Meet the Staff

Doug Schenkelberg is the CCH’s Executive Director and has spent 25+ years in his career focusing on social justice work, with a primary focus on ensuring everyone has access to affordable, decent housing. Prior to his time here, Doug worked at established Chicago institutions such as Forefront, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Heartland Alliance, and the Law Center for Better Housing.

Doug currently serves on the Illinois Partners for Human Service board and in a 2019 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow. He is a graduate of both Grinnell College and the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Thelma Morales is CCH’s Administrative Director, she joined CCH in December 2000. Over the years Thelma has supported the organization with HR needs and as the head of finance works with the team and accountants to ensure our budget and audits are transparent and accurate. She grew up speaking Spanish in the home, and today, she enjoys spending time with her children. Thelma lives with three loved dogs: Missy, Koda, and Shadow!

Sherry provides administrative and technical support as the Associate Director of Administration & Technology. She has been working in the nonprofit community for over 14 years. As a person of color, Sherry is committed to racial equity work and is a member of CCH’s Racial Equity Committee and holds the seat as co-chair for the Policy Sub-committee. Sherry earned an associate degree with honors, majoring in Computer Science. In her free time, Sherry likes to travel and enjoys spending time doing indoor & outdoor activities with family & friends.

Gloria Davis has a long history with CCH, In 2013 she came to CCH as a Grassroots Leader and began her advocacy work. Eventually, she joined the CCH team as an Administrative Assistant in 2018. Gloria is often the first person who connects with individuals who call asking for support. That can be for seeking resources, a media request or general questions about CCH’s work. In her spare time Gloria enjoys traveling and enjoying live music.

Michael serves as the Director of Development at CCH, where he helps connect passionate donors to our work to ensure we have the funds and resources needed to carry out its mission. He has held this position since October 2006, and since joining, he has enjoyed working with a diverse group of people rallying around this important cause. Outside of work, he collects memorabilia including records, comic books, and art.

Although his childhood career plan was to write Spiderman comics, he believes homelessness is a solvable problem and is dedicated to his work. He is additionally dedicated to his dogs, Stella and Jackson. Ask about his Mick Jagger impression!

Erin joined CCH’s development team in 2018. As the Associate Director of Development, Erin manages our grants portfolio while supporting annual giving and donor communications. Recognizing the racism and inequity inherent to philanthropy, she strives to approach her work through the lens of community-centric fundraising, which prioritizes relationship-building and justice over the needs of donors and individual organizations.

In her free time, Erin enjoys running, comics, trivia, crosswords, being outside, eating snacks on her couch, and spending time with her niblings.

Zeki joined CCH as a Data Manager in August of 2023. Zeki manages our EveryAction database, organizing, analyzing, and leveraging data from donors and advocates to build power and grow the impact of the organization. Zeki is originally from New Orleans and moved to Chicago in 2021. Outside of work, Zeki volunteers with environmental organizations such as Urban Rivers, maintaining wildlife sanctuaries on the Chicago River, and the American Hiking Society, preserving trails across the United States. He also contributes stories to the Goldin Institute on grassroots peace partnerships in Chicago and frequently takes art classes at Lillstreet Art Center and the Chicago Industrial Arts & Design Center.

Samantha (she/her) is a multi-media artist and storyteller and has worked in film, art education, and communications for organizations throughout the city of Chicago. She founded the digital media lab at Sullivan High School and the media collective whatever spectrum media. She wrote + directed short films as part of the collective, which is a collaboration between Chicago Public School students and professional filmmakers. She received grants from DCASE through the Neighborhood Access Program, Individual Artist Program, and the Propellor Fund. She is also a board member for the First Nations Film and Video Festival. She enjoys spending time with family, in nature, and making music.

Wayne serves as our Director of Organizing. Wayne started with the organization in 2000, as a volunteer with a lived experience of homelessness. He is creative, with an interest in writing and performing poetry. Wayne lives on Chicago’s south side.

Jim Picchetti is the Associate Director of Organizing and our State Network Coordinator.

Joined CCH’s organizing department in 2024. Emily leads CCH’s city-based campaign efforts to address homelessness by funding permanent supportive housing in the City of Chicago. Emily’s work is rooted in grassroots leader decision-making alongside institutional partners that make up the Bring Chicago Home coalition, developing strategies to address the root causes of homelessness. Emily brings their background in Chicago issue-based organizing, direct action, and electoral organizing to their role at CCH. In their free time, you can likely catch Emily making pottery or going on bike rides along the city’s lakefront.

