Bobby Jackson (Elgin catalyst)
Bio: The fact that you are checking out my bio means a couple of things. First, you are on our site which means you are already interested in seeing a community change. Second, you want to know who the One Collective staff members are, and that means you are interested in people.
In order for a community to change, willing community-change-agents like you need two things. First, they need adequate trauma-informed and culturally competent training and, second, they need environments created where they can safely build meaningful relationships. Well, that’s where the Catalyst comes in. My job is to bring together resources, needs, people, organizations, and ideas, and, then, build strong connections. I am fulfilled when I see people find the tools to live a healthy spiritual, physical, emotional, and social life. I would love to meet you.
Contact Info: bobby.jackson@onecollective.org
Jess Martin (youth engagement director)
Bio: When my husband and I started our business in Elgin, we knew that we wanted to be intentional about investing in the community that we were a part of. I believe that no one should ever feel like their voice is too small, that their perspectives are unimportant, or that their needs cannot be met. One Collective Elgin is working hard to ensure that does not happen and it is a great privilege to be able to be a part of the truly community-building work that is being done.
Contact info: jess.martin@onecollective.org
Alex Madrid (housing and homelessness ministry director)
Bio: "Love your neighbor as yourself.” You’ve heard the phrase before, but perhaps, like me, you always thought it was a neat phrase, but… a bit too... abstract. I’ve glossed over those words dozens of times. However, I remember the day my idea of who I thought a “neighbor” was, completely shattered. It was on my first day working at a recovery program, I encountered people that, up to that point, I had not considered neighbors. But when I looked into their eyes, and heard their stories, I realized that they were people just like me.. And I realized that they were my neighbors. Over the next four years working at the recovery program, I came to see more and more God’s value and love of every individual regardless of circumstance, and it helped clarify my own call to love my neighbor.
The biggest need in our community of Elgin is housing and homelessness. I believe that God has equipped me over the past four years to help lead the charge to solve issues related to this problem. By building deep and meaningful relationships with organizations that provide services as well as people who want or need access to them, I want to make sure that my neighbors are loved and cared for in the best way possible. I’ve joined One Collective to do just that. Love my neighbors.
Contact Info: alex.madrid@onecollective.org
Alison Sherman (housing and homelessness ministry team administrator)
Bio: Coming soon!
Contact Info: alison.sherman@onecollective.org
Juan Cisneros (Elgin catalyst)
Bio: Coming soon
Contact info: Email: Juan.cisneros@onecollective.org
Sonia Ivy (human trafficking advocacy and awareness coordinator)
Bio: I’m a writer, poet, educator, and entrepreneur passionate about personal and social change. We do this through holistic transformation and giving voice to the voiceless. I use my voice to raise public awareness and advocate for the invisible. The invisible are in systems of oppression such as poverty, sex and labor exploitation, juvenile justice, unsheltered, prison to pipeline, foster care, mental, physical, and intellectual disabilities, gender-based violence and bias, and more.
I see a vision of restoration to proclaim the good news to the poor, give sight to the blind and liberty to the oppressed, and for Elgin to implement city-wide policies and systems change to bring hope, help, and healing. "But aim and strive first of all for the Kingdom of God, and His way of doing and being right..." - Jesus of Nazareth.
Contact info: sonia.ivy@onecollective.org