When I returned to Chicago after serving abroad in the military, I wanted to put down roots in a neighborhood with strong social ties. I love McKinley Park because it’s a small town inside the big city, with neighbors who know and help each other.

I’ve had a varied career prior to joining MPDC. As a performing artist for many years, I learned a lot about creative problem solving, collaborating across disciplines, and working with diverse audiences of all ages. That prepared me for my Air Force career in public relations and training, as well as my deployment as an interpreter. From there, I designed and delivered job training for people in a wide variety of workplaces and industries.

As MPDC’s Executive Director, I leverage my experience putting complicated things into everyday terms, so that everyone can participate in decisions that affect our community. We have amazing neighbors here, and I want to be part of building our future together.

I am a dedicated community advocate who has called McKinley Park home for over 25 years. I deeply cherish this neighborhood, where my parents live, and where I am now raising my own family. Our favorite pastime is biking and rollerblading down the streets of McKinley Park, which fuels my drive to make this area friendlier and safer for my family and others in the community.

As MPDC’s Director of Projects and Programs, I lead initiatives that foster collaboration between MPDC, project stakeholders, governmental partners, and community members. I also develop and manage project plans, ensure timelines and deliverables are met, and provide regular performance updates to leadership, partners, and neighbors. 

My goal is to drive positive change and create a safer, more welcoming environment for everyone in the neighborhood.

I am a current graduate student at UIC, in the process of obtaining my Master of Urban Planning and Policy. Originally from California, I moved to Chicago in 2021 to pursue my first graduate degree in energy and sustainability at Northwestern. Afterwards, I worked in corporate sustainability for several years, but I grew tired of compromising the impact I was making. So, I decided to re-focus my career on environmental planning, transit-oriented development, and community-driven change. 

Having been a resident of Bronzeville for four years, I am a frequent visitor of McKinley Park. I am grateful for the opportunity to deepen my relationship with the warm, vibrant community members of the neighborhood. As a Project Coordinator Intern, I help to make sure our neighbors are connected and involved with opportunities to shape their community.

Profession: Transportation Planner

I'm a transportation planner, born and raised in Mumbai, India, who moved to Chicago for my job in 2018. Ever since, I've grown fonder of the city and the McKinley Park neighborhood, where I’ve lived for four years.

As an urban planning consultant, I help cities make streets safer for all through  infrastructure and policies. I have a master's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and in Urban Planning from New York University. As a MPDC board member, I'm keen to see our neighborhood thrive with local businesses, affordable housing and public transportation, and safe options for walking and biking.

Profession: Union Organizing

I’m a native Southwest-Sider and have lived in McKinley Park for over 20 years. I come from an immigrant family and have always loved McKinley Park as a landing spot for new immigrant families. I am very passionate about fairness and believe that working people and communities deserve nice things too. We’re the ones who make this city go.

With the McKinley Park Development Council, I am especially interested in figuring out ways to make and keep wealth in and with our community. I dream about us creating ways for our neighbors to have living wage jobs nearby and access to affordable housing where we can build some equity and hold onto our hard-earned dollars. I dream about a McKinley Park where we all care about and for each other, across all the ways that we are different and unique.

Profession: Higher Education

I fell in love with McKinley Park after moving here in 2017. The park spaces here are some of the best in Chicago, and the character, people, and accessibility drew me in. I have always been an advocate for community-driven collaboration and development, and McKinley Park is an incredible place for fostering equitable and accessible development of small businesses, urban renewal, and shared spaces.

My goal is to foster connection and collaboration to build inclusive spaces for knowledge equity and representation. When not teaching and researching at UIC, I am often out walking my big fluffy dog in the park, attending community events, bicycling around Chicago, gardening, cooking, or supporting our local businesses.

Profession: Instructional Development

While working and living in McKinley Park, I’ve been impressed by the community’s strong civic engagement, which inspired me to join the McKinley Park Development Council. I spent 8 years teaching at Velma Thomas in McKinley Park and now work at the Office of Multilingual and Multicultural Education within Chicago Public Schools. Outside of work, I’ve volunteered with grassroots organizations focused on equity in education and voter engagement.

Through my involvement with the Council, I advocate for projects that promote equity, particularly in education. One of my key interests is integrating educational opportunities into urban development projects, such as creating educational programs along the riverfront bike path as part of the South Branch Connectivity Project.

Profession: Artist

I am a first-generation Mexican American community-based public artist, curator, educator, and activist. Raised in the working class neighborhood of Gage Park on the Southwest side of Chicago, I now call the charming neighborhood of McKinley Park home, where I live with my husband and three children. My journey in public art and community activism has seen me serve as secretary of the Local School Council of Velma Thomas Early Childhood Center in McKinley Park from 2015 to 2020. Currently, I bring my passion to the Chicago Monuments Project: Pilsen Latina Legacies as the artist advisory coordinator, working alongside the esteemed multidisciplinary artist Diana Solis. My dedication to fostering community and partnerships has also led me to join the Board of McKinley Park Development Council.

