One Collective Elgin Staff
Bobby Jackson (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
Alex Madrid (casework collaboration coordinator)
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
Sonia Ivy (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
One Collective Elgin Council
Jess Martin
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. I am the Next Gen Pastor at Christ Community Church Streamwood Campus & Co-Owner of Martin Service
Contact info: jmartin@ccclife.org
Ed Hunter is a Board Certified Catholic Chaplain, who retired from Ascension Illinois Health System after 31 years as Mission/Spiritual Care Officer.
He remains a registry chaplain at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital, Elgin.
Ed is very involved in the local community by serving on multiple different Boards of Directors of Human Services Agencies in Elgin,
He also serves as one of the volunteer chaplains for both the fire department and police department in Elgin.
Ed and his wife Pat, are long-time residents of Elgin.
Contact Info: edward.hunter@ascension.org
Danny Flores
Bio: Working with One collective has allowed me to develop a deeper love for my community and those in need. It has also given me an opportunity to serve beyond the four walls of my church. I am the Lead Pastor at R Church
Contact info: Social media: @dannyfloresoficial; Email: pdannyflores@gmail.com
Kayla Rodriguez
Bio: Aquí te encuentras, wondering who I am. Elgin has always been my home, pero también Tierra Caliente, GRO, México de donde es mi mamá es mi tierra. I love enchiladas, fútbol y chanclas. Granted with the gift to be a first generation Mejicana-Americana, I graduated from Elgin High School in 2014. For the past five years I have been a Youth Worker at my local church serving middle school and high school students. My passion to see the youth seen, cared for, invested in, given a voice and place in our city and the community pass the torch with confidence is the aim I stride towards. Since I could remember the words of my mamá. "Echale ganas mija, hay que hacer las cosas bien," have always bounced around in my head and have been engraved in my heart. Definitely connect with me, I would love the opportunity.
#SeBuscanHumanosQueQuierenCambiarElMundo
Contact Info: kaylarodriguez82@gmail.com