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Center on Halsted's team is comprised of professional staff members with diverse backgrounds and experiences, all dedicated to building and strengthening the LGBTQ Community.The following list is organized by department and last name. Feel free to contact us by calling our front desk at 773.472.6469. If you are interested in joining our team, visit our CAREERS & INTERNSHIPS page.
Jim Klein (he/him), Chief Technology and Operations Officer, EXT 246
Jim attended Buena Vista University, interested in both Communication Studies, with an emphasis in Journalism and Television Production, and Computer Science. After graduating, Jim took a year off to explore photography and travelling before moving to DeKalb, IL where he attended Northern Illinois University and taught classes in Media Production while working on a Masters degree in Communication Studies.
In 1995, Jim moved to Chicago and began a career with Travel 2000, a travel specialty store where he served as a store manager and corporate trainer. In 1999, Jim turned down a promotion to become district manager when he learned of a career opportunity at Horizons Community Services. In March of 1999, Jim joined Horizons Community Services as Volunteer Coordinator and Information Technology (IT) Manager. Over the years, Jim assisted in several transformative initiatives for the organization, actively engaged in the growth of a small, grass roots social service agency into Center on Halsted, the Midwest’s largest LGBTQ Community Center.
Over his tenure, Jim has served in a variety of progressive capacities and now serves as Chief Technology and Operations Officer, responsible for technology and building operations including infrastructure, security, reception, and operations staff at multiple sites.
Joli Robinson (she/her), Chief Executive Officer, EXT 250
Diane Pascal (she/her), Chief Development Officer, EXT 245
Brittany Terry (she/her), Senior Director People and Culture (HR), EXT 188
Brittany Terry has a hand in building all diversity, equity, and inclusion programming offered by Center. This includes staff trainings, culture building, and community outreach. Brittany is intentional about making sure our actions ladder up to Center’s mission, values and racial equity statements.
Originally from New York, Brittany began her Chicago journey at Loyola University Chicago for graduate school, where she studied sociology. Throughout her time at Loyola, she began to create a sense of community in Chicago and post-graduation, decided to stay for the long haul. It was in Chicago where Brittany gained experience in working for Illinois’ Department of Juvenile Justice, Northrop Grumman (a government contractor for the military), and FCB Global (an international advertising agency).
Brittany and her partner recently purchased a home in the Bronzeville neighborhood of the city. She most enjoys cooking, traveling, shopping, working out, and upcycling furniture.
Ethel Blanchard (she/her), Data Entry Assistant
Nanica Brown (she/her), Receptionist
Scott Fiero (he/him), Operations Manager
Patrick Harms (he/him), Operations Coordinator
Paul Helfen (he/him), Director of Operations and Rentals, EXT 476
Gerald Patrick Henderson (he/him), Operations Coordinator
Tom Spinella (he/him), Receptionist
Nelli Vahter (she/her), Receptionist
Kathryn Brown (she/her), AVP Advocate Clinician, EXT 443
Alexandra Brozowski (she/her), Behavioral Health Clinical Administrator, EXT 460
Lyle Clark (he/him), AVP Advocate Clinician, EXT 449
Liliana Gomez (she/her), Staff Therapist, EXT 451
Lorraine Lahori (they/them), Staff Therapist EXT 439
Ashley Molin (she/her), Associate Director of Behavioral Health, EXT 441
Ing Swenson (he/him), Director of Behavioral Health, EXT 267
Tera Murray (they/them), Culinary Arts Instructor, EXT 419
Jenny Urban (they/them), Director of Culinary Arts, EXT 421
Jenny Urban is an award-winning chef, culinary arts instructor and business owner. Most recently they served as the nutrition and health manager at the Broadway Youth Center. Their prior work experience includes being the head chef Instructor for the Chicago Food Depository and executive chef instructor at Inspiration Corporation/Café Too.
Jenny’s passion for teaching culinary arts has focused on social service settings working with refugees, individuals that are homeless and underemployed, senior citizens, youth, and the LGBTQ community as a whole.
In 2008, they opened the Urban Café, which was awarded “Best Neighborhood Spot in Lakeview” by The Chicago Free Press.
Jenny has been profiled in The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, Windy City Times, Time Out Chicago, PBS Newshour, and the book A Recipe for Hope, by Karen Skalitzky. Urban has been named one of “30 under 30” by Windy City Times and “30 Women to Watch Under 30” by The Chicago Sun-Times.
When not in the kitchen, or with their two teenagers, Jenny can be found playing drums with local LGBTQ hall of fame musician, Scott Free. The group’s release, “The Pink Album,” was awarded the Album of the Year by Pride in the Arts Organization. Songs from the Pink Album went to #2 on the video click list on LOGO tv. Free and Urban have performed at pride events across the country, including Chicago Midsommarfest, Chicago Market Days, The Mathew Shepard March, Milwaukee Pride Fest, and Northern Michigan Pride.
Mitchell Kraemer (he/him), Corporate Relations Officer, EXT 410
Joey McDonald (he/him), Manager of Events & Volunteers, EXT 454
Mason Miner (they/them), Marketing & Communications Manager, EXT 261
Sean Puglisi (he/him), Manager of Development Services, EXT 413
Brenna Quinn (she/her), Director of Foundation and Government Relations, EXT 420
Brenna Quinn, “B. Quinn,” is a Chicago-based artist, writer, educator, and development specialist. Quinn earned her double BA in Visual Arts Management and Studio Arts from Chatham College for Women and later her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).
