Chicago BridgeBuilders Fund: Cohort 5

For the past two decades, Kanoya “Ali” Ali has engaged with young men who desire to make positive changes in their lives.

Ali is a proponent of using CBI (cognitive behavior intervention), spirituality, and the arts to channel creativity and express emotions, especially through written and spoken word. He is a co-host of both The Chi Podcast and License to Operate Podcast and also founded EXxperts Chicago, a nonprofit organization that seeks to connect the at-risk population and returning citizens with job training and mentorship to reduce gun violence and build stronger communities.

Ali is also a public figure who has appeared on WTTW News, Block Club Chicago, NBC News, and The CW26, sharing his message of violence prevention and community-building.

Kim co-leads VOLTS with a focus on partnerships and organizational development, ensuring that our initiatives are grounded in authentic community relationships. She plays a key role in expanding opportunities and resources for our network of cooperatives.

Kim is a founding member of ChiFresh Kitchen and Jumpstart Housing Cooperative, where she helped assemble and guide the founding teams. She also serves on the Board of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives and completed the REDF Social Enterprise Accelerator Program.

Jackie Cross is the Executive Director of I.C.A.R.E. Ministries and a trusted leader in Chicago’s West Side youth and family support ecosystem. With nearly 30 years of service, she has helped sustain and expand I.C.A.R.E.’s legacy of safe, structured, and empowering out-of-school-time programming. Her leadership is grounded in extensive experience across direct service, nonprofit operations, compliance, and administration, giving her a systems-informed, community-first approach.

A faith-based, servant leader, Jackie is committed to nurturing the academic, spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of youth and families. She also serves as a Program Coordinator with the Westside Justice Center, advancing equitable access to justice.

Barbara Graham is the Founder and volunteer Executive Director of the Hey Benji Foundation, a grassroots nonprofit rooted in her lifelong commitment to serving youth in Englewood. A children’s book author, community advocate, and communications professional, Barbara leverages her 10+ years of experience in the hospitality and nonprofit sectors to create meaningful opportunities for underserved youth. She leads with compassion, creativity, and a focus on Social Emotional Learning (SEL).

Barbara is also the author of Benji Learns Kindness and its accompanying SEL curriculum, which she uses to empower young people to build emotional wellness, resilience, and character. Her work reflects a deep belief in community-driven impact and ensuring every child has access to the tools they need to thrive.

La’Keisha Gray-Sewell is a writer, digital strategist, and nationally recognized girls advocate. She helps individuals and organizations leverage digital platforms to tell impactful stories and build legacy.In 2011, she founded Girls Like Me Project, Inc., an Illinois-based social impact organization dedicated to liberating Black girls through mentoring, media literacy, and self-discovery programming. A media literacy expert and motivational speaker, La’Keisha empowers girls and women to move beyond stereotypes and stigma to become influential digital storytellers. She is the author of Move Beyond the Block, host of Move Beyond the Block TV and Podcast, and a recipient of numerous honors for her community advocacy. La’Keisha holds degrees in Mass Communication and Social Work and is committed to advancing healthy, liberated Black girlhood.

Dr. Mai Heath, ND, is an artist, medical advocate, and mother of three, dedicated to reproductive justice and healing. She holds a BA (Hons) from Columbia College Chicago and earned her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.

A trained doula since 2012, Mai has served as a community-based doula, case manager, and home visitor, including participation in the Cook County Jail Birth Pilot Program.

She is the Founding Director of NDoula Community Alliance and Artistic Director of its Elemental Reproductive Healing Arts program. Her work centers trauma-informed care, violence prevention, and holistic healing through the integration of art, science, and mind-body-spirit practices.

Janneth Hernandez is the Executive Director and co-founder of Centro Comunitario La Villita, established in partnership with Women for Economic Justice.

Born in Mexico, she draws on her lived experience as an immigrant and survivor of gender violence to create safe, empowering spaces for Latina women on Chicago’s Southwest Side. She launched the grassroots initiative Corazón de Valor y Fortaleza in 2015, which evolved into Centro Comunitario La Villita and secured its own building in 2023. Under her leadership, the center operates as a multidisciplinary hub addressing gender violence through income generation, holistic healing, community accountability, and mutual aid.

Janneth is also a bestselling author whose storytelling amplifies Latina voices and advances survivor-led advocacy.

J. Omar Magana is the Founder and Executive Director of OPEN Center for the Arts, an arts and cultural organization focused on providing a creative space in the North Lawndale and South Lawndale communities.

Since 2014, he has been instrumental in the creation of numerous art projects and exhibitions that have an inspirational presence in the community. With over 30 years of experience in the arts sector, Omar is a firm believer that the arts play a major role in awakening one’s spirit. He is a self-taught sculptor who currently focuses on interior and furniture design. He also enjoys sharing his passion for the business aspect of the arts with artists interested in becoming entrepreneurs.

Dorin McIntyre, affectionately known as Pastor Mac, is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of What About US Charitable Enterprises Inc. With more than 20 years of experience in community organizing and outreach, he is a visionary leader committed to strengthening families and neighborhoods most impacted by violence and disinvestment.

In 2016, Dorin left corporate leadership to pursue full-time ministry and community service. He has pastored Mt. Olivet MB Church of Chicago since 2017 and leads initiatives including youth mentoring, men’s development forums, job and resource fairs, and community block gatherings. Pastor Mac serves in faith-based leadership roles with the Chicago Police Department and remains a tireless advocate for underserved communities, guided by the belief that past mistakes should never limit future progress.

TaKenya White is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and Registered Art Therapist with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of creativity, mental wellness, and community care. She holds a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy and Counseling and is the founder of Restorative Expressive Arts Corp, a nonprofit expanding access to restorative and expressive arts for underserved communities. TaKenya has worked across education, mental health, community programs, and the creative industries, informing her holistic, person-centered approach to healing. She is the author of Nine to Five on the Side and founder of multiple mission-driven businesses providing creative wellness support nationwide. A passionate creative advocate and educator, TaKenya believes creativity is an inherent human capacity and a powerful tool for healing, resilience, and empowerment.