Acerca de ConTextos Chicago

EN DÓNDE TRABAJAMOS

Nuestro objetivo es nutrir las mentes, propagar las voces y compartir las verdades personales de individuos que por mucho tiempo han sido desatendidos y subestimados. Trabajamos con instituciones e individuos que también llegan a estas poblaciones a las cuales les damos prioridad.

Sitios de Encarcelamiento y Detención

Trabajamos con jóvenes y adultos que se encuentran en espera de un juicio y que han sido acusados de o que han sido sentenciados por delitos violentos.

Organizaciones basadas en la Comunidad y Desarrollo de la Fuerza Laboral

Llegando a los jóvenes y a los “jóvenes de corazón” de Englewood, Gage Park, Roseland/Pullman, Brighton Park, North Lawndale, West Humboldt Park, Garfield Park, Auburn-Gresham y Austin que se encuentran actualmente en libertad condicional, en arresto domiciliario, que acaban de salir de la cárcel o de la prisión, o que corren un alto riesgo de verse involucrados en actos de violencia.

Escuelas

En las escuelas proporcionamos una implementación directa y nos enfocamos en capacitar a los maestros con el fin de asegurar la sostenibilidad de las mejores prácticas para poder elevar a todas las voces.

Learn more about our programs in these places

Número de Autores Publicados

Encarcelamiento

171

Escuelas

122

Comunidad

262

Sitios del Programa

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Miembros del Equipo

Debra Gittler

Founder

[email protected]

Lisa Kenner

Co-Director of Programs and Partnerships

[email protected]

Johnny Page

Executive Director

[email protected]

Dr. Sharon Moore

Authors Circle Facilitator

[email protected]

Dimitri Hepburn

Authors Circle Facilitator

[email protected]

Luz Magdaleno Flores

Art u0026 Communications Coordinator

[email protected]

Vanessa Kucera

Director of Strategy and Operations

[email protected]

Kalief Dinkins

Artist in Residence

[email protected]

Isaiah Manning

Author in Residence

[email protected]

Naimah Thomas

Trevor Lester AKA u0022YTu0022

Author Circle Facilitator

Jonathan Ivory

Author's Circle Facilitator

Our Partners

Acerca de ConTextos Chicago

We believe.

In Chicago, like any place with epidemics of violence, geographic areas do not determine violent behaviors, nor does race, gender or class. Rather, like a virus, victimization begets victimization. Most violence is not arbitrary, but a reflection of trauma: hurt begets hurt—those who are hurt will hurt others. Our theory of change is based on healing, not punishment. We believe in consequences, but also compassion. Individuals must develop the social emotional skills to confront their past and the constant traumas around them in order to participate in effective communities, healthy relationships and the workforce.

Cook County Department of Corrections

Trabajamos con jóvenes y adultos que se encuentran en espera de un juicio y que han sido acusados de o que han sido sentenciados por delitos violentos.

Organizaciones basadas en la Comunidad y Desarrollo de la Fuerza Laboral

Llegando a los jóvenes y a los “jóvenes de corazón” de Englewood, Gage Park, Roseland/Pullman, Brighton Park, North Lawndale, West Humboldt Park, Garfield Park, Auburn-Gresham y Austin que se encuentran actualmente en libertad condicional, en arresto domiciliario, que acaban de salir de la cárcel o de la prisión, o que corren un alto riesgo de verse involucrados en actos de violencia.

Chicago Public Schools

En las escuelas proporcionamos una implementación directa y nos enfocamos en capacitar a los maestros con el fin de asegurar la sostenibilidad de las mejores prácticas para poder elevar a todas las voces.

