We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who joined Of Color, Inc. for our
5 Years Forward Luncheon Celebration
We are deeply grateful to the staff, guests, and supporters who made our 5 Years Forward Luncheon Celebration an overwhelming success. Your energy, generosity, and belief in our mission are helping to shape a stronger future for our community.
The spirit of partnership and purpose that filled the room last week was truly inspiring. From our dedicated staff and passionate guests to our generous corporate partners, each of you played a vital role in moving Of Color, Inc. forward. Your support fuels the next phase of our mission to secure jobs, homes, and futures across Chicagoland. Together, we are building stability, creating opportunity, and changing lives
We invite you to immediately experience the heart of our mission through a powerful video clip from our short film debuted at the celebration. This clip highlights the inspiring journey of a veteran who partnered with Of Color, Inc. to transition from client to successful entrepreneur. His story captures the lasting impact made possible through our supporters. Please take a moment right now to watch this powerful story of progress.
From candid smiles to powerful moments of connection, these photos tell the story of an unforgettable afternoon. Take a look and experience the celebration, whether you were with us or cheering from afar.
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If you were unable to join us at the Luncheon, there is still time to make a difference. The work does not stop here, and neither does your impact. As we look ahead to #GivingTuesday on December 2, your continued investment helps Of Color, Inc. sustain and expand programs that advance housing stability, employment training, and community empowerment into the new year. Join us in carrying this momentum forward and make your gift today to invest in OCI’s future.
Join a community of supporters dedicated to making a lasting difference in Chicago. All sponsors will receive recognition in event materials and during the luncheon. To learn more about our sponsorship tiers, see sponsorship opportunities. For more information contact: Aisha Truss-Miller, Development Manager at atmiller@ofcolorinc.org or Renita White, Executive Director at rwhite@ofcolorinc.org. Please leave your phone number in the email message and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Keshia Phillips specializes in clean, simple, modern professional web design and development helping organizations establish a web presence, design, develop, and support web application, data analysis and online reports. Keshia enjoys helping people discover ways to use technology to accomplish a professional goal, solve a problem or save time and money. She brings social media and marketing opportunities to the agency as a whole.
Keshia Phillips specializes in clean, simple, modern professional web design and development helping organizations establish a web presence, design, develop, and support web application, data analysis and online reports. Keshia enjoys helping people discover ways to use technology to accomplish a professional goal, solve a problem or save time and money. She brings social media and marketing opportunities to the agency as a whole.
Camilla Johnson is an accomplished professional with more than ten years of professional experience in human services and eight in public administration. Camilla possesses strong leadership skills and a commitment to improving the health of the population. She is proficient in developing and managing million-dollar projects & programs, securing & managing government/private funding, including the grant-making process.
Melina Higbee, currently serves as the Strategic Programs Administrator for UCC Church Building & Loan Fund. Melina has a key role in overseeing and implementing strategic programs that focus on the transformation of neighborhood, community and region, working with churches and faith organizations, local community development corporations, philanthropists, investors, government officials, planners, developers, civic groups and neighborhood leaders. She has worked for the United Church of Christ National Setting for 14 years and began her service with Wider Church Ministries where she led the successful launch of WCM’s Haystack Society – an endowment to support mission practices in global settings.
In 2014, Ms. Higbee began working in the department of Office of Philanthropy and Stewardship (OPS) as the Coordinator for Donor Relations. In this position, she helped to coordinate various components of the UCC’s fundraising strategies, launched a centralized acknowledgment process to help the United Church of Christ be more responsive to donors, and has developed thoughtful strategies for donor engagement. Melina Higbee was promoted to Associate Director, Campaigns, Appeals and Special in the Office of OPS in 2016. In this position her responsibilities included overseeing the coordination and implementation of the annual fund. As the associate director, Melina planned the first bi-annual Stepping Into Stewardship Conference and recently coordinated the making of the new OCWM video.
Miss Keisha Norris was raised in the Gresham/Auburn community and more than ten years of experience facilitating Community Youth Employment Programs, WIOA specific programs and employment services with adults in a variety of areas (homeless, veterans, dislocated worker, etc.).
Miss Norris also has a significant amount of experience working with housing programs with the Chicago Housing Authority throughout the city of Chicago and the Department of Children and family Services which focuses on youth in care. She holds a Master’s degree in Non-Profit Management from Spertus Institiute.
Eugene Grandberry graduated from Illinois State University and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and Master’s Degree in both Social work and Psychology. He has a wealth of Clinical experience and is a Qualified Mental Health Professional. He is a life-long IDCFS Senior and Executive Staffer. He began his career in Law Enforcement with 30+ years at the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS). Eugene’s experience with youth and youth services is impeccable. He has served as Chief of Staff for past DCFS Director McEwen. Mr. Grandberry is currently the Statewide Monitor for the Community Base Family Advocacy Centers in the State of Illinois and is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Brenda Duncan is a seasoned Human Resources executive whose career has been focused in healthcare and nonprofit associations. Duncan is currently the director of Human Resources for a hospital in the south suburbs of Chicago where she has oversight for Human Resources, Education and Security and Safety.
Previously, Duncan served as the Vice President of Human Resources and Facilities for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), a global, cause‐based, not‐for‐profit organization focused on better health through information technology (IT). In this role, Duncan oversaw all Human Resources and Facilities functions including talent management, compensation and benefits, employee relations, facilities management and office services. Duncan played a role in HIMSS growth through a variety of acquisitions and the addition of international offices.
