Staff & Board

Staff

Sharon Legenza, Executive Director
sharon@housingactionil.org
312-939-6821

Marissa Diekhoff, Member Engagement & Operations Associate
marissa@housingactionil.org
312-854-3334

Public Policy Advocacy

Bob Palmer, Policy Director
bob@housingactionil.org
312-939-6075

Gabe Flores, Housing Policy Organizer
gabe@housingactionil.org
312-854-3817

Rodney Orr, Housing Policy Organizer
rodney@housingactionil.org
312-854-3369

Capacity Building 

David Young, Director of Capacity Building
david@housingactionil.org
312-939-6914

Bibian Cristino, Senior Capacity Building Specialist
bibian@housingactionil.org
312-939-7678

Wanda Collins, Senior Capacity Building Specialist
wanda@housingactionil.org
312-939-7679

Jennifer Pallas, Senior Capacity Building Specialist
jennifer@housingactionil.org
312-939-7680

James Miller, Capacity Building Associate
james@housingactionil.org
312-854-3818

Grace Douglas, Capacity Building AmeriCorps VISTA
grace@housingactionil.org
312-854-3323

National Service

Willie Heineke, National Service Director
willie@housingactionil.org
312-854-3324

Petra D. Rodríguez Everson, National Service Program Associate
petra@housingactionil.org
312-854-3370

Leah Martin, National Service Program Associate
leah@housingactionil.org
312-854 3368

Michael Corey Berrian, AmeriCorps VISTA Leader
michael@housingactionil.org
312-854-3016

Emma Robinson, AmeriCorps VISTA Leader
emma@housingactionil.org
312-363-3294

Marshall Goldsmith, AmeriCorps VISTA Leader
marshall@housingactionil.org
312-939-6074

Communications & Development

Kristin Ginger, Director of Communications & Development
kristin@housingactionil.org
312-854-3333

Leanne Gehrig, Development Manager
leanne@housingactionil.org
312-854-3365

Ben Khadim DeMott, Development & Engagement AmeriCorps VISTA
ben@housingactionil.org
312-854-3337

Board of Directors

Co-Chairs

Darsonya Switzer, Dove Inc., Decatur
Laura Olvera Yarza, Community Partners for Affordable Housing, Libertyville

Secretary

Jennifer Taff, DuPage and Chicago South Suburbs Habitat for Humanity, Wheaton

Treasurer

Kurt Kuyawa, Citizens Bank NA, Chicago

Members

Shalonda Bedenfield, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago
Paula Bush, North West Housing Partnership, Schaumburg
Nick Dodson, Heartland Continuum of Care, Springfield
John S. Herring, Sr., Springfield
Sarah Leys, City of Rockford, Rockford
Cornell D. Lurry, Sr., Midland States Bank, Joliet
Brigitta Mac-Rizzo, Jackson County Housing Authority, Jackson County
Horacio Mendez, Woodstock Institute, Chicago
Jackie Newman, Springfield Housing Authority, Springfield
Carl Wolf, BEDS Plus, LaGrange
Margaret Wooten, Reach CDC, Chicago