Profession: Insurance

My name is Faye Wu but many people know me as “Nikita.” I am an active member of the school my son attends, Galileo, located in the 25th Ward where I help organize the annual fundraiser: Reach for the Stars. I have been an active member of the Chinese community for many years having been the MC of many ceremonies and galas and having worked at a prominent insurance agency. Today, I own my own business, the Faye Wu Agency of American Family Insurance located in the heart of Chinatown.

But it is McKinley Park that I have called home since 2002 and where, together with my husband and two sons, we have decided to grow even deeper roots by building an addition to our home to better accommodate our future needs and it is here that I would welcome the opportunity to serve the needs of the residents and build a better McKinley Park.

Profession: Social Science Curriculum Designer

A lifelong educator, I spent six memorable years as a social science teacher at nearby Thomas Kelly College Prep High School. Many of our students came from McKinley Park, and over time I got to know the people, institutions and public spaces in this wonderful community. Returning to Chicago after several years abroad, I brought my family here for a visit and we all agreed that this was exactly where we wanted to live, work and play.

As a member of the McKinley Park Development Council, I am most passionate about helping to develop more places where people can spend time with neighbors and enjoy this unique corner of the city. To that end, I am helping to spur development along 35th Street that is responsive to the needs and desires of our community by opening a business with my wife that will serve as a neighborhood gathering place. I hope that our experience will allow me to help others with similar goals.

Profession: Structural Engineer

My wife and I are long-time residents of McKinley Park, living here for over 35 years! After returning from college, I decided to purchase a home in the area to be closer to my family and remain in the area. I have fond childhood memories of my block and neighborhood, which I try to recreate for my children. Bike rides, nature walks, and urban exploration are activities that we enjoy in the area.

This ultimately led me to join the council, so I can volunteer my time and thoughts in improving the area for all stakeholders. My hope is to help make McKinley Park safer and greener, while also attracting more small businesses to the area.

Profession: Affordable Housing

I take great joy in gushing about McKinley Park, even to the many Chicagoans who mistakenly think it's a suburb. This community is a beautiful gem, almost a secret. I grew up in Taiwan attending an international school and ever since moving to the states, I was in pursuit of a place to grow roots. I quickly fell in love with McKinley Park after moving here in 2020. I studied Urban Planning & Policy at UIC and have always been drawn to different forms of community development. In summer 2024, I started the McKinley Park chapter of Trash People with the hope of facilitating community connection and contribution through hyper-local community cleanups. It's been a blast! I've absolutely loved how organic it has been to meet neighbors, partner with small businesses, and collaborate with other community organizations in McKinley Park and Bridgeport. My day job is facilitating an affordable housing grant program, but you can catch me rollerskating, biking, eating delicious food, and exploring all the amazing places Chicago has to offer.

Profession: Artist and Educator

I am a multidisciplinary artist and educator dedicated to fostering creative inquiry across generations. Currently, I serve as the Studio Coordinator at Chicago Commons, where I collaborate with young children and educators to activate their meaning-making capacities through the arts. In addition to my work in early childhood education, I am a member of the teaching faculty at Columbia College Chicago in the Fine Art department. My personal practice and public art installations have been exhibited extensively throughout the city, bridging the gap between studio process and community engagement.

I am honored to join the McKinley Park Development Council Board, stepping into a role of stewardship for the place I call home. I look forward to supporting the organizations that sustain our community and help to shape a vibrant, lasting legacy for every neighbor.

Profession: Communications and Public Relations

As a former hyper-local journalist and current communications professional, I’m delighted to put my experience, skills and enthusiasm to use in my neighborhood as a board member for the McKinley Park Development Council.

I’ve lived in McKinley Park since 2019, and I can’t image a better place to live, work, and enjoy my time. I get to walk my dog in the park every day, I’m a frequent patron of the McKinley Park Library, and I’m constantly running to the orange line or the 50, 62, and 35 busses. McKinley Park is an amazing community, and the people here deserve the best Chicago has to offer. I love meeting our neighbors and working to keep this a special place for all of us.

Profession: Educator

I’m an educator who has worked at Velma Thomas since 2017. I’ve lived in McKinley Park since 2020, but I was born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, which continues to shape how I show up for community spaces and collective care.

Since 2019, I’ve volunteered with the McKinley Park Play Garden Committee, where I’ve helped organize events that bring neighbors together. Through this work, I’ve fallen in love with the spirit of collaboration and joy that exists in our community when we create opportunities to connect. I’ve especially loved watching our neighborhood’s local businesses grow and thrive, and I’m eager to be part of that ongoing process. My goal is to help uplift McKinley Park by supporting thoughtful development that expands access to local art, food, gathering spaces, and experiences, so our neighborhood continues to feel vibrant, welcoming, and full of life.