Meet the Staff

Doug (he/him) has dedicated more than 25 years to advancing social justice, with a primary focus on ensuring everyone has access to affordable, decent housing. Prior to his time at CCH, Doug worked at established Chicago institutions such as Forefront, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Heartland Alliance, and the Law Center for Better Housing.

Doug currently serves on the Illinois Partners for Human Service board, is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, and was a 2019 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow. He is a graduate of both Grinnell College and the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Thelma (she/her) joined CCH in December 2000. Over the years, Thelma has supported the organization as the head of HR and Finance, ensuring the organization's workplace compliance, supporting employees’ needs and working with staff and accountants to ensure our budget and audits are transparent and accurate. She grew up speaking Spanish in the home, and today, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her kids, grandkids and her three beloved dogs: Missy, Koda, and Shadow!

Sherry (she/her) provides administrative and technical support to CCH staff. She has been working in the non-profit community for over 14 years. As a person of color, Sherry is committed to racial equity work and is a member of CCH’s Racial Equity Committee, serving as co-chair for the Policy Sub-Committee.

Sherry earned an associate’s degree with honors, majoring in Computer Science. In her free time, Sherry likes to travel and enjoys spending time doing indoor and outdoor activities with family and friends.

Gloria (she/her) came to CCH in 2013 as a grassroots leader and began her advocacy work. In 2018, she joined the CCH staff as an administrative assistant. Gloria is often the first person to connect with individuals who call asking for support, fielding questions about available resources and CCH’s work, and directing requests to the appropriate staff members. In her spare time, Gloria enjoys traveling and listening to live music.

Michael (he/him) helps connect passionate donors to our work to ensure we have the resources needed to carry out our mission. Although his childhood dream was to write Spiderman comics, he devoted his career to the belief that homelessness is a solvable problem. Since joining CCH in October 2006, he’s enjoyed working with a diverse group of people rallying around this important cause.
Outside of work, Michael collects memorabilia—including records, comic books, and art—and loves spending time with his family and two dogs, Stella and Jackson.

Erin (she/her) joined CCH’s development team in 2018. She manages our grants portfolio while supporting annual giving and donor communications. Recognizing the racism and inequity inherent to philanthropy, she strives to approach her work through the lens of community-centric fundraising, which prioritizes relationship-building and justice over the needs of donors and individual organizations.

In her free time, Erin enjoys running, comics, trivia, crosswords, being outside, eating snacks on her couch, and spending time with her niblings.

Zeki (he/him) joined CCH in 2023. He manages our EveryAction database, organizing, analyzing, and leveraging data from donors and advocates to build power and grow the impact of the organization. Originally from New Orleans, he moved to Chicago in 2021.

Outside of work, Zeki volunteers with environmental organizations such as Urban Rivers, maintaining wildlife sanctuaries on the Chicago River, and the American Hiking Society, preserving trails across the United States. He also contributes stories to the Goldin Institute on grassroots peace partnerships in Chicago and frequently takes art classes at Lillstreet Art Center and the Chicago Industrial Arts & Design Center.

Claire (she/her) returned to CCH in 2025, after previously serving for nearly a decade on the Development and Communication teams. In her current role, she focuses on crafting persuasive messaging and developing and executing strategic communications and narrative change plans to advance CCH’s goals. Claire is passionate about cultivating awareness and empathy through creative communications tools, including collaborative and ethical storytelling, to build public support for policy change.

Outside of work, Claire enjoys running and biking along Chicago’s lakefront, making pottery, woodworking, and spending quality time with her friends and family.

Samantha (she/her) is a multi-media artist and storyteller and has worked in film, art education, and communications for organizations throughout the city of Chicago. She founded the digital media lab at Sullivan High School and the media collective whatever spectrum media. She wrote and directed short films as part of the collective, which is a collaboration between Chicago Public School students and professional filmmakers. She received grants from DCASE through the Neighborhood Access Program, Individual Artist Program, and the Propellor Fund. She is also a board member for the First Nations Film and Video Festival. She enjoys spending time with family, in nature, and making things.

Wayne serves as our Director of Organizing. Wayne started with the organization in 2000, as a volunteer with a lived experience of homelessness. He is creative, with an interest in writing and performing poetry. Wayne lives on Chicago’s south side.

Jim Picchetti is the Associate Director of Organizing and our State Network Coordinator.