Alyssa has worked with us in October 2018, as a community organizer, Alyssa manages the Edrika Fulford Mutual Aid Fund for CCH. She convenes our grassroots-led governing board and coordinates the back-office operations. She also organizes youth and adults experiencing homelessness to advocate for permanent solutions, like housing, social services and jobs. Alyssa helps support grassroots leaders in their journeys to becoming public speakers, advocates, and decision-makers through our various advocacy campaigns. She holds outreach at shelters, drop-ins, and community centers across the city with a focus on reaching youth and Latinx base members.

In her free time, Alyssa loves to bake.

As the Special Projects Coordinator and Community Organizer at CCH, Claudia is the lead organizer for both the Horizons Creative Writing Program and the Speakers Bureau. She is deeply inspired by the need for change in communities and the urgency to address systemic issues affecting neighborhoods. Claudia’s passion lies in being a resource that empowers individuals to become leaders and instigate positive changes.

Claudia’s volunteer work is a blend of advocacy and direct support, helping seniors regain their autonomy and lead in changing policies that affect their lives and health. She has visited Uganda to collaborate with Health Nest Uganda (HENU), aiding their mission to support the elderly. Here at home, her volunteer time is focused on bringing awareness to the unique needs of this demographic in my community.

She holds a master’s in social work from Dominican University, with a minor in Education. In her free time, she takes long walks in nature and creates art in painting, tattooing, and sculpting.

Alex is our Northern Illinois Community Organizer, he cofacilitates the Homeless Prevention Coalition and State Grassroots Leaders for CCH. In his role, he works to build power in Springfield for individuals experiencing homelessness across the state; his focus is on the Northern part of the state outside of Chicago.

He has worked with our team since June 2021 and works with other nonprofits in his free time. Alex writes and performs poetry, and helps organize a show, Exhibit B: A Literary Variety Show sponsored by the local nonprofit the Guild Literary Complex.

Alex coaches track and field in Chicago Public Schools on and off when he has space. He finds community in both arts and athletics, bringing him peace.

Nina works to advance racial equity and social justice with the justice-involved community in her role as a re-entry organizer at CCH. She has worked with our team since September 2022, and is passionate about her re-entry work. With a background in social work, the need to support as many communities and help justice-involved individuals reintegrate into society, Nina understands there is much to be done and she accepts her role in this work.

Raised in San Juan Puerto Rico and spending summers in Chicago, created a special bond for Nina. Chicago is also her home. Her volunteerism spans many issues from Veterans Hospital, Senior Living Homes, Youth Centers, Soup Kitchens, School Districts, and Community Gardens. Nina is also appointed as appointed Special Needs Child Advocate.

Nina finds peace in cultivating meaningful relationships, engaging in creative activities like jewelry making, and exploring nature.

Lorna is an Outreach Assistant for CCH. She has been with us since March 2020. Lorna works to build CCH’s Grassroots Leaders team, does outreach in Chicago communities and advances racial equity. Her organizing work is motivated by a desire to make a love-fueled world where quality housing, food, and health are the standard.

Born and raised in Chicago, she finds peace knowing she does her part, speaks her truth, and takes every opportunity to be with loved ones.

Myron serves as both an Outreach Assistant and a Grassroots Leader.

Brian serves as both an Outreach Assistant and a Grassroots Leader.

Niya has served as the Director of State Legislative Policy, Equity and Transformation since September 2015 at CCH. In her role, she supports the organization’s state policy agenda, including supporting policies that remove barriers and create opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. She also supports our internal and external racial equity work, understanding that we cannot end homelessness without also ending racism.

Niya is also an adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and she has served on the boards of Chicago Community Bond Fund and Chicago United for Equity. She tries to read at least thirty books a year, and she finds peace in her belief in a multiverse world where there is another version of the world out there.

Mary has been with CCH in the Policy Department since 2017. She co-staffs the Bring Chicago Home coalition and works with service providers, healthcare providers, and interfaith leaders to support the work of the organization. Mary’s passion for affordable housing started in 2003 when she interned at a social service agency working to find people housing, while the wrecking ball was demolishing Cabrini-Green with no plan to rebuild the housing. She has been working on structural solutions to the human right to housing ever since. She enjoys playing music with her family and lives in Chicago.

