Our Staff
Omari Moore - Executive Director
Christopher Brown - Program Coordinator
Christopher Brown - Program Coordinator
Since moving to Chicago from Ohio for college, Omari has been involved in activities and organizations based around youth development, education, race and/or social justice. His involvement with NeighborScapes begun in 2014 when He worked for the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights as a New Sector Fellow. He would then become the
Since moving to Chicago from Ohio for college, Omari has been involved in activities and organizations based around youth development, education, race and/or social justice. His involvement with NeighborScapes begun in 2014 when He worked for the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights as a New Sector Fellow. He would then become the 2nd Community Building Fellow in NeigborScapes' first Innovation House, living and working in the community. We are proud to have Omari Moore as our first Executive Director.
Christopher Brown - Program Coordinator
Christopher Brown - Program Coordinator
Christopher Brown - Program Coordinator
Having been named “Best photographer from Chatham” by SoutSide Weekly, Thought is focused on still becoming a messenger of truth through the arts. ThoughtPoet is a photographer and writer from the Chatham and Burnside area. Ever since highlighted works with Truestar Magazine showcasing Chicago's musical talent he has been on a mission to
Having been named “Best photographer from Chatham” by SoutSide Weekly, Thought is focused on still becoming a messenger of truth through the arts. ThoughtPoet is a photographer and writer from the Chatham and Burnside area. Ever since highlighted works with Truestar Magazine showcasing Chicago's musical talent he has been on a mission to capture and express powerful opinions and perceptions through imagery and writing. His #HeartMelanin portrait series, in progress since 2013, is a collection of emotions; snapshots of the black Chicago renaissance.
Christopher came up in the Young Chicago Authors and YouMedia spaces with artists Chance the Rapper, Nonaame, Saba, and Jorge Mikell, all under the mentorship of Brother Mike. His photos show melancholy, and above all- his love for the black brown people of Chicago and beyond. Christopher has feature work in spaces such the Dojo, Build Coffee cafe and many more. He has had the opportunity to work with individuals and institutions such as Raekwon from the Wu-Tang Clan, Dr Cornel West, Chicago Tribune, Essence Mag, The Fader, Estelle, Dreezy and many others. Christoper currently lives in West Englewood.
Jazmine Stubbs - Program Coordinator
Christopher Brown - Program Coordinator
Jazmine Stubbs - Program Coordinator
Board of Directors
Jay Readey - President
Jay Readey serves as the President of NeighborScapes and directs the Innovation Houses initiative, as part of a larger portfolio of growth businesses and nonprofit organizations focused on neighborhood transformation through his B-Corp social venture, The MetroAlliance. Jay is the former Executive Director of the Chicago Lawyers Committe
Jay Readey serves as the President of NeighborScapes and directs the Innovation Houses initiative, as part of a larger portfolio of growth businesses and nonprofit organizations focused on neighborhood transformation through his B-Corp social venture, The MetroAlliance. Jay is the former Executive Director of the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights (CLC). Jay champions civil rights through his leadership, activism and coalition-building in broad community networks. Jay is the founder and President of the MetroAlliance, a consortium of entrepreneurial community change organizations including NeighborScapes and MetroAlliance Consulting, Inc., and had a private legal practice in community development and federal tax credit investments in low income communities. Jay also served as a technical assistance provider to Illinois ResourceNet, helping nonprofit organizations and municipalities access federal funding. Prior to his time with MetroAlliance and Illinois ResourceNet, Jay was a lawyer in private practice in the corporate group at Jenner & Block LLP, and then in the tax-advantaged investing group of the real estate department at SNR Denton (formerly known as Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal), where he was a frequent speaker at national conferences on New Markets Tax Credits. During his time as a lawyer in private practice, Jay maintained an active pro bono practice working with TLP. Jay graduated cum laude from Yale University in 1994 with distinction in both African-American Studies and American Studies, and from Yale Law School and School of Management with a JD and MBA in 2004.
