Chicago's Mayoral Advisory Council on LGBTQ+ Affairs

Don Abram (he/him) is the founder and Executive Director of Pride in the Pews, an organization that aims to create connections with the LGBTQ+ community and the Black Church. Don is a graduate of the Harvard Divinity School and a recipient of the 2023 Chicago Proud Award.

Dr. Nick Alder (they/them/theirs)- Dr. Nick is a creative, researcher, strategist, and emergent therapist specializing in healing and liberation. Dr. Nick is active in event production and community building, as evidenced by their leadership in the award-winning collective Party Noire.

Maliyah Arnold (she/her)- Maliyah is an openly transgender activist, model, and actress. Born and raised in Hazel Crest, IL., a suburb on the southside of Chicago, she went on to attend DePaul University where she studied Economics. Maliyah is a board member of Howard Brown Healthcare, a federally qualified healthcare center focused on LGBTQ healthcare. Additionally, she also serves on the board of directors of Brave Space Alliance, a trans-led LGBTQ center dedicated to providing affirming programming & resources on the South and West sides of Chicago.

Dr. Chris Balthazar (he/him)- Dr. Balthazar serves as Executive Director at TaskForce, an Austin-based grassroots organization committed to improving the sexual health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth of color in Chicago. Previously, Dr. Balthazar worked as a Research Project Director at Stroger Hospital, conducting prevention and treatment research among LGBTQ+ youth of color. 

Donald Bell (he/him)- Donald is a retired college administrator, an LGBTQ+ activist, and a founding ally of Affinity Community Services. He is a resident of Town Hall Apartments, Chicago’s first affordable housing complex to be LGBTQ+ senior-friendly. He serves as Chair of Governor Pritzker’s Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging.

Miguel Blancarte, Jr. (he/him/él) – Miguel is the Founder and Principal of Blancarte Strategies, a mission-driven social impact strategies firm focusing on health, equity, and community strategies for a holistic approach to addressing the social drivers and determinants of health. Miguel also has a role at Metropolitan Family Services, one of Illinois’ largest health and human services nonprofits, annually serving over 130,000 individuals and families.

Miguel is the Chair for the LGBTQ+ Issues Advisory Council’s Health and Human Services Committee. He is born and raised in Chicago’s West side, in the Little Village neighborhood, where he continues to reside.

Robert Castillo (he/him)- Robert is an organizer and Chicago Hall of Fame inductee. He and his partner were involved in the first case involving sexual orientation that proceeded under the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance. The couple was arrested with others after dancing as same-sex couples in a suburban bar. Today, Robert is a tireless advocate for affordable housing.

Stefanie Clark (she/her)- Stefanie is a transgender activist, model, and advocate for LGBTQ+ seniors. She is a member of The Village Chicago, serves on Howard Brown’s Aging Services Advisory Board, and participates on the Vernita Gray Council for Philanthropy.

Starr De Los Santos (she/her)- Starr currently serves as the Senior Coalition Manager at Women Employed, where she is involved with coalitions such as Illinois Time to Care, Illinois Full and Fair Wage, Paid Leave for All, and Equal Pay Chicago. 

Anna DeShawn (anything respectful)- Anna is a social entrepreneur, storyteller and community organizer. She is the Founder of E3 Radio & The Qube, media platforms centering and celebrating on Black, Brown, and Queer individuals. Previously, Anna served as the President of the Board of Directors for Affinity Community Services, a social justice organization serving Black LGBTQ+ women. In 2023, she was inducted into Chicago's LGBT Hall of Fame for her consistent commitment to the community. 

Jin-Soo Daniel Huh (he/him)- Jin-Soo is a partner at The Learning Accelerator. He is a regular EdSurge columnist, a Victory Campaign board member, and the Victory NextGen Network Co-Lead. Jin-Soo is an LSC community representative at Inter-American Magnet School and is the Founding Co-Chair of the Equality Illinois Emerging Leaders Circle.

Kim Hunt (she/her)- Kim was the first Executive Director at Affinity Community Services. Now Kim serves as Executive Director of the Pride Action Tank, a project of the AIDS Foundation on Chicago. She is a Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame inductee and a regular contributor to Outspoken, an LGBTQ+ storytelling collective.

Kristen Kaza (she/her)- Kristen is the Creative Director of No Small Plans and has been the architect of hundreds of “parties with a purpose”. She consistently is ranked by Chicago Reader as Best Party Promoter. She is the Co-Founder and Producer of the long-time queer celebratory party series Slo’Mo Dance Party 

Cornelius Lee (he/him)- Cornelius is a DEI consultant and Partner at Promise54. Cornelius is also an Adjunct Professor at Dominican University and the founder of Mockingbird, a company that aims to cultivate Black and Queer wine enthusiasts.

Dr. Pamela Lightsey (she/her)- Dr. Lightsey is the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and Associate Professor of Constructive Theology at the Meadville Lombard Theological School. Dr, Lightsey’s publications include “Our Lives Matter: A Womanist Queer Theology,” “Transforming Service,” and “He Is Black and We Are Queer.”

Mony Ruiz-Velasco (she/her/ella)- Mony Ruiz-Velasco is a human rights advocate and the Deputy Director at Equality Illinois where she works to advance a more equitable Illinois for all LGBTQ+ communities. For more than two decades, Mony worked to combine organizing, advocacy, and legal efforts on behalf of immigrant rights and social justice. 

Sanjeev Singh (he/him)- Sanjeev is the Program Manager at Affirm through RUSH Hospital. Affirm provides gender-affirming clinical services for LGBTQ+ residents, including behavioral health, HIV care, surgery, and specialty care.

Stephanie Skora (she/her)- Stephanie is the co-founder of Brave Space Alliance and currently serves as the organization’s Chief Development Officer. Active in Chicago and Cook County politics, Stephanie is the author of the Girl, I Guess progressive voter guide.

Eric Wilkerson (he/him)- Eric is the Founder and Principal of Wilkerson + Company, which serves nonprofit organizations in fundraising for social justice, advocacy, animal welfare, and social services. Eric is a board member of the LGBTQ Victory Fund and the Victory Fund Midwestern Caucus Chair.

Vic Wynter (they/them)- Vic is an ensemble member of About Face Theater’s Education Outreach program. They are a producer at The Neofuturists and Fly Honey Live. Vic was also a For Youth Inquiry actor, teaching young people about sexual health through interactive plays.