Professionals in Non-Profit Networking Forum, Thursday, October 24
Feature Guests:
Alicia Gonzalez, Executive Director, Chicago Run
Alicia is the Executive Director of Chicago Run, a local non-profit that provides free running programs to Chicago Public School students as a means of promoting health and wellness, digital learning, and cross-community collaboration. She helped launch Chicago Run as the first staff member in 2008 and has led the organization to serve 15,600 students in 55 Chicago Public Schools in 33 neighborhoods across the city. Prior to Chicago Run, Alicia served as the head of Hispanic Business Development for First American Bank, where she oversaw the expansion of private-public partnerships in the Latino community. Alicia’s roots are in the community and prior to working in the private sector, she held positions as a community organizer and youth development program director in both Chicago and Boston. In addition to Chicago Run, she serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Instituto Justice and Leadership Academy, and is also on the Board of the Chicago Life Science Consortium and the Enlace Legacy Board. Alicia is a recipient of the “Latina Entrepreneur of the Year (2012)” from the Chicago Latino Network, the "35 Under 35 Chicago Leadership" Award (2009) from the Community Renewal Society, and the "2009 Emerging Health Leader" from the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group. Alicia is currently an American Express NGEN Fellow with the Independent Sector and was a Fellow in the 2011 Leadership Greater Chicago Class and in the 2012 Latino Leadership Academy with the Latino Policy Forum. Alicia graduated with honors in Latin American History from Brown University.
Jaime Guzman, Senior Director, Outreach, Big Shoulders Fund
Jaime Guzman is the Senior Director for Outreach at the Big Shoulders Fund where he is on the senior leadership team and manages next generation boards, targeted fundraising, and programs. Previously, Jaime held senior leadership positions as Chief Advisor to the Board of Trustees at the City Colleges of Chicago and as Officer of the Office of New Schools at the Chicago Public Schools. Jaime also served as the Midwest Regional Director for Education for the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and as a regional Program Director of Teach For America. Jaime began his career as a bilingual teacher through Teach For America.
Jaime was a 2012 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow and serves on the Illinois State Charter School Commission. Jaime holds a Bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a Master’s degree in Education Policy from Harvard University. A native Chicagoan, Jaime lives in the Pilsen neighborhood with his wife.
Neli Vazquez Rowland, Co-Founder & President, A Safe Haven Foundation
Neli Vazquez Rowland is the Co-Founder & President of A Safe Haven Foundation. A Safe Haven is a world class, unique, vertically integrated ‘eco- system’ non for profit that is successfully rebuilding lives from poverty and homelessness.
A Safe Haven’s model is a public/private collaboration that assesses and addresses the root causes of poverty and homelessness with an individualized, integrated, comprehensive approach to social and economic crisis. The model is the subject of dozens of national and international tours by top government delegations from across the country and around the world including Japan, China, Holland, and others.
Neli has been recognized by the White House, Rotary International and other groups as a social business enterprise leader. She is a thought leader on the topic of poverty and homelessness and serves as an expert speaker, keynote speaker and panelist for many government, academic and business forums. She has also been a frequent guest on many of the local, national and international media stories featuring the topics of sustainable solutions for poverty, homelessness, veterans and reentry populations.
Audeni Rojas, HR Consultant & Founder, Women-Empowerment.net
Audeni Rojas has over 15 years in the Human Resources world. She has worked for companies such as Molex Incorporated, McDonald's Corporation, Harrah's Casino and Hotel, Jays Foods, etc. Serving the Corporate world for so many years, in the areas of employee relations, learning and development and workforce planning, Audeni wanted to create a platform to develop, promote and support women leaders and future ones. In 2012, she founded Women-Empowerment.net a social network for women. The network provides social events and communication to inspire women's ambitions through the power of Collaboration, Engagement and Growth in Chicago. She also partners and supports the mission of several non for profits such as HEART Promoting Humane Education, teachhumane.org and Women with Drive, womenwithdrive.org. Audeni presently is a Human Resources and Business Consultant for small businesses.
Don't miss out. Secure your tickets today!
Comments