Michael Allen is a Co-Founder of Together Chicago and serves as the Chief Strategy Officer. He was born in Kingston, Jamaica and immigrated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida with his family in 1977.  In 1986 he became a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Early in his professional career, Michael was called into ministry under the leadership of Dr. O.S. Hawkins, First Baptist Church – Ft. Lauderdale (1989). In 1997, Michael served as Assistant Pastor of Urban Outreach and Evangelism at The Moody Church in Chicago, IL . Michael also served as the Associate Pastor at Sagemont Church in Houston, TX (2002).

Michael currently serves as the Senior Pastor at Uptown Baptist Church. He also serves as Vice Chairman of the board of the Pacific Garden Mission.

Michael holds a Masters in Divinity from Trinity International University, a Bachelors of Arts in Biblical Studies from Trinity College – Miami, FL and an Associates in Computer Electronics.

Michael is married to Marilza from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and they have 4 children.

As a child, Alvin Bibbs was pointed out in a crowd by the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., while at Wayman A.M.E. Church in the Cabrini-Green neighborhood of Chicago. MLK’s words challenged the congregation to take responsibility for cultivating the youth and preserving their community. Alvin clung to those words and has been an advocate for change ever since.

Alvin serves on Together Chicago’s faith community mobilization team as the Community, Faith Engagement Officer and is also the founding President and CEO of The Justice Journey Experience (An organization designed to bring multi-cultural and inter-generational leaders, churches, corporations, and NFP organizations together for honest dialogue on race relations and relevant issues on social justice). In addition, Alvin is the founder & Principal of The Obsidian Consulting Group, LLC and has previously served as the Multi-Cultural Regional Director for the Willow Creek Association in South Barrington, IL.  Under his leadership at Willow, The National Compassion Network and The Chicago Pastors’ Alliance launched.

Alvin is the author of Crazy Enough to Care: Changing Your World Through Compassion, Justice, and Racial Reconciliation and is also a contributing author on A Heart for Community: New Models for Urban & Suburban Ministry, Moody Press 2009; and City Lights: Ministry Essentials for Reaching Urban Youth, Group Publishing 2003.

He is also a contributing cast member in the film, Hoop Dreams (1994) and holds a Master of Arts in Leadership and Development, from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA.

Dr. John Fuder is the Founder and Director of Heart for the City. Doc Fuder’s passion to teach and train others to engage the city comes from his many years of experience in ministry in California and training students in Urban Studies at Moody Theological Seminary.  Now Doc Fuder is equipping the broader body of Christ to engage more deeply in contextualizing the Gospel in their local communities.

He has also been leading the PrayChicago movement that began in 2014 and still growing today. He holds a B.R.E. from Prairie Bible College, an M.A. in Religion from Pepperdine University and a Ph.D. from Biola University.

He and his wife, Nellie, have three children and a granddaughter and live on Chicago’s north side.

Roy Patterson is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Trinity International University. He serves as host of three nationally syndicated programs, Celebration of Praise, Music for Sunday and UrbanPraiseRadio.org.

He is also a preacher, praise and worship leader, and vocalist. He has a passion to see the body of Christ united through worship, work, and sincere fellowship. Roy has served as a youth leader, senior pastor and a substance abuse counselor. In January 2011, Roy was appointed station manager for Moody Radio Chicago. In July 2015, Roy was appointed as Special Assistant to the President for Community Relations. He currently serves as the Community Relations Director of Moody Bible Institute.

Roy has been married to his wife, Lynette, for over 30 years and has three children.

Jon is co-founder and the Senior Pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Chicago, a multi-ethnic church with congregations in Pilsen, Hyde Park, Downtown and the North Side. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Executive Team for City to City | North America, a church planting initiative launched by Tim Keller of Redeemer Church in New York that has helped plant more than 400 churches in global cities. Jon is also the Lead for Vision and Strategy for Neopolis which focuses on training leaders in preaching, pastoring and planting to influence the world for Christ. In the past he has served on the Local School Council for his children’s Chicago Public School and helped launch The Charles Simeon Trust as well as the Chicago Partnership for Church Planting.

