and is the
mother of two boys ages 10 and 5.
"Whatever my situation is, I want to show that I'm not perfect, and perfect isn't
real. The youth need to know that, especially"-Keke Palmer
Akya Gossitt (Assistant
Instructor)
51. Youth Led Tech Staff Members
Meet Dr. Phyllis West
Dr. Phyllis West was born and raised in North
Lawndale. In 2008 she completed her Ph.D. at the
University of Chicago. Currently, she is a Senior
Lecturer at Governors State University in
the Department of Social Work.
"I am because we are. We are because I am." John Mbiti
Dr. Phyllis West
(Instructor/Curriculum Advisor)