WHO WE ARE
Debra G. Wesley
Debra G. Wesley is an award winning, seasoned human services founder, executive, social entrepreneur and community change agent who has a deep appreciation and understanding of communities of color at a micro and macro level. Debra Wesley is nationally recognized for her ability to develop multiple programs, community partnerships and incubation of new organizations envisioned by community. She has provided leadership across several areas including health, housing, workforce development, community development, elder care, nutrition education, violence prevention with the goal of creating real solutions to human conditions from an intervention and prevention lens.
Wesley is an advisor, community program development innovator, organizer, convener and community engagement thought leader. She has a history of success, earned professional and community respect along with a sincere passion and joy that builds on the assets, strengths and resilience
of communities of color.
She has led efforts to bring culturally and linguistically appropriate services
in both the Black and Latinx communities. Debra is recognized as a creative thought leader in human services and community development and serves(d) as the Chair of social impact focused boards. She currently serves on Mayor Lightfoot’s Racial Equity Rapid Response Steering Committee for Chicago.
She was recognized as one of Cook County’s Unsung Heroines by the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues, one of Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Women in Health Care, and recently received an Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences/Chicago Chapter as
Co-Producer of Chicago at the Crossroad for Outstanding Achievement
for Documentary Programs-Cultural.
Debra was awarded a Denali Initiative Social Enterprise Fellowship at
Harvard University. She also holds a masters’ degree in Social Work from
the University of Illinois.
Lauren Wesley
Lauren Wesley is a seasoned and dynamic marketing, communications, public relations and nonprofit professional with more than 15 years of experience in brand and project management and fundraising.
She is a highly successful architect of creative media campaigns and brand strategies resulting in increased national and international visibility and revenue generation. Further, she leverages her strong event management and strategic partnership engagement experience in the corporate and nonprofit sectors to generate critically-need operating funds. She has managed international, national, and local brands carefully crafting the brand story to strategically communicate to various audiences.
She leverages her professional background in the nonprofit sector and education in clinical psychology to provide exceptional personal service to her clients. Working in fundraising and development for 15 years gives Lauren a keen understanding of how to cultivate partnerships, and she applies this knowledge to maintaining strong communication and relationships. She is a published author whose work has appeared in numerous national publications including the Wall Street Journal and in college-level textbooks.
Lauren holds masters’ degrees in clinical psychology and education from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and Widener University respectively. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Xavier University of Louisiana. When she is not serving her clients, she
continuously strives to be the supermom to three boys one of whom is a Junior Olympian in track and field, one of her proudest Mom moments.
Myra Nash-Johnson
Myra Nash-Johnson has over 30 years of senior level executive experience in developing publicly financed human services, child welfare, behavioral health, health care operations and initiatives. She is skilled in developing governmental and community relation(s). Some of her accomplishments include:
- Created, implemented and operated a complex medical and care management system (“HealthWorks”) serving over 50,000 wards of the State of Illinois.
▪ Designed and operated the fifth largest enrollment broker service (Illinois) in the United States with over 1,000,000 client contacts and 500,000 clients enrolled.
▪ Pioneered and operated one of the first (1990) electronic medical case management systems in the country to match clients with providers and track the delivery of health care services to 8,000 clients annually. This project was funded as a pilot for integrated healthcare management.
▪ Excels in contract negotiations, contract compliance, project implementation and performance-based management and training ▪ Proficient in developing performance-based outcomes measurement, materials, protocols, and evaluation tools