Together Chicago is something Jon has been praying about for many years. His vision is to see the cities of the world – including Chicago – transformed by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Beginning in November 2016, through friendship with David Dillon, he helped to assemble the initial core of twelve city leaders to explore establishing Together Chicago.

He is the author of Christ + City and for the last 19 years has lived in Hyde Park, Chicago with his wife, Amy, and their five children.

For 25 years, David has served neighborhoods throughout Chicago in various nonprofit and governmental capacities, getting his start as a community organizer in Lawndale, evolving to a lead role at the City Department of Planning, then as CEO of Chicago Park District, only to return to the nonprofit field through his role at CNI. At CNI, David has closed $55 million in New Markets Tax Credits to support community facilities, coordinated the investment of nearly $200 million in public and private funds in Chicago’s low-income neighborhoods, raised more than $900,000 in microlending capital, and helped lead an organizing effort to have Pullman declared a National Monument. David has an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College and a Master’s in Social Science from the University of Chicago. David is also a member of Millennium Reserve Steering Committee.

Tom is a Partner at New Harbor Capital. He also remains a Partner at CHS Capital, where he leads the Business Services, Healthcare and Education team, and is a member of the Investment and Management Committees. Prior to joining CHS, he was with Heller Financial in the Leveraged Funding Group. Tom holds a B.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University.

Felecia is a native of the south side of Chicago, a mother of two grown daughters, and has been married for 41 years to Steve. Felecia received her bachelor of arts in sociology/psychology from DePaul University, a master of science in human services administration from Spertus College, and is currently pursuing a doctor of ministry degree at Bakke Graduate University in Seattle.  

Felecia has also gone through senior management training with ServiceMaster Corporation and the John Templeton Institute’s program for non-profit board leadership and fundraising.  Felecia’s teaching gifts have given her instructional roles at Moody Bible Institute, Trinity Christian College, and numerous conferences.  Her administrative and leadership gifts have been utilized in executive roles with the DeVos Family Foundation’s Urban Leadership Initiative and the Family Care Network.  For most of the past 20 years, Felecia has directed community partnership programs for Trinity Christian College and then for World Vision, where she served as Executive Director of its Chicagoland operation for nearly three years.  Felecia exhibits extraordinary intelligence, experience, and personal grace.  She currently serves as the Executive Director for Community Development (The Roosevelt Road Initiative) at Christ Church of Oak Brook.

Bishop Horace E. Smith M.D. was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. He was raised alongside two sisters and three brothers by his parents Shirley and Albert Smith. After the passing of Bishop Smith’s mother, his grandmother, Alberta Pryor, moved into the home and not only helped meet the needs of the children naturally but also trained them spiritually. Bishop Smith graduated as an honor student from Lindblom High School and went on to obtain the following academic accomplishments:

• Bachelor of Science Degree (with honors) Chicago State University (1971)
• M.D., University of Illinois Medical Center (1975)
• Completion of Pediatric Residency, University of Illinois Hospital (1978)
• Completion of Clinical Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Children’s Memorial Hospital/Northwestern University (1980)

On March 28, 1980, following the death of the former pastor, Bishop John S. Holly, Bishop Smith was named pastor of Apostolic Faith Church. Under his leadership, the congregation has grown from 200 members to 3,000 people who call Apostolic Faith Church their home.

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Jonathan Banks is motivated to see people thrive by challenging them to grow and inspiring them to rise. He actively serves his church and community and strives to help others reach their God-given potential in every area of life. Jonathan earned an undergraduate degree in engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Northwestern University.

Jonathan is the author of a best selling book called ‘Raise Your GPA’, which outlines a faith-based approach to academic and life excellence for students. His own academic and tutoring experiences helped him form an effective approach to success that he willingly shares with the next generation.

