Modesto Tico Valle is the Chief Executive Officer of Center on Halsted, the most comprehensive community center in the Midwest dedicated to advancing community and securing the health and well-being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community in Chicago.

A native of Chicago, Valle is a longtime community activist and organizer. He founded the Chicago Chapter NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt in 1990 and was instrumental in bringing the AIDS Memorial Quilt to the National Mall in 1996. He has served as both a volunteer and staff member at a number of Chicago-area non-profits including Chicago House, Test Positive Awareness Network and Open Hand Chicago, where he served as the organization's first Volunteer Services Director.

Valle was named CEO of Center on Halsted in 2007, where he oversaw the opening of the 175,000 square foot community center. Since taking the helm, Center on Halsted has grown into a full-fledged community center with an annual operating budget of more than $7 million. Under his leadership, more than 1,400 community members visit the Center every day. Patrons participate in the wide variety of programs and services offered ranging from volleyball, cooking classes and yoga to HIV testing, group therapy and job training. Valle was instrumental in bringing several landmark efforts to the Center, such as the first LGBTQ-friendly affordable housing project for Seniors and the nation’s first LGBT clinical psychology internship with Northwestern University. In the spring of 2016, Valle lead the launch of the Center’s Youth Housing Initiative, as well as the fall 2017 launch of the Get to Zero campaign.

Valle attended DePaul University and Notre Dame's Seminary School. In addition, he holds certificates in nonprofit management from Harvard Business School and Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. He was recently appointed to the CenterLink Board of Directors and has served on the board of the NAMES Project Foundation, Equality Education Project, City of Chicago LGBT Health Council, Illinois Violence Prevention Authority Board, City of Chicago Employment Task Force, Welcoming Committee NATO, Illinois HIV/AIDS Advisory Council, Board Member of Horizons Community Services and the Chicago Children's Choir. In recognition of his work, Valle has been named Chicagoan of the Year by Chicago Magazine, inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, honored by the national NAMES Project Foundation and the Norman Bobins Leadership Award and he received a Red Ribbon Leadership Award from the State of Illinois.

Kim, previously Executive Director of the Pride Center of Vermont, has spent nearly twenty years working in the LGBTQ movement. In her various roles, she has taken to the streets in protest with other queer activists; provided direct services to LGBTQ survivors of violence; successfully advocated with government agencies for LGBTQ full inclusion; worked on LGBTQ legislative campaigns; has been published in academic journals and community based reports on LGBTQ community building and issues of violence; and helped to represent LGBTQ concerns on numerous government and community based task forces and committees. Kim is a cultural anthropologist who focuses on issues of violence within and against the LGBTQ communities.

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.

Dr. Héctor Torres is a clinical psychologist and program administrator who has been working with the LGBTQ community since 1996. Since then he has had the opportunity to engage in the development, implementation, administration, and supervision of several government-funded and foundation-funded projects addressing LGBTQ health issues. Throughout his career, he has engaged in different roles, including program director, researcher, professor, and clinician; and worked in diverse settings including universities, community-based agencies, mental health agencies, evaluation clinics, state forensic hospital, and a pediatric hospital.

Dr. Torres has focused on providing services to vulnerable, underrepresented and marginalized individuals. His approach is one that pays attention to human potential, interpersonal relationships, and understanding individuals’ contexts. Dr. Torres believes that stigma, oppression, and power dynamics are often responsible of many individuals’ distress and psychological symptoms, and therefore addresses these topics in the programs and services provided.

#

Susan Heatherly, Human Resource Director, is responsible for all human resource functions for Center on Halsted. Her area of responsibility includes recruitment and staffing, employee relations, benefits, compensation, learning and development, leadership development and provides strategic leadership to our senior managers. An accomplished professional, she is spearheading our shared leadership program to transform our culture to align with our collaborative vision.

Susan has 16 years of human resources experience in small to large organizations. She has worked in various industries including healthcare, nonprofit, staffing, telecommunications, manufacturing and distribution. Her skills includes talent acquisition (recruiting) and management, training, process improvement, performance management, career development, diversity program development, employee relations, succession planning, benefits, compensation, contract negotiation, payroll, cost savings, safety and compliance issues for salaried and hourly employees. She has worked in both union and non-union organizations.

Most recently Susan directed the Human Resources for St. Mary’s Home, a 5-star 76-bed nursing home for the elderly poor with 115 employees in Chicago, where she successfully developed HR policies and resolved employee relation issues. She implemented an employee retention program and revenue generating initiative with the IL WorkNet Center through the Illinois Dept. of Employment Security (IDES) to secure On-the-Job Training (OJT) funds for the Home.