Emily (they/them) joined CCH’s organizing department in 2024. Emily leads our city-based campaign efforts to address homelessness by funding permanent supportive housing in the city of Chicago. Emily works closely with both CCH's grassroots leadership and organizational partners to develop and organize around long-term solutions for homelessness in the city, including our Bring Chicago Home campaign. Emily brings their background in Chicago issue-based organizing, direct action, and electoral organizing to their role at CCH. In their free time, you can likely catch Emily making pottery or going on bike rides along the city’s lakefront.

Alyssa (she/her) joined CCH as a community organizer in 2018. Alyssa organizes youth and adults experiencing homelessness to advocate for permanent solutions, like housing, social services, and jobs. Alyssa helps support grassroots leaders in their journeys to becoming advocates, organizers, and decision-makers through our various advocacy campaigns. She holds outreach at shelters, drop-ins, and community centers across the city with a focus on reaching youth and Latinx base members. She also manages the Edrika Fulford Mutual Aid Fund by convening our grassroots-led governing board and coordinating the administrative side of the fund.

Before joining CCH, Alyssa organized with various student campaigns on the University of Chicago campus. She graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Race & Ethnic studies.

Claudia (she/her) is the lead organizer for both the Horizons Creative Writing Program and the Speakers Bureau. She is deeply inspired by the need for change in communities and the urgency to address systemic issues affecting neighborhoods. Claudia’s passion lies in being a resource that empowers individuals to become leaders and instigate positive changes.

Outside of her role at CCH, Claudia’s volunteer work is a blend of advocacy and direct support, helping seniors regain their autonomy and lead in changing policies that affect their lives and health. She is focused on bringing awareness to the unique needs of older adults in her community.

Claudia earned a Master of Social Work from Dominican University, complemented by a minor in education, reflecting her dedication to both social work practice and community-based education. Her holistic approach to advocacy is further enriched by her artistic endeavors in painting and sculpting, mediums through which she creatively explores her culture and community narratives.

Alex (he/him) co-facilitates the Homeless Prevention Coalition, a statewide coalition of homeless service providers and Continuum of Care (CoC) staff, as well as our State Grassroots Leadership Table. In his role, he works to build power in Springfield for individuals experiencing homelessness across the state, with a focus on the Northern part of the state outside of Chicago. 

He has worked with our team since June 2021 and works with other nonprofits in his free time. Alex writes and performs poetry, and helps organize a show, Exhibit B: A Literary Variety Show, sponsored by the local nonprofit the Guild Literary Complex. 

Alex coaches track and field in Chicago Public Schools on and off when he has space. He finds community in both arts and athletics, bringing him peace. 

Nina (she/her/ella) works to advance racial equity and social justice with the justice-impacted community in her role at CCH. She has worked with our team since 2022 and is passionate about her re-entry work. With a background in social work, she feels the need to support as many communities as possible and help justice-impacted individuals reintegrate into society. Nina understands there is much to be done and is proud of her role in this work.

Raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico and spending summers in Chicago, Nina has a special bond with both places. She considers both Puerto Rico and Chicago home. Outside of her role at CCH, her volunteerism spans many issues from veterans' hospitals, senior living homes, and soup kitchens, to youth centers, school districts, and community gardens. Nina is also an appointed Special Needs Child Advocate.

Nina finds peace in cultivating meaningful relationships, engaging in creative activities, immersing herself in music, and exploring nature.

Socorro (she/her) joined CCH in 2024. She supports our Small Shelter Fund by visiting shelters, building relationships with providers, and ensuring funding reaches programs that serve people experiencing homelessness. Before joining CCH, she worked at a rehabilitation and halfway house with the Salvation Army, where she provided direct support to residents and the surrounding community.

Socorro brings deep understanding and empathy to her work, recognizing how difficult it can be to access resources and feel supported during times of housing instability. That insight motivates her commitment to advocacy and connection.

Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, carpentry, painting, and spending time outdoors with her kids and dogs. Whether exploring new activities with her family or simply enjoying a sunny day, Socorro finds joy in staying active and creative.

Lorna (she/her) joined CCH in 2020. She works to build CCH’s grassroots leaders team, does outreach in Chicago communities, and advances racial equity. Her organizing work is motivated by a desire to make a love-fueled world where quality housing, food, and health are the standard.

Born and raised in Chicago, she finds peace knowing she does her part, moves in integrity and truth, and takes every opportunity to be with loved ones.

Myron serves as both an Outreach Assistant and a Grassroots Leader.

Niya (she/her) joined CCH in 2015. In her role, she supports the organization’s state policy agenda, including supporting policies that remove barriers and create opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. She also supports our internal and external racial equity work, understanding that we cannot end homelessness without also ending racism.

