CCWF was founded with the vision of Universal Support of All Parents / All Children to Thrive.  We had to adapt the program for a CHICAGO/USA community of parents.  Geri Jones, First Lady and Pastor Jones, of St. Titus One, welcomed us to pilot our program at their church in West Pullman, a community that was plagued with low socio-economic issues, sub-par education, and high levels of crime, especially back when we began.  Geri recruited our first group of 6 Facilitators from the Church and nearby community to be trained.  They loved and embraced the program, several of them taking the program to their communities to do free programs for their communities as their personal investment.  All recognized the value and potential.  Most would finish all Facilitator Workshop Levels (3).  Geri helped us to invite local law enforcement/ block club members and others to focus groups that would allow us to host difficult conversations, such as on corporal punishment, and authoritarian parenting.  With Geri’s leadership, we were able to pilot the program as we delivered the first 3 programs - ever - at St. Titus, learning every step of the way.   When many of their community members had participated, we approached the Salvation Army Kroc Center in West Pullman, and a first community program was facilitated there by St. Titus trained facilitators.

Almost every year Geri would host a Parenting Program in West Pullman, until 2019, when we asked her to pilot our very first “Best Start-All About YOUth” program with her summer camp for youth - “Youth Anti-Violence and Mentoring Program.”  She has supported that program each summer, even through COVID, with their community youth.  I share with you the testimonial quote she provided to us when we published the updated “All About YOUth” program last year.  With Geri’s support, we hope to bring the “Best Start for Families” to her Chicago Public School in 2022-23.

Ms. Mosser began her legal career in 2002 as an assistant district attorney in Orleans Parrish, La., where she prosecuted crimes in the juvenile and adult divisions for offenses ranging from marijuana possession to first-degree murder. She returned to her home state of Illinois in 2005 and joined the Kane County State's Attorney's Office as an assistant state's attorney, working in a variety of units including domestic violence, DUI, drug rehabilitation court, felony, and special prosecutions, which included auto theft and arson. In 2009 she was named head of the Domestic Violence Unit, prosecuting misdemeanor and felony domestic offenses and supervising a staff of lawyers. Jamie was recognized by Community Crisis Center for her outstanding work on behalf of domestic violence victims with its Partner in Peace Award.From 2015 until 2020 Jamie worked in the private practice of law specializing primarily in family law. She maintained focus in the area of domestic violence by offering free or reduced fee legal services to domestic violence victims, and by serving on the Mutual Ground Board of Directors. In 2017, she was given the Kane County Bar Association's Pro Bono Award.In 2017, she joined the staff at Prairie State Legal Services, working with domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, as well as family law cases, protective orders, Title IX matters, and victim advocacy in criminal cases. In 2019, she and her husband, Jameson Eisenmenger, Esq., formed the law firm Mosser & Eisenmenger Law, LLC, specializing in real estate cases, business transaction litigation, and domestic violence protective orders.Jamie serves on the board for Mutual Ground, Rise From the Ashes, and the P.I.E. Project.  Jamie has a degree in political science from Illinois State University, and earned her juris doctor from the DePaul University College of Law. She lives in Campton Hills with her husband and children.

Mark Payleitner has directed teams up to 140 and managed operational and capital budgets totaling $20M, but always enjoyed his time on either side of the classroom desk most.  He grew up in the Fox Valley, where much of his extended family still live.  He attended Eastern Illinois University and taught Middle and High School Math and Computers for several years, including 2 in Evanston.  A career change brought 7 years with Arthur Andersen, including a 20 month development project in Paris, where Mark and his wife Chris welcomed their first daughter - followed 2 years later by daughter #2 back in the U.S.  Mark then spent 4 years with Baxter Healthcare, where he directed teams including Internal and Customer Helpdesks, Documentation & Training, and Data Center; and welcomed daughter #3.  Returning to Arthur Andersen for 9 years, he directed networks, telecom, technology support & purchasing and several helpdesks.  Then followed work in small business, where he provided management, accounting, operational and purchasing services over 9 years.  Upon “retirement” Mark spent 9 years teaching college level accounting, business and Microsoft Office at Computer Systems Institute and St. Augustine College.  He revels in his ongoing role of grandpa to two grandsons.

Char Rivette has served as Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center’s Executive Director since 2009. In addition to overseeing the organization’s not-for profit operations, she facilitates the Multidisciplinary Leadership Team housed at ChicagoCAC, which includes members of Chicago Police Department, Department of Children & Family Services, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and Lurie Children’s Hospital. During her tenure, the organization has grown by more than 50 percent and expanded its physical space by 75 percent – growth that allows for expanded investigative, family support, and mental health services, and has led to innovative education, prevention and policy partnerships on city, statewide, and national levels.

Ms. Rivette is a member of the National Children’s Alliance Board of Directors, and within the victim’s advocacy movement she frequently serves as an authority, contributor and collaborator with other community leaders to increase the positive impact of their work and advance the cause of victims and survivors nationwide.

With more than 30 years of experience in the field of child abuse, mental health and victim advocacy, Ms. Rivette began her work in direct clinical services to abused and traumatized children and their families. Prior to joining ChicagoCAC, she served as Chief of Program Operations at Little City Foundation. She also previously held clinical and management positions at Our Children’s Homestead and DuPage County Health Department. Ms. Rivette earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and is a licensed clinical social worker.

Torin Quinlivan has been pursuing a Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences with a specialization in Statistics at Northern Illinois University since 2017. He received his undergraduate degree in Mathematics from Northwestern University. He has lived in Northern Illinois since middle school and is looking forward to applying his developing skills to help families in his community. In his free time, he enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with his two dogs.

Under the leadership of Jake Wyatt (Col. and Past Board Chair), the STC Veterans Center has been a strong and consistent partner of the Changing Children's Worlds Foundation for over 8 years.  They have been a second home for CCWF, providing an excellent space for CCWF to use for events.  For example, they have generously hosted over 10 CCWF Facilitator and Coach Training Workshop.  They have hosted Veteran, First Responder and also Open Community Parenting Groups allowing us space for Parents, as well as for the Children's Program.  The STC Veterans Center has also hosted almost all in-person CCWF Board and Strategic Planning meetings for the past 6 years. The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AmVets and Viet Nam Veterans, as well as the Women's Auxiliary, have been joint supporters, including as Sponsors and having strong participation in all our Fundraisers.  They have supported us with their community networks and connections with STC silent auction donors as well.  We appreciate this important support, allowing CCWF to function in our relatively small space for many years, because of this extension of functional space that has enhanced our capacity and outreach.