A native of Ohio, Susan earned a Master of Education degree in Human Resource Development from the University of Minnesota and a Business Administration degree in Finance from Ursuline College in Cleveland, Ohio. Through Ursuline’s reciprocal relationship, she received a Minor in Political Science from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

In addition, Susan volunteers with the Illinois Worknet Center to provide training, development and job readiness skills for the unemployed. She loves cooking, reality television and international travel. Her most recent trips have included St. Croix, St. Kitts, Aruba and Egypt. She also enjoys yoga, Pilates and cycling. Creative and talented Susan is known for her homemade greeting cards and one-of-a-kind recipes.

Jolie Holliman is a passionate advocate for marginalized groups. Her current focus is on embedding racial equity and inclusion practices at Center on Halsted. Jolie is a collaborative leader with strong and credible roots in the community. She has spent the last decade in senior leadership positions implementing innovative models for equitable healthcare and support services.

She successfully led large-scale HIV and HCV clinical operations and developed strategic partnerships between minority community stakeholders, researchers, government entities and community-based organizations. Jolie has crafted the practice of grooming intergroup relations and applying conflict resolution strategies prior to polarization. She currently holds a seat on the Illinois Getting to Zero (GTZ) Implementation Council and co-chairs the Standards of Equity subcommittee.

#

Paul Helfen (he/him), Co-Director of Operations and Rental Specialist, EXT 476
Don Bell, (he/him), Senior Manager of Operations EXT 416
Scott Fiero, (he/him), Operations Manager
Patrick Harms, (he/him), Operations Coordinator
China Reid, (she/her), Operations Support Staff   
Tom Spinella (he/him), Receptionist
Madeline Hall, (she/her), Receptionist Support Staff
Ethel Blanchard (she/her), Receptionist
Nanica Brown (she/her), Receptionist
Dalton Williams (He/Him), Receptionist
Nelli Vahter, (she/her), Receptionist
Jerry Harris, (he/him), Receptionist Support Staff

Dansen Mayhay (she/her), Community Engagement and Training Coordinator, EXT 418

About AVP: The Anti-Violence Project (AVP) at Center on Halsted is comprised of a team of behavioral health clinicians specializing in working with LGBTQ survivors of violence. Our team is comprised of Social Workers, Professional Counselors, and Behavioral Health Interns with a combined 20 plus years of experience working with survivors of violence.

We offer a collaborative, LGBTQ affirming, and trauma-informed approach with the goal of increasing self-knowledge and expression of personal power. The AVP team is trained in a variety of approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy allowing us to tailor counseling to meet each person’s unique needs and strengths. During treatment we emphasize finding relevant coping skills and explore current patterns of behavior and thinking to identify personalized solutions.

Our team has extensive experience providing trauma informed services to the LGBTQ community. We can assist with issues including anxiety, depression, interpersonal communication, healing from past trauma, exploration of gender identity and sexuality, racial and ethnic identity, and managing anger.

You may receive assistance after violence by contacting our LGBTQ Violence Resource Line: 773.871.CARE (2273) or avp@centeronhalsted.org or visit our Anti-Violence Project page.

Ing Swenson (he/him), Director of Behavioral Health, EXT 267
Ashley Molin (she/her), Associate Director of Behavioral Health, EXT 441
Luis Couret (he/him), Behavioral Health Clinician, EXT 409

Gayle is a Chicago native and long-term ally and activist for the LGBTQ community. Many call her “Mama Gayle” because of her warm demeanor and eagerness to give needed motherly advice, especially to our youth patrons. Gayle came to Center on Halsted in 2002 as a volunteer, and since then has worked in nearly every department; including reception and operations, development and finance, volunteer management, the HIV department, and even executive assistant to the CEO. Gayle started working in the computer lab as the class instructor in August 2007 and then became the full time Manager of the Cyber Center in October 2012. Prior to working at Center on Halsted, she worked as development assistant and volunteer manager for Open Hands Chicago, now known as Vital Bridges. Gayle completed her Masters of Science in Instructional Design and Technology from Western Illinois University in 2017.

Kyle joined Center on Halsted in January of 2020 after spending 2 years at Inspiration Corporation. There he started as the Meals Program Manager, overseeing the Café in Uptown before being promoted to Director of Social Enterprise for Inspiration Kitchens located in Garfield Park. Prior to his work in non-profits, Kyle spent nearly 20 years working in the hospitality industry, gaining experience at a diverse group of establishments including NAHA, Ceres’ Table and Fulton Market Kitchen. He studied Culinary Arts at Kendall College and completed a 3-month internship at Fedora, a fine dining seafood restaurant in Lyon, France. His pivot into non-profits was accelerated by firsthand experience seeing the gap in food security and culinary skills training.

Chef Cindy Mojica has over 16 years of professional culinary experience including work as a server, kitchen manager, brunch chef, sous chef and pastry chef. Chef Cindy was the Executive Chef of Research and Development of Direct Food Service, she created recipes for mass-scale production and dishes for manufacturing, overseeing application, managed a research team, and conducted extensive research of world cuisines. While interning for the nationally acclaimed America’s Test Kitchen in Boston, MA, Cindy worked on recipe testing and development, media projects, and culinary science projects which were published in ATK’s magazines, books, and web series. She taught culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu Chicago and today is the Culinary Arts Instructor for Center on Halsted’s Silver Fork culinary arts and job readiness program.