Sam is the associate director of city policy, leading city policy implementation and reform initiatives. He began his career as a service provider through the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund. Sparking an interest in housing law, Sam transitioned to the Housing Practice Group at Legal Aid Chicago, providing court support and housing advocacy for county residents facing housing legal matters. Sam has also served as a National Housing Law Project law clerk, focusing on preserving and expanding California’s supply of safe and affordable homes.

Sam is currently pursuing a Juris Doctor with certifications in Public Interest and Corporate Compliance. He graduated from DePaul University with a Master of Public Administration (2018) and a concentration in International Public Management. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies (2016). He has a professional certification from University of Chicago in Data Analytics for Business Professionals (2023).

Christy is the Equity and Transformation Senior Manager, and she has been with our team since August 2017. In her role, she manages CCH’s racial equity work focused on internal and external structures and CCH’s outward-facing work collaboratively with grassroots leaders, clients, base constituents, and partner organizations. Christy’s responsibilities include managing and supporting the organization's hiring process centered in identifying and implementing equitable practices. In the past, Christy has volunteered as a Tapestry 360 Development Board Member, Illinois Valley Tennis Classic Tournament Director, After School Program STEM Volunteer, Nonprofit Volunteer at Lily Pads Resale Boutique that benefited PADS Illinois Valley Homeless Shelter, and as a Special Olympics Sporting Event Volunteer.

M Nelsen (no or gender neutral pronouns) started as the Manager of City Policy in November 2024. In this role, M staffs the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness Youth Committee, leads the Homelessness Data Project and manages city policy research initiatives. M became passionate about collaborating for radical policy change to end homelessness from experiences in social psychological research on intersectionality (MA from Northwestern), supporting young people in accessing career pathways, developing and organizing a young adult specific Coordinated Entry system, and local progressive advocacy work.

When not pursuing this passion, M gets joy from noticing birds, power lifting, camping, and reading a variety of books including Afro-Futurism, history, and intersectional feminist philosophy.

As CCH ‘s Director of the Law Project, Patricia collaborates with other members of the Law Project to provide free legal services to people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. She has been on our team since August 1998. Patricia is known her passion for advancing racial and social justice since law school. She began interning at the Homeless Advocacy Project of what is now Legal Aid Chicago and later worked as an attorney there. That experience made Patricia want to continue working with people experiencing homelessness. The Law Project’s clients and the grassroots leaders inspire her.

Outside of work, Patricia enjoys yoga, walking/hiking, being outdoors and spending time with her family. She has a 4-year-old dog named Roscoe. Even though he is no longer a puppy, he still has puppy energy!

Beth Malik (she/her) is the Associate Director of the Law Project of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. She also is the Law Project’s lead Youth Futures attorney, a role she’s held since joining the staff in October of 2007. A 2005 graduate of University of Denver Law School, she worked as guardian ad litem for the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center, where she represented abused and neglected children involved in juvenile court. She earned a bachelor’s in English and environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2010, after three years with the Law Project, she was honored with the Kimball R. Anderson and Karen Gatsis Anderson Public Interest Law Fellowship, from the Chicago Bar Foundation. Beth’s legal work focuses on providing civil legal services to unaccompanied homeless young people. Her clients’ energy and resilience continue to motivate and inspire her daily. Originally from Los Angeles California, Beth has called Chicago home for the last 17 years and when she is not at work, she enjoys reading and spending time with her 2 kids and 3 French Bulldogs. Although she loves Chicago, she’s still not crazy about the winters.

Arturo serves as the Senior Attorney at the Law Project at CCH and has been an attorney since 2012. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in 2007 and his law degree from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law in 2012. As an attorney on our team, Arturo works on sealing and expungement cases including cannabis expungement cases, civil rights cases, and other civil matters.

Arturo was born in Chicago, Illinois and has lived on the Northwest side of Chicago for most of his life. Both of his parents, however, are immigrants from Mexico. Arturo has Spanish speaking abilities which has been an asset in his work. Arturo is a United States Army veteran.

Outside of work, Arturo enjoys volunteering in the community. He is currently the president of the Board of Directors of Palenque LSNA. Arturo also likes to spend time with his dog Rio whom he adopted and loves very much.

As an education attorney with CCH’s Law Project since August 2017, Alyssa advocates and works for the educational rights of students and families experiencing homelessness in the Chicagoland area. Her work includes training educators and families on the rights of students experiencing homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Act, providing direct representation, and community outreach.