Jonathan is a passionate leader and educator who serves his church and community in Illinois where he resides with his wife, Jacinta, and their teenage sons.

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Debbie Birkey is an entrepreneur advocating for under-resourced entrepreneurs and a mom passionate to see parents able to provide for their own children. Currently Senior Regional Representative for HOPE International she is raising funds and awareness for families in 15 countries,  Mother of four and grandmother of nine, Debbie built her own landscape design business – Grow by Design – while raising her children, homeschooling at points along the way and teaching a women’s Bible Study at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park.  She has been active on the West Side and, along with her children, volunteered at Breakthrough Urban Ministries, Circle Urban Ministries and is currently on the prayer team of The Field School.  The vision statement of HOPE captures Debbie’s heart for her community – “men and women finding their soul’s satisfaction in Christ and becoming dignified, hope-filled providers in their homes and communities.”

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Pastor James T. Meeks is the founder and senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago, which has been recognized as one of the fastest growing megachurches in the United States. Salem is the largest African American church in Illinois with over 15,000 members.

In 2002, Pastor Meeks successfully ran for Illinois state senator. His win made him the first Independent legislator ever elected to the Illinois Senate. He served three terms, where his major focus was on educational equity. He has also served in positions of leadership including chair of the Education committee as well as joint chairman of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. Pastor Meeks currently serves as Chairman, Illinois State Board of Education.

In 2005, Pastor Meeks led Salem in the building of the House of Hope, a $50 million, 10,000 seat community and worship center which is the largest facility built from the ground up for the purpose as a worship venue in the United States.

Throughout his life, Pastor Meeks has served the needs of the people whether it was through legislation on the Senate floor, community organizing events in the streets of Chicago or from the pulpit every Sunday morning.

In 1998, he led a rally to “dry up” the Roseland community, which resulted in the closing of 26 liquor stores. He distributed 30,000 Bibles to residents in the church’s zip code. He provided every prisoner in the state with the Bible on cassette.

The list goes on and in his 38 years of ministry, Pastor Meeks has taken his message of hope and reform around the world including Israel, Africa, China, Jamaica, Argentina, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Australia.

He is the author of two books, “How to Get out of Debt and Into Praise,” and “Life-Changing Relationships,” which have been received with critical acclaim.

Pastor Meeks and his wife Jamell are the proud parents of four children and four grandchildren.

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Chris earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Michigan in 1991 and began his career working for Kellogg Company in foodservice sales. In 1993, he returned to the University of Michigan, where he completed a Master of Business Administration with a focus on marketing and international business.

Following graduate school, Chris and his wife moved to Singapore, where he ran the Asia-Pacific operation for a supplier of pumping equipment used in petro-chemical production.

In 2008, Chris and his family relocated to London to lead the European and African consumer products division of Motorola. Chris left Motorola in 2011. He and his family moved to Rwanda to join Hope International, a Christian microfinance institution dedicated to “providing a hand up and not a hand out” through small business loans to people who typically live on less than $1 a day. Now back in Chicago, Chris works with a group of Christian investors who build sustainable businesses, where profits are redeployed back into missions and development work around the world.

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Jim Perry is a Managing Director on the MDP Telecom, Media & Technology Services team. Prior to co-founding MDP, Mr. Perry was with First Chicago Venture Capital for eight years. Previously, he was with The First National Bank of Chicago. Mr. Perry concentrates on investments in the telecom, media and technology services sector and currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Asurion Corporation, Centennial Towers, Intermedia.net, Inc., Liquid Web, The Topps Company, Univision Communications, and Chicago Public Media. He is on the Board of Overseers of the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences and serves as Chairman of the School Board of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

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Marilyn Anderson Rhames is the Founder/CEO of the nonprofit organization Teachers Who Pray. She taught in Chicago Public Schools for 14 years and is authoring a book entitled, The Master Teacher: 12 Spiritual Lesson That Can Transform Schools and Revolutionize Public Education. 

