our visionaries

Celeste K. Jones currently serves as the Legal Director of the Adult Guardianship Division of the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian. Celeste has dedicated her legal practice of 27 years to advocacy on behalf of the most vulnerable people in our communities: adults with disabilities, the majority of which are senior citizens, and abused, neglected and dependent children. Celeste also spearheaded the Public Guardian’s Community Outreach initiative in its efforts to educate the community and community stakeholders on the issues that impact the most vulnerable among us. Celeste also edits and designs the Public Guardian’s newsletter. Celeste is a former board member of two local not-for-profit organizations, which focused on achieving successful outcomes for college-bound students.  She is a proud and active member of the Chicago Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Celeste is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and Loyola University Chicago School of Law. 

De'Andrea Robinson is a true Chicagoan, born and raised on the Southside. She attended Northern Illinois University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She is employed with the Chicago Public Library as a Children's Library Associate where she creates programs for her little friends and provides quality services to the community she serves. Always having a love and passion to help others, she serves on the board for Northern Illinois University Black Alumni Council and is a proud and active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she serves as the Chair of the Delta GEMS program. With service in her heart, De’Andrea enjoys giving back to her community and working with the youth. She has worked with various organizations and participated in several public service activities, such as feeding the homeless, Share Your Soles, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Catholic Charities, played bingo with the seniors in the 009 District and JMD Angels Foundation. De'Andrea is a daughter, mother, wife, and friend. She has been married for 17 years and enjoys spending time with her family and her Sorors. She is a Paparazzi Independent Consultant and is currently in graduate school obtaining her (MLIS) Master’s in Library and Information Sciences.

Donte' Thrasher is an educator from Atlanta, Georgia. He is an alum of Clark Atlanta University and the University of Chicago.  He is currently teaching at Butler College Prep in Chicago, Illinois.   As an educator and a first generation college graduate, Donte' believes in the transformative power of scholarship and community. He understands that when brought together they inspire revolutionary shifts in the minds of young scholars. Through work as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and engaging with volunteering projects abroad, he seeks to help facilitate these shifts in the youth. Part of his passion and life's work is to harness the power of education and the spirit of community to help create more understanding on Earth. Donte' believes that fostering more peace on the planet, all starts with getting to know one another and having empathy for one another. To him it is the unshackling of the mind and the collective force of humanity that will create a better tomorrow. Through JMD Angels, he knows this is possible! 

Ebony Harris is a proud Chicagoan and servant for her city and its residents. She is a 2022 recipient of the 40 Under 40 Award from the Black Women Professionals League based on her leadership and community involvement. Currently, Ebony is involved in several organizations that align with her personal values. Ebony serves as the Vice President for the Metropolitan Board of the Chicago Urban League, is a committee member for the Women's Leadership and Mentoring Program via the Chicago Women in Philanthropy, and a volunteer therapist for the Wingspan Project's Access for All Program.  Ebony is a Graduate of Howard University c/o 2016 (B.A) and Loyola University (MSW) 2018.

Ms. Stevens is a global, high-integrity business executive in the pharmaceuticals and medical device technology industries, with over 30+ years experience in QA, operations, and engineering.  She is the President, JL Stevens Consulting. Her previous roles have included was VP Quality,  Hillrom, VP, Sterile Injectable Quality Operations at Pfizer and Hospira. With earlier roles in global pharmaceutical companies, including Abraxis Bioscience and Eli Lilly. 

Ms. Stevens serves as a mentor to aspiring engineers and furthering diversity in STEM career fields. She chaired the inaugural DEI employee resource group Chicago chapters for both Hillrom and Pfizer. She is a member of Women Business Leaders of the U.S. Health Care Industry Foundation (WBL), including the DEI committee. She was the 2019 Commencement speaker at The Young Women’s Leadership Charter School, and is a member of iMentor Chicago, Women Corporate Directors (WCD) BoardNext initiative. She has an MBA with concentrations in Operations and Finance from DePaul and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Purdue.

J. Renard Cleggett is a native Chicagoan and a Chicago Police Department Sergeant.  He is an ordained deacon at his church and enjoys being a servant leader in every aspect of his life.  Renard as he is affectionately called has a Masters Degree from Lewis University in Criminal Justice and is a Leadership and Education Doctoral Student at DePaul University. He and his wife, Rhonda Cleggett are the proud parents of a college bound freshman. 

