People

She joined Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago in October 2007. Karen has more than 20 years of experience in public health with special emphasis on HIV/AIDS prevention and policy.

As Director of State Affairs at AIDS Foundation of Chicago, she worked for eight years lobbying the Illinois General Assembly in support of policies and legislation focused on protecting the health and ensuring the rights of people living with and at risk for AIDS.

She also has considerable programmatic experience, managing a network of clinics funded to provide healthcare to people living with HIV/AIDS and a coalition of youth-serving agencies focused on expanding and enhancing HIV-prevention services for adolescents. Karen has a Master of Arts in Social Work from University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Oberlin College. 

Dr. Kendricks is a pivotal force in advancing PHIMC’s public health initiatives. Her prior role as Senior Vice President of Programs at Ignite, a Chicago-based non-profit organization supporting youth and emerging adults experiencing homelessness and housing instability, showcases her commitment to uplifting marginalized communities through innovative leadership and program development.

Holding an EdD in Organizational Leadership from National Louis University, Dr. Kendricks’ research explores the relationship between Black Chicago youth and Chicago Drill Music culture. She also possesses a Master of Arts in Inner City Studies Education from Northeastern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Arts in Administration of Justice from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Dr. Kendricks’ diverse expertise in community engagement, youth development, and public health underscores her comprehensive approach to social justice and community empowerment. Dr. Kendricks sits on the Board of Directors of the Love, Unity & Values (L.U.V.) Institute, a non-profit that supports young adults ages 16-24 in Chicago’s under-resourced communities through career development, entrepreneurship, and professional development programming. Dr. Kendricks is featured in the 2024 documentary “As We Speak,” based on the book “Rap on Trial” which examines the implications of Rap lyrics in legal contexts. 

With over nine years in LGBTQ+ health, Jay’s experience includes managing an HIV prevention program for trans and gender-expansive youth and contributing to Howard Brown Health’s COVID-19 response. As a transmasculine/two-spirit individual, Jay is committed to promoting health equity and human rights for marginalized communities. He speaks publicly about his lived experience, including in 2019 for ‘Un Hombre, Un Cuerpo HIStoria, ‘ a Transmasculine Latino panel, and in 2024, during Life Is Work’s Transgender Health and Wellness (THAW) Summit on their transmasculine panel. Jay finds it important to speak on his lived experience as a transmasculine/two-spirit individual because they know the importance of seeing yourself represented in everyday life. Jay feels other transgender and gender-diverse individuals can greatly benefit from seeing someone of similar lived experience being celebrated for their accomplishments and not just as another statistic.

In his spare time, Jay enjoys being with his two cats, attending concerts, and embracing life’s moments.

Before joining PHIMC, Julio served as the Associate Director of Youth Development for the Broadway Youth Center, where he supported teams focused on youth homelessness prevention, youth advocacy, program development, sexual and reproductive health, and resource advocacy. Julio has also worked on Chicago-based initiatives to define best practices for supporting LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness.

Julio attended Southern New Hampshire University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services. He truly believes that past mistakes cannot define who you are or who you can become. Julio is a December Capricorn whose favorite color is blue and he loves to travel. 

Drawing on more than a decade of nonprofit experience, Tevin has previously led transformative programming, empowering marginalized youth through housing support, mental health services, and community-building efforts. Her background includes advocacy against institutional racism, trauma-informed care for survivors of sexual violence, and training educators and healthcare providers on diversity and inclusion.

As a Black, bisexual, nonbinary individual with lived experience navigating homelessness and mental health challenges, Tevin’s dedication to public health is deeply personal. Outside of work, Tevin enjoys creative writing, storytelling, and video games.

Bryan supports partner organizations and PHIMC staff by providing supervision, training and technical assistance, partner management, contracting, fiscal and program monitoring, data analysis, and reporting to funders.

An advocate, activist, and sometimes agitator, Bryan brings 20 years of experience in supporting marginalized communities and people living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS, focusing on access and equity in care. A lifelong learner with lived experience and passion, Mr. Gooding is certified as an HIV tester/counselor, has been trained in multiple high-impact interventions, and holds an advanced certification in Community Health Work from South Suburban College.

With a background in AmeriCorps, including VISTA and VISTA leader roles, she brings extensive experience in youth development and volunteer generation. Kelly also directed an AmeriCorps State program in Colorado, providing tax assistance to rural communities, and served on the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Southwest Region staff, providing training, operations, and professional development support for more than 330 members annually. Kelly attended Western Michigan University and received a Bachelor of Art in Interpersonal Communication with a minor in History. Outside of work, Kelly enjoys spending time with her rescue dog, Brinny. 

Cynthia is passionate about collaborating with community and government stakeholders to develop infrastructure and strategies which improve health equity for marginalized populations and foster healthy communities. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Drexel University and her Master of Public Health with a Global Health Concentration from Northwestern University.

In her free time, Cynthia enjoys exploring various art and craft events across Chicago and doing jigsaw puzzles under the supervision of her senior cat.

James has been working with PHIMC for over a year and a half and before this role, he worked as Program Manager for the Healthy Chicago Equity Zones initiative. In the past, he has also overseen HIV clinical programs located in Cook County Health funded by the Chicago Department of Public Health. He graduated with a Master of Public Health and has more than seven years of experience in the public health field. As an African-American man in Chicago, James has always wanted to support and give back to marginalized communities and assist in any way he could.

James’s hobbies include cooking, collecting Funko Pop figures, gaming, and spending time with his friends and family.

With over a decade of experience in program management, Meghana focuses on partnership development, strategic planning, and collaboration with thought leaders in public and community health. Her journey at PHIMC began in September 2017, following roles at the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health and Mikva Challenge in Chicago.

Meghana holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago, driven by her dedication to social justice and equity, which is constantly fueled by the passion of young people. Outside work, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time at the lake with her wife and toddler, embracing the beauty of outdoor adventures.

Katie is passionate about ensuring programming and services reach and effectively meet the needs of their intended beneficiaries. Prior to joining PHIMC, Katie was the Quality Management Coordinator at St. Clair County Health Department. While there, she ensured programming met applicable standards of care and performance measures, recommended areas for improvement, facilitated process improvement with stakeholders, and led system-wide implementation of effective improvements.

Throughout her career, Katie has worked to help the non-profit community thrive, supporting professionals, people with lived experience, and organizations by overseeing funding to nonprofits, connecting and convening organizations, disseminating vital information, and building capacity to deliver programming. Katie earned a Master of Public Administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a Bachelor of Arts from McKendree University.

Before joining PHIMC in 2019, RoiAnn served as Communications Director for HealthConnect One, a national non-profit advancing respectful, community-based peer support for pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and early parenting. Before that, she worked for Lambda Legal, handling outreach and education for the Midwest Region. Throughout her career, she has worked against racism and classism, and for the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) people, and people living with or at risk for HIV. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Santa Clara University.

In her spare time, RoiAnn is a performance poet and storyteller on LGBTQ+ parenting, step-parenting, mental health, and the human connections that sustain us.

Brittany has dedicated nearly two decades to working in communities addressing and fighting to improve and eradicate social determinants of health, specifically inequity in the criminal justice and education systems. Brittany is passionate about working to create sustainable change in communities that need it most.

Brittany earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Valparaiso University and a Master of Science in Public Service Management with a focus in Urban Planning from DePaul University.

In addition, Brittany is known and recognized as an expert in the field of Restorative Justice. She has spearheaded various restorative justice initiatives and served as the lead planner to develop restorative justice entities that support and have positive impacts on individuals and communities.