Prior to joining HIMSS, Duncan held increasingly responsible Human Resources positions including serving as the director of Administrative Services for the Regional Transportation Authority (the funding arm for mass transit in the Chicagoland area).
Duncan was selected for Crain’s Chicago Business 2020 Notable Leaders in HR. Duncan holds a Masters of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Human Resources management from Keller Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Bradley University. She holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) from the HRCI Certification Institute and holds a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SPHR‐SCP) designation.
Matt left the venture capital world to pursue his passion for solving social problems. Matt discovered this passion from volunteering where he was asked to mentor a handful of young people. While trying to connect his mentees to jobs and resources, Matt ultimately met with over 1,000 public and private sector leaders across his favorite city, Chicago. He hit a moment of volunteer and activism fatigue when he realized he couldn't mentor more Chicagoans. That's when he went on to create RiseKit (a SOLVE network).
RiseKit provides all job seekers access to a career path, regardless of the zip code in which they live. RiseKit’s software connects entry to mid-level job candidates to jobs, training programs, and supportive services to rise above all the barriers to employment. In return, we help nonprofits, employers, Government systems and community foundations save time in finding job candidates and measuring outcomes.
Recently, Matt was awarded Crain's Chicago 20 in their 20s. In Matt's free time, you will catch him with his family and friends, or watching/playing soccer.
Jonathan has served many boards and has exemplary board development skills, leading boards of directors across multiple social service agencies to success. He also served as Board Secretary for the Legacy Project; a small philanthropic organization on the North side of Chicago that assists the LGBTQ community. Jonathan has almost 15 years of experience working in executive leadership in social services and a vision to help youth and families of all differences succeed.
Shiela is pastor of her church, Union Congregational UCC which is in West Palm Beach, Florida. She is a graduate of the CHSSM leadership program (Nollau) and invested in the lives of youth and families to become sustainable. Shiela serves on the program committee for the board for CHSSM, a national membership organization for the UCC. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority incorporated; an international membership service organization.
Tania White is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief HR Strategist for Canary HR Consulting. Tania is a native of Chicago and received her Bachelor’s degree in Textiles, Apparel and Merchandising with a minor in marketing. She also holds a dual Master’s degree in Human Resource Management and Business Administration. Tania leads a team of skilled consultants providing a vast amount of diverse services including but not limited to: Strategic Development, Employee Relations, Performance Management, Training & Development, Organizational Development, Policy and Procedure Development, Succession Planning, Climate Assessment and Operations Audit, Labor relations, Compensation Analysis as well as ensuring consistency in the administration of HR.
Tania has 20-plus years of experience in various areas of human resources management and as an HR executive leader and consultant, she has concentrated on organizational change management, talent acquisition and retention, employee development, performance management, compliance, policy implementation and corporate culture initiatives. Tania has created fundamental human resource policies, developed training programs in Diversity, Ethics, Leadership and Workforce Management and brought stability and structure to organizations. She has worked in both the private and public sectors inclusive of such industries as retail, brokerage insurance, food service, senior living and non-profit. Additionally, she has experience working with union, non-union and service contract (SCA) employees.
Ms. Ladon Brumfield has a wide range of experience facilitating training programs for youth and adults. She was Executive Director for Girls Rule; a youth empowerment program that helped young girls and boys to embrace and pursue their career dreams. She has fifteen plus years of experience facilitating youth and employment programs through contracts with Chicago Public Schools, the Department of Labor, the Illinois Department of Human Services, and the Mayor's One Summer Chicago Programs.
Miss Brumfield works with more than 100 employers in various industries throughout Chicago and its adjoining suburbs. She is currently pursuing an enhanced degree in Business Management at DePaul University.
Sandra A. Moss is a Process Analyst based in Chicago. She has an extensive background in the manufacturing and insurance account receivables industries. Her areas of focus are improving the customer's accounting experience while reducing the company's exposure to uncollectable debt. In addition, she enjoys analyzing data and helping implement training for new and existing team members on the department's processes and procedures. She states, "I get excited to see team members improve their skills during one of my training sessions."
Mrs. Moss has been married over 25 years to her husband, Bryant. She has two adult daughters. She is currently obtaining a bachelor's degree from National Paralegal College in Business Administration
TyNisha chose to follow one of her passions by becoming a REALTOR® for Chicago and its surrounding areas. She has a love for helping others and providing resources that can help the community become more productive. With a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice, TyNisha strives to be an asset within her community by many ways, whether it is helping adolescents and young adults become more financially literate, volunteering her time to help feed the homeless, or using her voice to bring awareness about different crisis her neighborhood deems as challenging. TyNisha was one of the thought leaders that advocated for the Obama Foundation to be housed on Chicago’s southside. TyNisha enjoys spending her free time with her beautiful children. She loves to travel and enjoys fashion; once a published hair and clothing model. TyNisha’s drive, leadership, tenacious spirit, professionalism, honesty, and reliability are all qualities that one can guarantee to experience as she conducts the agency’s governance and mission’s work.
Wendy joined Duff & Phelps Investment Management Company beginning her career in the investment industry in 2013. She is responsible for the companies HR activities including recruiting, hiring/onboarding, performance and compensation management, training and supporting senior leadership development.
Throughout her career, Wendy has held several human resources, office management and event planning roles at companies, such as 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Showtime Networks, Bally’s/Paris Hotel, Caesars Entertainment, and NetVU. She also recently served as the lead event planner for Casa of Cook County.
Wendy holds an A.A. degree in Paralegal Studies from Merritt College. In her spare time, she enjoys tennis, travelling and planning social events.