Martin Carr - Director
Calvin Jordan - Treasurer
Damon Perry - Secretary
As a neutral mediator, law school professor, and practicing attorney, Mr. Carr lives focuses on dispute resolution. He is a member of the Third Appellate District’s mediation panel as well as the Sacramento Superior Court panel, and serves as a volunteer mediator with the Sacramento Mediation Center. Before commencing work as a lawyer, M
As a neutral mediator, law school professor, and practicing attorney, Mr. Carr lives focuses on dispute resolution. He is a member of the Third Appellate District’s mediation panel as well as the Sacramento Superior Court panel, and serves as a volunteer mediator with the Sacramento Mediation Center. Before commencing work as a lawyer, Marty graduated Phi Beta Kappa and with Distinction from Stanford University and earned his J.D. from Yale Law School. Marty serves on the board of Legal Services of Northern California and is an active member of the Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court, receiving the prestigious Voice of Conscience Award in 2008. He lives in Sacramento, California with his wife and daughter.
Damon Perry - Secretary
Calvin Jordan - Treasurer
Damon Perry - Secretary
Mr. Perry received his J.D. from the University of Michigan and was privileged to clerk for the Honorable Matthew F. Kennelly, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. While at Michigan, he was Contributing Editor of the Michigan Law Review. After working as an associate at Jenner and Block in Chicago, Mr. Perry partner
Mr. Perry received his J.D. from the University of Michigan and was privileged to clerk for the Honorable Matthew F. Kennelly, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. While at Michigan, he was Contributing Editor of the Michigan Law Review. After working as an associate at Jenner and Block in Chicago, Mr. Perry partnered with Ms. Davis to form ARC Law Group in order to realize his dream of bringing affordable, personal representation to each client. Mr. Perry's professional associations include membership in the Chicago Construction Professionals, Chicago Home Builder Network Chicago Solo/Small Firm Attorneys, Hyde Park Kenwood Professional, Solo Attorney Practitioner's Forum, and the University of Michigan Law School Alumni Association. Mr. Perry is a member of the Board of Directors of the Just the Beginning Foundation and a member of the Illinois State Bar Association.
Calvin Jordan - Treasurer
Calvin Jordan - Treasurer
Calvin Jordan - Treasurer
Calvin Jordan is the elected Highway Commissioner in the Cook County South Suburbs. He is also a former Special Assistant to the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Office of the President; a member of the Village of Hazel Crest Economic Development Board; and a member of the Illinois Landscaping Association.
Keeana Barber - Director
Ralph Jones - Community Building Fellows' Director
Keeana Barber - Director
Keeana graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Learning & Organizational Change. When her brother passed away due to senseless gun violence, Ms. Barber took over the promotional company that he had recently started in California, What’s Da Bizniz. In 2008, Keeana launched a subsidiary of What’s Da Bizniz aptly
Keeana graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Learning & Organizational Change. When her brother passed away due to senseless gun violence, Ms. Barber took over the promotional company that he had recently started in California, What’s Da Bizniz. In 2008, Keeana launched a subsidiary of What’s Da Bizniz aptly named WDB Marketing focusing on visual marketing. In 2011, Keeana founded What’s Da Bizniz Newspaper, along with partners James Wheeler, Leah Barber, and Artriss Williams. With a mission to engage, educate and empower, the publication, the newspaper’s circulation increased from 5,000 to 20,000 free copies in its first year. To date, WDB Marketing has had the pleasure of serving over 2000 small businesses and entrepreneurs in the metropolitan Chicagoland area. Keeana remains active in the community with her role as board member for Northwestern University Black Alumni Association and Chamber 57.
David Lewicki - Director
Ralph Jones - Community Building Fellows' Director
Keeana Barber - Director
Rev. David Lewicki has been co-pastor of the North Decatur Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Ga., since 2010. The church is strongly committed to social justice, peacemaking, and the education and
formation of disciples of Jesus.
David studied at Yale University and Union Theological Seminary in New York. Prior to entering the ministry, h
Rev. David Lewicki has been co-pastor of the North Decatur Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Ga., since 2010. The church is strongly committed to social justice, peacemaking, and the education and
formation of disciples of Jesus.
David studied at Yale University and Union Theological Seminary in New York. Prior to entering the ministry, he was a nonprofit professional working in the fields of youth and community development.
David has appeared on Day1, CNN and CNN’s Belief blog. He blogs at ministerslife.blogspot.com and tweets at @dlewicki. He is married to the Rev. Beth Waltemath and has two children, James, 4, and Margaret, 2.
Ralph Jones - Community Building Fellows' Director
Ralph Jones - Community Building Fellows' Director
Ralph Jones - Community Building Fellows' Director
Ralph currently sits on the NeighborScapes board as a representative for Community Building Fellows in our Innovation Houses program.