Once a New York City reporter for PEOPLE, TIME, Newsday, and The Journal News, Marilyn now weds her education and journalism skills by blogging for the likes of Huffington Post, Education Week, Education Post, The New York Times and others. Marilyn speaks widely on issues relating to education, race, writing and faith. 

Born and raised in Chicago, Marilyn is a wife and mother of three.

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A Wheaton native and the son of longtime professor Dr. Leland Ryken and Mary Graham Ryken, President Ryken attended Wheaton as an undergraduate, majoring in English literature and philosophy. He met his wife, Lisa, during their first few days at the College, and they were married before their senior year. The Rykens have five children: Josh, Kirsten, Jack, Kathryn, and Karoline.

Dr. Ryken earned a master of divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary and a doctorate in historical theology from the University of Oxford. Dr. Ryken returned from England to join the pastoral staff at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia in 1995, preaching there until his appointment at Wheaton.

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Noah Toly is Director of the Center for Urban Engagement and Professor of Urban Studies and Politics & International Relations at Wheaton College. He also serves as Non-Resident Senior Fellow for Global Cities at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and teaches on cities and urbanism in the Free University of Berlin’s Center for Global Politics. He has written multiple books and articles on urban and environmental politics, and he edits the Routledge Series, Cities & Global Governance. In 2011, he was named an Emerging Leader by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. In 2012-2013, he served as Senior Fellow at the University of Chicago’s Martin Marty Center for the Advanced Study of Religion. And in 2015, he was the first recipient of the Emerging Public Intellectual award given by a coalition of North American think tanks in collaboration with the Centre for Christian Scholarship at Redeemer University College. He currently serves on the Steering Committee of the Thriving Cities Project.

Along with consultations for municipal governments, committees of national legislatures, and investment groups, Noah has given invited lectures at Christ College Taipei, Gordon College, Hope College, Judson University, Ming Chuan University, Redeemer University College, University of Chicago, and University of Virginia. His work has appeared in Books & Culture, Capital Commentary, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Comment, Next City, The Hedgehog Review, Quartz, and Sightings among other publications. He has appeared on Moody Radio and NPR, and has been interviewed for articles in the New York Times and The Atlantic. In addition to his academic work, Dr. Toly has published Cities of Tomorrow and the City to Come: A Theology of Urban Life (Zondervan) and What is Mercy Ministry? (Presbyterian & Reformed, co-authored with Philip Ryken).

After earning an undergraduate degree at Wheaton College, Noah earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Urban Affairs & Public Policy from the University of Delaware. He later earned an M.A. in Theology at Wheaton. Noah and his wife, Becky, met at Wheaton College, where they both now teach. They have three children: Joe, Ben, and Rose.

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Richard Townsell is a Chicago native and thought leader in community development. In Richard’s 20+ years, he has developed hundreds of residential and commercial properties, created countless public service programs, and designed comprehensive community plans for affordable housing, education and more. 

Richard is currently the Executive Director at the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation and a consultant to FEED (Fellowship Educational & Economic Development Corp.). Richard has taught community development courses at Northwestern University’s Asset-Based Community Development Institute and been an adjunct professor at Wheaton College’s Wheaton in Chicago program. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University in Mathematics Education and a Masters of Science from Spertus College in Nonprofit Management. 

Richard has been married to his college sweetheart Stephanie for 27 years.  They have two adult children, Lena and Gabriel.  Richard also coaches youth wrestling in his spare time.   

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Rev. John Zayas, Senior Pastor, is ordained in the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) and has a passion to save the lost and work with the community towards holistic restoration. He has been instrumental in the development of community organizations that extend from GAPC, such as the Community Center and Safe Harbor, a domestic violence intervention ministry. Prior to his becoming senior pastor, John worked for 6 years with Northwest Chicago Young Life reaching out to high school students with the gospel. He attended North Park, Christian Leaders Institute and Leadership Development Network (LDN). John resides on the northwest side of Chicago with his wife of thirty years, Angelina, and has two adult children.