Outside of work, Alyssa loves baking and cooking. She has wanted to be an attorney since she was in kindergarten.

Thomas joined CCH as a family attorney in September 2021. He has his B.S. from West Texas A&M University and J.D. from Loyola University Chicago with a Certificate in Public Interest and Social Justice and a Certificate in Child and Family Law.

Before law school and throughout his undergraduate studies, he was an organizer on Political campaigns in six states ranging from congressional, senate, and presidential. Before moving to Chicago, Thomas grew up in a small town in Texas and raised goats and pigs with his family.

Ali is a former Grassroot Leader who began volunteering with {CCH} in 2014 working alongside others on issues that impact Returning Citizens.
In October of 2016 began his employment with the Law Project of {CCH} as a Street Outreach Worker and now serves as the Law Project’s Senior Case and Street Outreach Worker.

In his role as Senior Case and Street Outreach Worker, Ali is primarily responsible for conducting outreach with individuals who are unsheltered and living on the streets, making the services offered by the Law Project accessible to individuals living on the street and also advocating against the violation of the rights of unsheltered individuals.
In serving those who are unsheltered, Ali also networks with other organizations and city agencies in order to connect unsheltered individuals with other services the Law Project may not offer.

Ali lives in Chicago, Illinois

As a Public Benefits Specialist at CCH, Venus assists people experiencing homelessness in accessing public benefits, including enrolling clients in SNAP/Medicaid/TANF, and accessing identification documents She supports clients experiencing issues with their current public benefits and managing the out-of-state birth certificate application process.

Venus earned her master’s degree in social work in 2020 and became a licensed social worker shortly after. Throughout her educational career, Venus encountered different people and communities and realized more awareness needed to be brought to unsheltered individuals. She grew up speaking her parent’s native language of Spanish at home. She sees her bilingual abilities as allowing her to help twice as many people.

Sue Um is the Scholarship & Streetlight Coordinator in the Law Project, beginning in April 2024. Before joining the Law Project, Sue worked in the Communications department at CCH beginning in November 2022. In their current role, Sue works with youth, partner organizations, and funders through the Scholarship Program and Streetlight Chicago app/website to cultivate community and connect young people experiencing homelessness with the resources they need.

Sue holds a BA in Radio/Television/Film and Asian American Studies from Northwestern University. Outside of work, Sue enjoys reading and watching movies. She can be spotted browsing at the public library or frequenting your favorite local movie theater.

Melissa is a recent first-generation graduate from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. As an Equal Justice Works Fellow, Melissa’s project will provide legal representation, outreach, and advocacy to unsheltered individuals and families in Chicago through our specialized community lawyering service delivery model.

Melissa was inspired to pursue this project with CCH after working with historically harmed communities of color, including urban Native peoples in the Denver Metro area and low-income Black and Latiné communities across Chicago. She has witnessed firsthand how access to legal services and policy advocacy can be a lifeline to those most disenfranchised and set up to fail. Melissa’s multicultural Mexican-American family experienced housing insecurity after the birth of her youngest sibling with Down syndrome and his related medical bills during 2008 housing crisis. This lived experience informs her deep passion and commitment to housing justice.

Outside of work, Melissa enjoys spending time outside, yoga, reading, trying new coffee shops, and being a kitten mom with her partner.

Angel Ortega started his journey at CCH as an Intern for the Law Project. Shortly after, he was hired in his current role as the Intake and Support Coordinator in November 2024. Angel is a first-generation graduate, obtaining a BSW at Aurora University and his MSW from the University of Chicago. His areas of focus in school included child welfare and understanding policy around the mass incarceration issue in the U.S.

Angel was motivated to work at CCH because of the organization’s effort in addressing homelessness at various levels of impact, including working with community members directly, addressing community concerns, and advocating for policy change. As a social worker, he understands the importance of addressing homelessness in these areas and hopes to contribute to the great work done at CCH. In his current position, Angel will coordinate the Law Project intakes, support the scholarship program, manage the Law Project Social Work Internship program, and collaborate with CCH staff on additional projects.

In his free time, Angel enjoys spending time exploring the music, shows, and art that Chicago has to offer. His favorite neighborhoods include Pilsen, Northalsted, and Hyde Park. In his hometown, he enjoys spending quality time with his siblings at the Woodstock Square.