Niya is also an adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and she has served on the boards of Chicago Community Bond Fund and Chicago United for Equity. She tries to read at least thirty books a year, and believes the work that we do is meant to create roots and foundations for future generations.

Mary (she/her) joined CCH in 2017 and transitioned to her current role in 2024. She supports coalition efforts to expand resources for affordable housing and supportive services and uphold the rights of people experiencing street homelessness. Prior to joining our team, Mary spent 12 years organizing Section 8 and Single Room Occupancy (SRO) tenants, along with other community members, to preserve existing and create new affordable housing, as well as pass citywide legislation.
She believes strongly that homelessness is a failure of our system, and is honored to work on solutions alongside people most impacted by those failures on a daily basis.

Sam (he/him) leads city policy implementation and reform initiatives at CCH. He began his career as a service provider through the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund. Sparking an interest in housing law, Sam transitioned to the Housing Practice Group at Legal Aid Chicago, providing court support and housing advocacy for county residents facing housing legal matters. He has also served as a National Housing Law Project law clerk, focusing on preserving and expanding California’s supply of safe and affordable homes.

Sam is currently the vice president of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund. Previous appointments include the Chicago Office of the Mayor’s New Arrivals Cabinet and the Chicago Area HIV Integrated Services Council.

Sam is currently pursuing a Juris Doctor with certifications in Public Interest and Corporate Compliance. He graduated from DePaul University in 2018 with a Master of Public Administration and a concentration in International Public Management. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies in 2016. Sam also holds a professional certification from the University of Chicago in Data Analytics for Business Professionals.

Christy (she/her) has been with our team since 2017. In her role, she manages CCH’s racial equity work, focused on internal and external structures. Christy works collaboratively with grassroots leaders, clients, base constituents, and partner organizations to foster equity in all of CCH’s initiatives. Her responsibilities include managing and supporting the organization's hiring process, centered on identifying and implementing equitable practices.

Christy is deeply invested in racial equity work. Growing up in a low-income first-generation immigrant household, she understood at an early age how inequities surrounding race and class directly correlate to the loss of human capital in marginalized communities like her own. This awareness fueled a lifelong commitment to help build a world where inequities do not predict life outcomes and where communities are supported and empowered.

Christy graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work from Aurora University in 2016 and a Master of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago in 2017.

Outside of work, Christy loves to spend time playing tennis in the summer and skiing in the winter. She also loves exploring different Chicago neighborhoods and the food scene with her husband and close friends.

M Nelsen (no or gender neutral pronouns) joined CCH in 2024. M staffs our Youth Committee, leads the Homelessness Data Project, and manages city policy research initiatives. M became passionate about collaborating for radical policy change to end homelessness through their varied work experiences. These include social psychological research on intersectionality while earning an MA from Northwestern, supporting young people in accessing career pathways, developing and organizing a young adult-specific Coordinated Entry system, and engaging in local progressive advocacy work.

When not pursuing this passion, M gets joy from noticing birds, power lifting, camping, and reading a variety of books including Afro-Futurism, history, and intersectional feminist philosophy.

Patricia (she/her) collaborates with other members of CCH’s Law Project to provide free legal services to people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. She has been part of our team since 1998. Patricia discovered her passion for advancing racial and social justice in law school. She began her career interning at the Homeless Advocacy Project of what is now Legal Aid Chicago and later worked as an attorney there. That experience motivated Patricia to continue working with people experiencing homelessness. She is continually inspired by CCH Law Project clients and grassroots leaders.

Outside of work, Patricia enjoys yoga, walking/hiking, being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

Beth Malik (she/her) has led Youth Futures, CCH’s mobile legal aid clinic for homeless youth, since joining our team in 2007. A 2005 graduate of University of Denver Law School, she worked as guardian ad litem for the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center, where she represented abused and neglected children involved in juvenile court. She earned a bachelor’s in English and environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In 2010, after three years with the Law Project, Beth was honored with the Kimball R. Anderson and Karen Gatsis Anderson Public Interest Law Fellowship, from the Chicago Bar Foundation. Her legal work focuses on providing civil legal services to unaccompanied homeless young people. Her clients’ energy and resilience continue to motivate and inspire her daily.

Originally from Los Angeles, Beth has called Chicago home since 2007. Although she loves Chicago, she’s still not crazy about the winters. Outside of work, she enjoys reading and spending time with her two kids and three French bulldogs.