Learn More About our Programs in These Places

Número de Autores Publicados

Encarcelamiento
0
Escuelas
0
Comunidad
0

“I feel as if ConTextos has provided an extremely effective way for us men to open up about certain things we wouldn’t normally share amongst anyone”


-Tim Cox
Author and Co-Facilitator for our Monthly Poetry Circle

Sitios del Programa

Miembros del Equipo

Johnny Page

Executive Director

[email protected]

Bio
Johnny Page

Johnny Page is the Executive Director at ConTextos. He is a formerly incarcerated professional, speaker, author, anti-violence educator, and advocate. He’s committed to creating caring spaces where we all can find time and space to unpack, sort through, and reflect on the stories that often shape who we are. Johnny is the Co-Founder of C.A.V.E. (Community Anti-Violence Education), an intergenerational community-based support system for those who are affected by trauma.

Lisa Kenner

Director of Programs

[email protected]

Bio
Lisa Kenner

Lisa Kenner is a seasoned leader who has dedicated her career to providing transformational educational opportunities to children, families, and communities. Operating with a collaborative mindset and with vision and passion, Lisa founded and led a successful single-site charter school for 12 years in North Lawndale. She thrives in community-based work and has earned the trust and respect of students, families, staff, funders, board members, and community stakeholders.

Jonathan Wilson

Facilitator

[email protected]

Bio
Jonathan Wilson

Having been an educator in after-school and summer school programs for at-risk youth in Chicago and Indiana for ten years, Jonathan first began working with ConTextos by leading circles for CPS students virtually in 2021. Now he is an Authors’ Circle facilitator for our flagship programming, leading circles daily in Cook County jail. He has also received training in circle keeping and restorative justice from the Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation. Jonathan is engaged in his community, organizing marches against gun violence, clean-ups, and block club parties. He also volunteers in mutual aid efforts, including food pantries, communal resource assistance, and wellness checks.

Justin Hamilton

Facilitator

[email protected]

Bio
Justin Hamilton

Justin "Lowkey" Hamilton is a dedicated father, who has committed his life to change and education. After overcoming personal challenges, including incarceration, he pursued higher education and committed himself to helping those who seek to change their lives and who they are. With a deep passion for history and anthropology, Justin is driven by a mission to inspire transformation in the lives of others, planting seeds of success and empowerment in every interaction. He is a firm believer that the weight of anybody's past can be crushed by their bright oncoming future.

Briana Ureña-Ravelo

Facilitator

[email protected]

Bio
Briana Ureña-Ravelo

Bio coming soon.

Kalief Dinkins

Arts Program Coordinator

[email protected]

Bio
Kalief Dinkins

Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Kalief Dinkins is a 27-year-old self-taught Black artist whose work blends art and culture to inspire and uplift his community. Starting with painting shoes and evolving to murals across Chicago, Kalief’s creative journey focuses on amplifying underrepresented voices and challenging societal expectations. With a background in advertising and business management from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he also works extensively with youth in Chicago Public Schools and collaborates with nonprofits to empower young people to embrace their potential. Guided by the belief that dreams are like flowers that require patience to bloom, Kalief’s art embodies resilience, growth, and boundless possibilities. His ethos has led to collaborations with the Chicago Bulls and recognition from the Smithsonian, cementing his role as a community-driven artist and role model.

Spankey Davis

Community Advocate 

[email protected]

Bio
Spankey Davis

Community Advocate Spankey Davis is a tried and true southsider who bleeds Cubby blue. He is also a self-described knowledge seeker who is passionate about the life of the mind and the history of ideas. As a system impacted person, Spankey's carceral experience directly informs his work as an Advocate. During his time in prison, he learned the value of inter- and intra-personal problem solving skills through honest self-reflection, education and relationship building. He earned two associate's degrees in science and art with a concentration in trauma-informed care, social and emotional learning and active listening. He uses his knowledge base as a framework to promote peace, health and moral agency in the young people in his community. He seeks to empower them to overcome the challenges in their lives out of a Golden Rule ethic which says that every person is worthy of dignity and respect.

