Today’s episode features Edgar Ramirez, President and CEO of Chicago Commons, an organization that has invested and helped shape the lives of Chicagoans since 1894. Like a few other organizations, Chicago Commons has evolved from its settlement house origins to partner with individuals, families, and communities to overcome poverty, discrimination, and isolation. Their programs are designed to help children, families and seniors GO further to live richer, more fulfilling lives. Emphasis on the GO. Edgar joined Commons in 2010 at the Associate Executive Director. In this episode, we learn about: Chicago Commons eastern European immigrant origins to now servicing elderly and early learners on South and West sides; Edgar’s journey to Commons and how mentorship really shaped his path; How listening to community has influenced Commons’ approach to programming; Edgar shares Insight on how Commons’ bridges services in African-American and Latino communities; and Edgar also reflects on his leadership and what’s changed since becoming CEO.

This episode features Evette Cardona, Vice President of Programs at the Polk Bros. Foundation – a Chicago-based foundation that supports organizations providing direct services to communities of need in areas such as social services, education, cultural programs and healthcare. Polk's assets have grown to more than $400 million, with more than $20 million in grants distributed each year. Evette joined Polk as an intern 19 years ago, and was promoted to her current role from Senior Program Officer in 2012. Today, we learn about: The history of the Polk Bros. Foundation; Evette shares her journey to Polk and how it works to support families in need; We hear about their approach to investing in violence prevention and intervention, and mental health services; How she’s balanced bringing her whole-self to philanthropic decision-making; Polk’s efforts to integrate racial equity into their philanthropy and how Latinos fit into that narrative; and How to think about getting into philanthropy.

In this episode, I catch up with Celena Roldan, Chicago & Northern Illinois CEO of the American Red Cross. Each year, this region responds to 1,200 natural and man-made disasters, and teaches more than a quarter million people in Chicagoland each year health, safety and disaster preparedness skills. Prior to joining Red Cross, Celena served as the Executive Director of Erie Neighborhood House which was founded in 1870 to strengthen low-income, primarily Latino families through skill-building, access to critical resources, advocacy and collaborative action. We learn about: American Red Cross’ work that goes beyond emergency response, including being a critical partner to home fire response in the region; Their efforts to go into neighborhoods and educate communities around fire safety; The work the Red Cross is doing to build trust among Latino families; What’s similar and different about her work at Erie and the Red Cross; Celena reflects on her time in Louisiana after catastrophic flooding; and Shares her thoughts on the importance of balance and self-care in non-profit work.

In this episode, I connect with Andrea Sáenz, First Deputy Commissioner for the Chicago Public Library. In this role, Andrea supports strategy, organizational development and leads program design and evaluation for the 80 library system. Before joining the Library, Andrea served as Chief of Staff to Chicago Public Schools CEO; Policy Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Vocational and Adult Education at the US Department of Education in Washington, DC; and Executive Director of the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE). Andrea also serves as Board Chair for Instituto del Progreso Latino. In this episode, we learn about: The core of the Library’s mission to provide free access to knowledge without barriers; How the Library is focusing on strengthening family engagement and services; Her own circuitous journey to the Library system; and How the Library is adapting to better serve Latino families.

In this episode, I connect with Katya Nuques, Executive Director of Enlace Chicago – an organization dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of residents in Little Village. They do this by fostering a physically safe and healthy environment in which to live; and by championing opportunities for educational advancement and economic development. Katya began her career at Enlace in 2005 as the Director of Community Schools, where she played a signficant role in the expansion and growth of Enlace. In this episode we learn about Enlace’s history of organically developing community-driven solutions in Little Village; Katya shares some of the successes of collaborative education and anti-violence efforts that have strengthened the Little Village neighborhood; and she also discusses the importance of authentic leadership and participatory processes that build coalition.

This episode features Beatriz Ponce de Leon, Executive Director of Generation All – a citywide initiative to unite Chicagoans in revitalizing neighborhood public high schools so all students experience high quality learning opportunities both in and outside the classroom. Beatriz brings more than 20 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations and public institutions in Chicago. She has implemented public education campaigns, led community and organizational planning processes, designed and facilitated workshops for youth and adults, and authored numerous action plans and reports. In this episode, we learn about: Generation All’s efforts to improve neighborhood public high schools in Chicago; Bea offers great insight on how we can address educational challenges in Chicago - such as growing investment, supporting teacher professional development, and post-secondary advising; and Why collaborative leadership and decision-making is valuable.

This episode features Everett Gutierrez, President and Founder of Legacy Leaders International. The mission to equip youth and adults with the tools to develop their maximum potential and become purposeful leaders in their communities and beyond resonated with me, and I’m glad to have caught up with Everett to discuss their services and vision. We learn about: Legacy Leaders approach to youth development in schools; the orgs goals for expansion in to college services including financial management and coaching, along with employee leadership development; Everett shares reflections on his own personal journey and how that lead him to found the organizations; and we hear some solutions for creating better opportunities for students and building strong leaders.

Brought to you by ubackforgood.com Today we speak with Maricela Garcia, Chief Executive Officer of Gads Hill Center - an organization that since 1898 has created opportunities for children and their families to build a better life through education, access to resources and community engagement. Mariciela came to the United States in the early 1980s as a result of the war in Guatemala. After her arrival she founded Casa Guatemala to assist newly arriving refugees and later co-founded Women for Guatemala. She also served as the Executive Director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, was the founding Executive Director of the Latino Policy Forum. Prior to Gads Hill Center, she was the Director of Capacity Building and Juvenile Justice Policy at the National Council of La Raza. In the episode, we learn about: Gads Hill’s legacy of services to every immigrant group that has come to Chicago, including their current work in early childhood education and youth development; Maricela reflects on her career in human rights advocacy and policy, along with her transition to direct services; and How income inequality impacts the educational and social-emotional goals of Latino families across the city.

Brought to you by ubackforgood.com Today's episode features Michelle Morales, Executive Director of the Mikva Challenge – a youth-serving organization that is challenging the status quo and helping young people to develop into informed, empowered, active citizens and community leaders. Michelle became the Executive Director of Mikva about a year and a half ago – and offers some great reflection on her transition into the role. We also hear about: Mikva’s efforts to demystify civic and political engagement, as well as activate youth voice in community change; Michelle shares what inspires her about youth work, and how they are breaking down barriers that allow youth to flourish; and we dig into some interesting reflections on how she’s evolving her leadership and management style, along with her perceptions of gender dynamics in leadership.

Brought to you by ubackforgood.com. Today we catch up with Ric Estrada, CEO of Metropolitan Family Services – an organization that has empowered families to learn, to earn, to heal and to thrive since 1857. MFS works with 72,000 families across the Chicagoland region providing financial aid, counseling, workforce, education and legal services. Ric has nearly three decades of leadership experience in human services, philanthropy and government – including appointments to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs Selection Committee for the Emerging Leaders Program, and Board of Directors at the Woods Fund of Chicago. In this episode, we learn about: MFS’ programs and growth, along with increased services to Latino families across Chicagoland; opportunities to support the emotional wellness of working families; the importance of facilitating leadership, as well as continuing to innovate and build; and Ric shares insight on the great possibility that exists in Chicago and ways to get engaged in creating opportunity for families across the city.