Our Team
The Julian Grace Foundation
Leadership
Formerly the Executive Director of Heart of the City and with over a decade at Boys & Girls Clubs, Scott is an innovative leader known for enhancing nonprofit operations and fundraising.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Scott served as Executive Director for Heart of the City, a Waukegan, IL-based youth development organization. During his time there, he was instrumental in the organization’s operational development, program and fundraising expansion, and Board growth while implementing a five-year strategic plan and a justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion plan.
Prior to Heart of the City, Scott spent more than a decade working as Executive Director for Boys & Girls Clubs. Throughout his career, he became known as an innovative and resourceful leader with expertise in strengthening nonprofit organizations through operational excellence, strategic fundraising, building community partnerships, and strong governing boards. Scott was awarded a scholarship to play basketball at Olivet Nazarene University, where he graduated with a degree in social work. In his free time, Scott enjoys playing golf and traveling with his family.
A native Chicagoan with over 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Tanya joined JGF after serving as Chief Growth Officer at Gary Comer Youth Center.
Tanya brings nearly 20 years of leadership and organizational development experience within Chicago’s nonprofit sector, addressing inequitable and oppressive systems through thought leadership and activism. Prior to joining the Julian Grace Foundation, Tanya held executive leadership positions at community-based organizations across the city of Chicago. Her expertise in management and operations is informed by real-world problem solving in dynamic institutions that serve some of our most vulnerable populations.
Tanya was born and raised in Chicago and received her B.A. in Management & Communications from DePaul University. She also holds an MBA from Loyola University and is a Baumhart Scholar, a world-class program that bridges the gap between purpose and profit. In the summer, Tanya, her husband, and two children can be spotted riding bikes all over the city enjoying the lakefront or a neighborhood festival. She is also passionate about the arts and spends her downtime honing her creative practices such as painting and resin pouring.
Grants Management Team
Alex has worked in the nonprofit sector, providing direct support to communities, including court support for domestic violence survivors and connecting seniors with health resources.
Born and raised in Chicago, Alex brings a compassionate and strategic approach to the philanthropy sector, with a strong foundation in direct service work. Over the years, she has supported diverse communities by connecting individuals to resources that improve their well-being and access to care. These experiences have shaped her commitment to reducing barriers and ensuring equitable access to opportunities.
Since transitioning into the philanthropy sector in 2020, Alex has focused on fostering strong relationships with the grantee partners. She is passionate about using data to track and measure impact of grants and is dedicated to streamlining administrative processes and ensuring that systems serve the unique needs of the grantee partners.
She believes that collaboration and data driven insights are essential to creating a more effective and equitable philanthropic landscape. She holds an MSW with a specialization in Leadership and Development and an MA in Social Justice from Loyola University as well as a BA in Psychology from Cornell College.
Michelle has experience working with K-12 students in various learning environments and has worked at multiple nonprofit organizations. She also has a background in museums and education, focusing on volunteer coordination, membership management, and museum education.
Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, Michelle came from a background in museums and education. She has worked with K-12 students in a variety of learning environments and has worked at multiple nonprofit organizations. Her focus while working in museums was volunteer coordination, membership management, and museum education. Before her role at The Julian Grace Foundation, Michelle worked at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart as their Assistant Director of Admission and Affordability. Michelle graduated from Ripon College with a Bachelor’s in English and a Minor in Dramatic Literature and History.
In her free time, Michelle loves to travel, read and go on adventures with her husband, Nate, and their pup Freyja.
Program Officers & Associates
Carrie has over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, specifically with direct service community-based organizations, including roles such as Director of Education and Professional Development at Beyond Sports Foundation and Education Director at Youth Conservation Corps.
Carrie Madden has more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, specifically with direct service community-based organizations. In her prior positions, she has held multiple roles including Director of Education and Professional Development at Beyond Sports Foundation, a sports-based college access and success program where she collaborated directly with high school and college student-athletes and their families to provide academic support, tutoring and test prep, and professional development opportunities.
Additionally, as the Education Director at Youth Conservation Corps, Carrie managed programs that provided educational access to high school credentials and personal development opportunities for opportunity youth throughout Lake County. Throughout her career, Carrie has also developed significant expertise in grant management for multiple grants and funding streams and has assisted multiple organizations in securing additional funding through grant writing and advocacy work.
Carrie earned a Master of Education in Secondary Education at DePaul University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in History and American Studies from the University of Iowa. In her free time, Carrie enjoys spending time with her three sons and husband, reading, and watching college and professional sports.
Clifton Williams is a senior nonprofit manager with over 20 years of experience with community engagement, corporate social responsibility, nonprofit consulting, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Clifton Williams is an experienced senior nonprofit manager with over 20 years of multiple work experiences in the profit and nonprofit landscape. He started his career at State Farm Insurance before moving on to become a consultant for two boutique agencies. His services included community engagement, corporate social responsibility, nonprofit consulting, diversity, equity, and inclusion. He later held two roles in higher education as a Director of Career Services and a Director of Partnerships. In addition, he served as the Executive Director at Changing Worlds, a K-12 arts in education organization.