Steven Solomon earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he majored in Zoology and Biological Aspects of Conservation with a concentration in African Studies. While serving as a Rotary Scholar, he became involved with Dr. Jane Goodall’s global youth organization Roots & Shoots in South Africa. Later Dr. Goodall arranged for him to volunteer with her community development project in Tanzania and selected him to join her delegation to a United Nations World Summit in Johannesburg. Steven worked as an Education Program Manager at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago where he supervised the intern program, traveling zoo, and literacy program along with arranging the lecture series, leading the education inclusion initiative and conducting educator workshops. While at the zoo, he was the recipient of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Diversity Advancement Award from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

While earning his Master of Science in Nonprofit Management with a concentration in fundraising management from Spertus College, Steven was recruited to The Rotary Foundation with the Annual Giving Team. As the Senior Annual Giving Officer, he was privileged to be an advocate for donors and empower Rotarians in 30 Rotary districts in the western region of North America to raise money for The Rotary Foundation. He traveled to the region more than 76 times, including 32 sponsored trips during his 11-year tenure. He educated and inspired donors by sharing resources, giving presentations and conducting trainings. He was responsible for orchestrating Dr. Jane Goodall’s participation at Rotary’s 100th International Convention and serving as the primary contact for Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the Rotary World Peace Symposium in England. While at Rotary, Steven was awarded the Association of Fundraising Professionals Chamberlain Scholarship, earned a Certificate in Fund Raising Management through the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and became an honorary member of the Rotary Club of San Francisco-Castro which is Rotary’s first LGBTQ+ Rotary club.

Since 2007, Steven has been volunteering at the Center on Halsted which is a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community center in Chicago, Illinois. It is the largest LGBTQ community center in the Midwest with more than 1,400 people walking through its doors every day. In August 2019, Steven became the Manager of Individual Giving and is responsible for the planning, managing and securing individual funds for the Center on Halsted. He is honored to be able to help educate and inspire donors to support Center on Halsted’s life changing work.

Greg Storms has a BA in Spanish Language and Literatures and MA in Social Sciences with a concentration in Gender Studies from the University of Michigan – Flint. He also has an MA and is ABD in Anthropology with a specialization in sociocultural anthropology and LGBTQ Studies from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.

Prior to his graduate studies in Ann Arbor, Greg has worked closely with Michigan-based LGBTQ and HIV+ communities. Early on he worked as an HIV educator and prevention specialist before serving as the Director of the Ellen Bommarito LGBT Center at the University of Michigan – Flint.

During his time at University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Greg worked both as an educator and researcher, teaching college courses in the fields of Anthropology, Sociology, and Women’s Studies and conducting research in various fields, specializing in sexuality studies. In 2011, he moved to Chicago to conduct a multi-year ethnographic study of a subset of Chicago’s young adult queer male leather community. He comes to the Center on Halsted with a strong desire to expand his earlier work with young adults to serve the needs of and help bolster a support network for Chicago’s LGBTQ youth.

Joey began his time with Center on Halsted in December of 2018. Initially hired as Executive Project Manager to the CEO, he moved to the Development Team in June 2019 as the Manager of Events and Volunteers. His responsibilities include planning and execution of various Center events, as well as managing and training a volunteer staff of several hundred community members and allies. Prior to coming to Center on Halsted, Joey worked at Back 2 School Illinois coordinating the distribution of school supplies to underserved children across the state, and Equality Illinois working for the equal rights of the LGBT people in Illinois. His leadership and community service work has been acknowledged by several organizations, including The Obama Foundation, the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame, and the Olympus Foundation.

#

Jill joined Center on Halsted in 2003. In 2005, she became Director of the State of Illinois AIDS/HIV & STD Hotline and in 2008, Jill became the Director of HIV Testing & Prevention and developed, launched, and directed the Center's successful HIV Testing & Prevention Program. In 2017, Jill was promoted to Director of HIV/AIDS & STD Services and in 2020, she helped to design and launch the innovative Chicagoland HIV Resource HUB.

She was appointed by Mayor Emanuel to the Chicago Area HIV Integrated Services Council (CAHISC) and by Mayor Lightfoot to the Chicago Syphilis Task Force. She is also a member of the State of Illinois HIV Integrated Planning Council, the Illinois PrEP Working Group, Chicago Department of Public Health Meningococcal Committee and Hepatitis A Response Team, Illinois Get to Zero Planning Council and Work Groups, Chicagoland Service Providers Council, and was a founding member of the Chicago Bisexual Health Task Force. Jill received her Master's degree from The Juilliard School in New York City.

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.

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.

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.