Arturo (he/him) has been an attorney since 2012. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in 2007 and his law degree from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law in 2012. Arturo works on sealing and expungement cases including cannabis expungement, civil rights cases, and other civil matters.

Though both his parents immigrated from Mexico, Arturo was born in Chicago and has lived on the Northwest side of Chicago for most of his life. He is fluent in Spanish, which has been an asset in his work. Arturo is a United States Army veteran.

Outside of work, Arturo enjoys volunteering in the community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Palenque LSNA. Arturo also likes to spend time with his adopted dog, Rio, who he loves very much.

Alyssa (she/her) joined CCH’s Law Project in 2017. She advocates and works for the educational rights of students and families experiencing homelessness in the Chicagoland area. Her work includes training educators and families on the rights of students experiencing homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Act, providing direct representation, and community outreach.

Outside of work, Alyssa loves baking and cooking. She has wanted to be an attorney since she was in kindergarten.

Kyle joined CCH as a senior attorney in February 2025. He has his B.A. from the University of Tennessee and J.D. from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. As a law student, Kyle took an interest in procedural and constitutional law, participating in his law school’s Supreme Court Clinic, and publishing articles on federal personal jurisdiction doctrine and First Amendment theory. Prior to coming to CCH, Kyle served as a federal law clerk, worked in private practice, and was an appellate attorney with a federal agency. Kyle comes to CCH with lived experience of homelessness and housing insecurity.

Outside of work, Kyle plays country music and tennis, and spends time with his wife and retired racing greyhounds, Vixen and Comet.

Thomas joined CCH as a family attorney in September 2021. He has his B.S. from West Texas A&M University and J.D. from Loyola University Chicago with a Certificate in Public Interest and Social Justice and a Certificate in Child and Family Law.

Before law school and throughout his undergraduate studies, he was an organizer on Political campaigns in six states ranging from congressional, senate, and presidential. Before moving to Chicago, Thomas grew up in a small town in Texas and raised goats and pigs with his family.

Melissa (she/they) provides legal representation, outreach, and advocacy to unsheltered individuals and families in Chicago through the Law Project’s specialized community lawyering service delivery model.

Melissa was inspired to pursue this Equal Justice Works fellowship after her prior housing work with historically harmed and excluded communities in Denver and Chicago. She has witnessed firsthand how access to legal services and policy advocacy can be a lifeline to those most disenfranchised and set up to fail. Melissa’s own family experienced housing insecurity when she was young. This lived experience informs her deep passion and commitment to housing justice.

Outside of work, Melissa enjoys spending time outside, yoga, reading, getting lavender lattes, and being a kitty mom with her partner.

Ali (he/him) began volunteering with CCH as a grassroot leader in 2014, working alongside others on issues that impact returning citizens. He joined the CCH Law Project staff as a Street Outreach Worker in 2016.

In his current role, Ali is responsible for conducting outreach to unsheltered individuals living on the street, connecting them with services offered by the Law Project and advocating for their rights. He also networks with other organizations and city agencies in order to connect unsheltered individuals with other services.

Sue Um (she/they) joined CCH in 2022, working in the CCH Communications department before joining the Law Project team in 2024. In their current role, Sue works with youth, partner organizations, and funders through the Scholarship Program and Streetlight Chicago app/website to cultivate community and connect young people experiencing homelessness with the resources they need.

Sue holds a BA in Radio/Television/Film and Asian American Studies from Northwestern University. Outside of work, Sue enjoys reading and watching movies. She can be spotted browsing at the public library or frequenting local movie theaters.

Angel Ortega started his journey at CCH as an Intern for the Law Project. Shortly after, he was hired in his current role as the Intake and Support Coordinator in November 2024. Angel is a first-generation graduate, obtaining a BSW at Aurora University and his MSW from the University of Chicago. His areas of focus in school included child welfare and understanding policy around the mass incarceration issue in the U.S.

Angel was motivated to work at CCH because of the organization’s effort in addressing homelessness at various levels of impact, including working with community members directly, addressing community concerns, and advocating for policy change. As a social worker, he understands the importance of addressing homelessness in these areas and hopes to contribute to the great work done at CCH. In his current position, Angel will coordinate the Law Project intakes, support the scholarship program, manage the Law Project Social Work Internship program, and collaborate with CCH staff on additional projects.

In his free time, Angel enjoys spending time exploring the music, shows, and art that Chicago has to offer. His favorite neighborhoods include Pilsen, Northalsted, and Hyde Park. In his hometown, he enjoys spending quality time with his siblings at the Woodstock Square.