Clifton was also involved in launching two citywide workforce development and higher education programs that increased diversity in various industries. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University and a Master of Science in Public Administration/Nonprofit Management from DePaul University. Clifton also completed a certificate program in Workplace DE&I at the University of South Florida.
Yanelly has extensive experience in program development and strategic planning with a focus on equity and inclusion, including having served as Director of Youth Development at Heart of the City, where she created a new youth development program model.
Born and raised in Chicago, Yanelly brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the areas of program development, strategic planning, and enhancing leadership skills. She is particularly proficient at using a lens of equity and inclusion for program development, assessment, and management. Prior to joining the Julian Grace Foundation, she served as the Director of Youth Development at Heart of the City, a youth development organization. While at Heart of the City, she created and implemented a new youth development program model, strategically utilizing resources to maximize impact, and enhance engagement with the students.
As a professional, Yanelly has garnered a reputation for being an innovative collaborator, an effective communicator, and a strong strategic planner who has a proclivity for relationship building and strategic thinking. Yanelly earned her BA in Political Science and MA in Communication from Northern Illinois University. Outside of work, you can often find Yanelly reading, hiking and biking with her wife, and traveling.
Tomas has experience working with youth, immigrants, and current and formerly incarcerated folks. Before joining JGF, he was a research assistant at the University of Chicago.
Tomas has experience working with youth, immigrants, and current and formerly incarcerated folks. Before joining Julian Grace Foundation, Tomas was a research assistant at the University of Chicago. He holds a B.A. in Latin American Studies from Northeastern Illinois University and an M.A. from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. In his free time, you’ll find him reading and hanging out at playgrounds and soccer fields with his three siblings.
Alice is a compassionate and inspirational educator, coordinator, and leader with 15 years of direct experience working in school buildings to co-create a space and culture that facilitated conversations about equity, race, diversity, and inclusion.
Alice is a compassionate and inspirational educator, coordinator, and leader who possesses 15 years of direct experience working in school buildings. As an educator, she worked to co-create a space and culture that facilitated conversations about equity, race, diversity, and inclusion. It was within these walls her commitment to social justice and her deep desire to do good in the world became abundantly clear. She specializes in program development, implementation, coordination, and evaluation.
Prior to joining the Julian Grace Foundation, Alice worked in Chicago Public Schools as a classroom teacher, interventionist, special education teacher, and coordinator. In these positions, she worked to create high-quality learning environments for all students, specifically elevating students who may struggle within traditional school settings. Alice is committed to creating high-quality youth programming that is inclusive and supports the development of the Next Generation leaders. She is a native Chicagoan, received her B.A. in Cultural Studies from Columbia College Chicago and holds a master's degree in Instructional Leadership/Elementary Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago. When she is not working, you will find her reading, practicing yoga, tending to her many houseplants, traveling and spending time with her husband, two children and her dog Agnes
Za’Tozia, a Lake County native, holds degrees in Communication, Social Justice, and Journalism. With a background in media and outreach, she joined JGF after serving on its Emerging Leaders board in 2022.
Za’Tozia is a Lake County native and proud graduate of the College of Lake County, where she maintained high honors and Lake Forest College, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and completed her degree in Communication and Social Justice. Later, she attended S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and got a master’s degree in journalism. She was awarded full-ride scholarships for each degree. Her background in broadcast, digital journalism and writing garnered her much recognition and awards over the years.
She first joined the Foundation as a member of the Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy Board in 2022. This experience shaped her view of philanthropy profoundly and empowered her to learn as much as she could. Prior to her full-time role at JGF she worked as a Community Outreach Specialist for the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, volunteered in her community and wrote articles for various journals and publications. In her free time, you might find her snuggled up with a good book, brainstorming inventions or working out. She also loves laughing and spending time with her family and friends over a good meal.
Administration & Communications
With over 15 years in the radio industry, along with expertise in growing social media platforms and leading podcasting initiatives, Robert brings extensive experience in digital content creation and media to the Julian Grace Foundation.
Robert Castro brings a wealth of experience in digital content creation and media to Julian Grace Foundation. Before joining the foundation, he served on the Kishwaukee United way board of directors. With over 15 years in the radio industry, Robert has played a key role in growing social media platforms and spearheading podcasting initiatives at the stations he worked for. His career has taken him from California to Wisconsin, and he now calls the Chicago area home.
Robert earned his BA in Organizational Communications from CSU Sacramento. Outside of work, he enjoys watching Formula 1, attending ballgames, going to music festivals, podcasting, and unwinding in his racing simulator.
