STAFF

 Channyn Lynne Parker

Interim Chief Executive Officer

Pronouns: She/Her/Her

[email protected] 

BIO COMING SOON

Michael Ziri

Director of Public Policy

Pronouns: He/Him/His
[email protected]

Michael Ziri, a veteran in legislative affairs and a former Springfield elected official, is the Director of Public Policy at Equality Illinois. Mike spearheads an aggressive legislative agenda in Springfield, builds and strengthens relationships with officials and political leaders throughout the state and in Washington, D.C., and develops policy initiatives. He also staffs the election-related activities of the Equality Illinois Political Action Committee. Joining Equality Illinois in January 2015, Mike brought to the organization seven years of experience working for Illinois state government, capped by a position as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. His previous positions included legislative liaison for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, legislative analyst in Gov. Pat Quinn’s office, and legal assistant for the EPA. He also served two terms as Trustee of the Springfield Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority, making Mike the first openly gay elected official in Sangamon County. A native of Springfield, Mike earned his bachelor’s degree at Illinois College in Jacksonville and his master’s degree at the University of Illinois Springfield. He lives in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago.

Norma Seledon, PhD

Director of Leadership Development & Capacity Building 

Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
[email protected]

Norma Seledon is a Mexican immigrant and has been a resident of Chicago for over 50 years. She has over 40 years of professional commitment to community and grassroots development around issues of gender equity, youth and queer leadership, education attainment by underrepresented groups, domestic violence, sexual assault, substance abuse, cultural competence, racial equity and environmental health. She is a former director of community-based organization Mujeres Latinas en Acción and has served on various non-profit and government advisory committees including the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Women’s Affairs, Latino Affairs, the Governor’s advisory on violence prevention, and co-directed Amigas Latinas, an affinity group for Latina Lesbians. She has a 35-year history of developing grassroots leadership development programs for women, youth, and Latino communities. She most recently was employed by the Family and Community Engagement Office of Chicago Public Schools where she managed parent involvement funds for the district and developed leadership development curriculum for parent leaders. She sits on various non-profit boards, and consults around various areas which include organizational wellness, coalition building, facilitation and board and staff development. She has provided training on topics of leadership development, engagement, minority access to higher education, domestic violence prevention, anti-racism, homophobia, cultural sensitivity and organizational conflict resolution. In 2016 she was inducted into Chicago’s LGBTQ Hall of Fame. Norma holds a BS in Psychology from Loyola University, an MA, in Higher Ed Leadership from Northeastern University, and a Ph.D. in Community Psychology from National Louis University. Her community research interests center on asset-based personnel engagement, evaluation, women’s leadership development, grassroots organizational wellness, intergenerational organizing, and race relations. Since 2020 Norma has increased her engagement in Racial Equity Access, Diversity and Inclusion training with service to over 30 organizations and several hundred participants. Most recently Norma has served as a meeting facilitator and a bridge between city programs and grassroots organizers. Norma’s values/approaches include asset-based engagement, participatory methodology, liberatory thinking & action and intergenerational wisdom sharing. Norma’s consultation & coaching is always tailored for specific needs and value matches. She considers all her work collaborative. She is open to accompany individuals and provide support from various perspectives including social justice, artistic expression, healing, organizational wellness, conflict resolution, professional development, cultural affirmation and spirituality.

A. Hoffman

Director of Operations

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
[email protected]

BIO COMING SOON

Myles B. Davis

Director of Communications 

Pronouns: He/Him/His
[email protected]

Myles B. Davis is a communications and advocacy leader dedicated to advancing equality and social justice. As an experienced strategist, Myles has led impactful campaigns that elevate underrepresented voices, mobilize communities, and drive policy change. With a background spanning public policy, community engagement, and media relations, Myles brings a passionate commitment to building inclusive narratives and fostering equity at every level of society.

Nathaniel Ekman
Director of Development
Pronouns: He/Him/His
 [email protected]

NATHANIEL EKMAN Nathaniel Ekman is the Director of Development for Equality Illinois. He brings to his role more than 20 years’ experience as an executive director, fundraiser, and consultant to nonprofits. A mission-driven, community-minded leader, Nathaniel has spent his career helping society’s most underserved groups, including people with mental illness and related disabilities. He is a nationwide mental health advocate, has led support groups for individuals in recovery, was Vice President of the Board and Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Cook County North Suburban, and speaks publicly through NAMI’s signature speakers’ bureau, In Our Own Voice. Most recently, he served as Executive Director of the Chicago Dance Health Fund, which supports a healthy and thriving dance community at the intersection of health care, philanthropy, and the arts. He has done extensive work in strategic planning, board development, and policy implementation with organizations across Illinois and beyond. Nathaniel’s background includes membership in the NorthShore University HealthSystem Community Advisory Committee and in the Advocate Aurora Health Community Health Council. He is a past Chair of the Skokie Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit Roundtable. From 2015 – 2018, he served on the board of Angles for Sexual Health, Identity, and Education, and played a leading role in the organization’s merger with Youth Services of Glenview / Northbrook. He is a 2010 Fellow of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Chicago Chapter. Nathaniel holds a master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern and a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Harvard.

Jose Wilson

Director of Civic Engagement

Pronouns: He/Him/His
[email protected]  

BIO COMING SOON
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