Trevor Lester aka "YT"

Community Advocate

[email protected]

Bio
Trevor Lester aka "YT"

Trevor ”YT” Lester from the Southside of Chicago was incarcerated at the age of 20 for murder and spent 8 years in Cook County Jail awaiting trial before the charges were dropped. Trevor also happens to be an alumnus of ConTextos flagship program, Authors’ Circle, and became a published author in 2015. Now a Contextos Community Advocate, Published Author, and Author Circle Facilitator, YT is focused on using his unique journey of empowerment to inspire the youth as well as his peers while continuing to be a voice for the voiceless. He uses the power of his unique journey to assist others in various communities to take back control of their own narratives as well as amplify their stories, facilitating Author Circles throughout Chicago while advocating and providing supportive wraparound services to youth and emerging adults.

Natalie Chevalier

Operations and Finance Manager

[email protected]

Bio
Natalie Chevalier
Natalie joined the ConTextos team in 2023. She received both her Bachelor's degree in International Studies and Master's in Public Administration in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Natalie has worked with organizations in a variety of focus areas including international youth education, workforce development, and community engagement. She's a fierce advocate for human-centered philosophy and enthusiast for all things related to organizational administration. She can often be found diving into random research rabbit holes, reading, and crafting.

Nicholas Zepeda

Fund Development Associate

[email protected]

Bio
Nicholas Zepeda

Full bio coming soon.

Dimitri Hepburn

Director of Partnerships & Communications

[email protected]

Bio
Dimitri Hepburn

Dimitri is an Authors’ Circle facilitator and director of partnerships and communications at ConTextos. He believes that the understanding gained by a thorough examination of the world around us, as experienced from multiple perspectives, is fundamental to the shared success of all people. Born in the Bahamas and raised in the Bronx, Dimitri has grown deep roots in Chicago where he helps create opportunities to learn, explore, and tell stories about the world and ourselves, stories that provide fertile ground for empathy and understanding.

Kayla Harris

Social Media & Outreach Coordinator

[email protected]

Bio
Kayla Harris

Kayla began her journey as ConTextos’ social media and outreach coordinator in January of 2024. Armed with a love of storytelling, visual media, and community building, they strive to create digital spaces that empower others. They also use emerging artistic mediums to explore human existence and experience. When she’s offline, you can find her designing LARPs, fiddling with a variety of instruments, and bothering her cat.

Kali Rose

Project Manager

[email protected]

Bio
Kali Rose

Kali Rose, a Triple Virgo, born and raised in Kansas City, MO. Moved to Chicago in 2016, to attend Columbia College Chicago, where she graduated with her Bachelors in Cinematic Arts + Science. She is an actress, author, director, and photographer. She is also a teacher in the surrounding neighborhoods of Chicago where she helps mentor and give back to the youth and underprivileged communities. As Program Manager, Kali hopes to continue to build and strengthen her relationship with the youth, create safe spaces, and opportunities that will lead to their personal and interpersonal growth. 

Sandra Avelar

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Specialist

[email protected]

Bio
Sandra Avelar

Sandra Avelar is a public health researcher with experience in community-based participatory research design and mixed-methods evaluation. She received her masters in public health at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health in 2022. Some of her previous work has been in occupational health-related research in Little Village and North Lawndale. Having been involved in various community-based participatory research projects, Sandra is passionate about her work and strives to implement equitable collaboration, authentic community engagement, advocacy, and social justice principles in her practice. She is the proud daughter of two Mexican immigrants and a strong advocate for collective and community healing. Her personal belief system is embedded in empathy and understanding.

Rosondunnii Marshall

Mental Health Consultant

[email protected]

Bio
Rosondunnii Marshall

Rosondunnii Marshall is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and serves as the Mental Health Consultant at ConTextos Chicago, specializing in youth and adolescent therapy with a focus on families and communities impacted by carceral settings. Committed to culturally competent care, she works to foster healing, connection, and empowerment, ensuring individuals and families have the support needed to thrive. Her work bridges systemic gaps, creating meaningful change through restorative and community-centered approaches.

Our Partners