Kim Doss-Patterson born and raised on the South Side of Chicago retired from Cook County Health System. While working for the Health System, she served as Union President for AFSCME LOCAL 1276 representing over 300 members. She has a Bachelors of Arts degree from Columbia College in Chicago, and a Masters Degree in HR Management from National Louis University. Kim served as President of Top Ladies of Distinction Inc. Midway Chicago chapter for four years.  She has been an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority for 40 years.  She loves helping people and serving in the community.

LaToya T. Wilson has a rich history of volunteering. In 2007, she served as a Tutoring Assistant with Have a Heart for Sickle Anemia Foundation. She was responsible for planning and implementing the curriculum at tutoring sessions specifically designed to address the needs of children who have sickle cell disease. She continued her passion for volunteerism as chairperson for the Chicago Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. E.M.B.O.D.I. (Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence) youth program for six years. These two positions speak of only a fraction of her dedication to community activism, yet her participation in a plethora of service projects, including those associated with a position as Community Outreach and School Service Projects Coordinator, concretely show an affinity for serving the community. She firmly believe that you worship God by stewarding your time and talents for Him when you serve. She believes in Matthew 25:40 which tells us that we do for Him whatever we do to help others in need.

LeDonna Rollins-Barnes is a proud graduate of Grambling State University with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work. For the past 24 years, she has been a dedicated Juvenile Probation Officer with Cook County Juvenile Probation.  She has devoted her life to helping numerous children despite not having children of her own. Since 2003, she has been a proud and active member of the Chicago Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated. She has served in several leadership roles as a chair and committee leader with the Delta Gems  (mentor for high school age girls), and as the HBCU College Tour Chair. She presently serves as the Chair of the Sergeant-At- Arms team. She also proudly serves her union as an Executive board member for AFSME local 3477.  She also serves on the labor management team, Project Life Line scholarship committee and MARX fund committee.  LeDonna is a dedicated servant to the community and enjoys giving back.  She has been married for five years to her wonderful and supportive husband Malik Barnes. 

 Lisa Heiskell-Tompkins is a graduate of Hampton University. She has a long history of public service as a volunteer with the Ronald McDonald House in Hyde Park as a guest services volunteer.  Additionally, she volunteers with the Chicago Hampton Alumni Association supporting their community outreach efforts and scholarship fundraising.  Lisa began volunteering in 2021 with JMD Angels Foundation and faithfully served in several areas including assisting with  logistics. Her commitment to public service will continue on as a board member.  

Maxine Mathis is a 2018 graduate of Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA. She is an entrepreneur and owns the custom printing business, M.Pressed Customs LLC.  Maxine is a member of the Chicago Metro Board and a life member with the Chicago Central Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW).  She is also an elected member of the National NCNW Nominating Committee.  She also serves as a volunteer cheer coach with KAOS Bulldogs Cheerleading. Maxine is the Vice President of the Chicago Chapter of the Clark Atlanta Alumni Association.  She is a proud and active member of the Chicago Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. 

Schantel Deal-Ross a resident of the city of Chicago, is a wife and mother and has worked for the law offices of Winston and Strawn as a Senior Paralegal for 24 years.

Schantel’s passion for service and her life goal is to be a positive force and a blessing to others. She strives to achieve that goal by being active in the community and supportive of nonprofit programs that

focus on the betterment and provide access to others. Aligning her profession with her service she also worked with North Lawndale Legal Clinic Intake Center aiding community residents with legal aid

and contact resources. Schantel also lends her time and support to a host of other nonprofits such as NCNW; Marillac St. Vincent; Bright Horizons for Youth, Literacy Works’; Purpose Over Pain; True Believers Community Connections; and Reading Between the Lines, a program dedicated to transitioning individuals into life after incarceration. When you hear her say “It takes a village” it is from her experience and love of community she is speaking. Schantel holds a Master of Business Administration from University of Phoenix as well as a Bachelor of Arts in in English and a Certificate of Paralegal studies from Roosevelt University.

Sheryl Franklin has been passionate about providing service to the community for over 20 years. She has volunteered as a parent volunteer at Higgins Community Academy, Vanderpoel Elementary School and Simeon Career Academy High school. Sheryl has also volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club at Bellevue Baptist Church. She tutors adults with the Delta Literacy Program, and serves as a regular volunteer for the American Cancer Society.