Who We Are

Thrive Chicago is a dedicated group of individuals who are committed to collaborative work, creative problem solving, and breaking down systemic barriers to achieve equity for young people and communities.
Meet Our Staff

PEOPLE MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

OUR BOARD

Ten dedicated champions who guide Thrive’s overall strategy and govern the organization
Meet our board

OUR FUNDERS & INVESTORS

Local and national investors seed the collaborative innovation, building proof points across the city to inform public resource investments that will ultimately sustain the solutions that work.
MEET OUR FUNDERS & INVESTORS

Our Core Values

Collaboration

Community

Creativity

Equity

Excellence

Growth

Our Team

ALLEN SWILLEY

ALLEN SWILLEY

Director of My Brother's Keeper Initiatives

he/him

ALLESON KNOX

ALLESON KNOX

Director of Youth Development

she/her

CHRISTIAN fRIEND

CHRISTIAN fRIEND

President

he/him

David Krosin

David Krosin

Manager of Data Analysis

he/him

JAMELA CLARK

JAMELA CLARK

Manager of Data & Learning

she/her

JESSICA DARGIEL

JESSICA DARGIEL

Director of Data & Learning

she/her

KATIE RONDEAU WEINHEIMER

KATIE RONDEAU WEINHEIMER

Director of Strategy & Development

she/her

Mel Dennis-Araujo

Mel Dennis-Araujo

Office Manager

she/her

Melissa Moore

Melissa Moore

Vice President of Operations & Finance

she/her

Norman Clark

Norman Clark

Director of Opportunity Youth & Employment

he/him

Robert moses

Robert moses

My Brother's Keeper Associate

he/him

STEPHANIE MARAS

STEPHANIE MARAS

Grants Manager

she/her

TINIA MONTFORD

TINIA MONTFORD

Communications & Development Associate

she/her

Our Board

Tim Schwertfeger

Board Chair, Former Chairman & CEO Emeritus, Nuveen Investments

David hiller

Past President (Retired), Robert R. McCormick Foundation

Beth Swanson

CEO, A Better Chicago

Karin Norington- Reaves

Past CEO, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

Heather Anichini

President and CEO, The Chicago Public Education Fund

BRIAN FABES

Managing Director, Corporate Coalition of Chicago

mike strautmanis

Executive Vice President, Civic Engagement, Obama Foundation

Justin manly

Partner and Managing Director, Boston Consulting Group

Our Funders & Investors