During her graduate studies, she began working in SAIC's Office for Institutional Advancement, supporting the Corporate, Foundation, Government, and Civic relations team. Quinn later took on the role of Assistant Director of Foundation and Government Grants at the Art Institute of Chicago. From 2018-2020 she was the Manager of Development at the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College.
Then, she was appointed as a Fulbright Independent Scholar, eventually completing her residency in the spring of 2021 at MQ21 in Vienna, Austria. Concurrently, before joining Center on Halsted, she worked as an independent grant writer and advancement consultant—collaborating with non-profit clients to support various direct-social service and cultural missions.
Nick Roman (he/him), Director of Major Gifts and Individual Giving, EXT 237
Ethel Blanchard (she/her), Data Entry Assistant
James Davies (he/him), Billing Coordinator, EXT 464
Bernardo Portu (he/him), Staff Accountant, EXT 462
Jeong Shin (she/her), Senior Accountant, EXT 265
Hotline/HUB Services
Ofelia Carrillo (she/her), Health Educator, EXT 440
Taurean Crawford "TC" (he/him), HUB Data Specialist, EXT 492
Angelina Del Valle (she/her), Health Educator, EXT 438
Jasper Gonzalez (he/him), Rapid Resource Responder, EXT 414
Nic Marlatt (they/them), Health Educator, EXT 453
Jasmine Mikell (she/her), Director, HUB/ Hotline Resources, EXT 424
Oscar Vargas (they/them), Rapid Resource Responder, EXT 442
Angel White (she/her), Health Educator, EXT 415
Amparo Zavala (she/her/they/them), Rapid Resource Responder, EXT 405
Testing Services
Betty Akins (she/her), Manager of Getting To Zero, EXT 461
Prongs Chapa (they/them), Data Specialist Manager, EXT 446
Sergen Demir (he/him), Health Educator EXT 408
Erica Gafford (she/her), Director of HIV Testing & Prevention Services, EXT 477
Erica Gafford joined the HIV Services staff at Center on Halsted in 2013. She has been working in the arena of HIV/STI prevention in Chicago for over 15 years, holding a variety of roles. These roles cover a wide range, including Health Educator/HIV tester, program administrator, research study coordinator and activist. In her current role as Director of HIV/STD Testing & Prevention Services, she is responsible for the oversight of HIV/HCV testing, PrEP Navigation and Linkage to Care services.
Erica Gafford has served on the Executive Committee for the Black Treatment Advocates Network since 2017, and currently serves as Chair – a role she has held since March of 2019. She is also a member of the ViiV Government Relations - Medicaid Policy RoundTable and the UIC – Project WISH Advisory Board. Through her many years of work in HIV/STI prevention, Erica Gafford has gained key insights into the prevention and health promotion needs of communities most impacted by these issues. Most important is the need to tailor prevention efforts and programs to address the specific concerns of these communities in a culturally appropriate and sensitive manner.
Vaun Reed (he/him), Health Educator, EXT 425
Gabby Thompson (they/them), Health Educator, EXT 489
Edlira Simoni (she/her), IT Specialist, EXT 468
For marketing and public relations, including press inquiries, please email pr@centeronhalsted.org
Emily Hickey (she/her), Clinical Case Manager, EXT 452
Britta Larson (she/her), Director of Senior Services, EXT 445
Britta Larson is the Senior Services Director at Center on Halsted where she is responsible for overseeing the older adult programs and managing the nation’s first homesharing program designed for LGBT older adults. Prior to coming to Center on Halsted Britta worked at a senior living community in the areas of social services and marketing. She is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator and holds a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from North Park University. She was recently appointed by the governor to the Illinois Council on Aging.
Todd Williams (he/him), Senior Services Manager, EXT 426
Aster Gilbert (they/them), Manager of Training & Public Education, EXT 418
David Biele (he/him), Director of Youth and Family Services, EXT 437
David Biele has been with Center on Halsted since 2017. A lifelong advocate for young people, especially LGBTQ+ youth, David has a BA in American Culture from Northwestern University and a Master of Nonprofit Management from DePaul University. David has more than 25 years of experience across the social sector at nonprofit organizations and educational institutions, including 15 years as a teacher in Washington, DC and Chicago public schools. For the past decade he has managed educational, arts, youth development, and LGBTQ affirming programs for young people at community organizations across Chicago and Cook County.
Eli Cooper-Nelson (he/him), Youth and Family Program Manager, EXT 450
Alena Limthongviratn (she/they), Youth Case Manager, EXT 407
Hannah Rapp (she/her), Youth Development Program Manager, EXT 455
Luke Romesberg (he/him), Director of Youth Housing Program, EXT 431
Luke Romesberg has been with Center on Halsted since November on 2021. He holds a MA in Counseling and is a PhD Candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision. Additionally, he is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor. Luke has over 10 years of experience working with diverse communities throughout the Chicagoland area, ranging from youth to adults, in individual and group environments, and throughout schools, hospitals, and social services agencies. Luke is also a published author and regularly engages in speaking on panels, conference presentations, and media requests.
Jinx Romo (they/them), Youth Care Coordinator, EXT 409
Ronnie Taylor Jr. (he/him), Youth Culture Coordinator, EXT 463
Saf Al-Salaita (they/them), Research Assistant, EXT 427
Ross Baiers (he/they), Research Project Director, EXT 266
Armando Del Bosque (he/him), Research Assistant, EXT 480
Ben Dominguez (he/him), Research Assistant, EXT 417
Chris Eyo (he/him), Research Assistant, EXT 184
Reagan Dunham (she/her), Research Assistant, EXT 269
Julia Napolitano (she/her), Research Project Manager, EXT 432
Yelena Pearson (they/she), Research Project Manager, EXT 403
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