Staff
Chamala Jordan | Executive Director
The new Executive Director, Chamala Jordan, is well-acquainted with the adult literacy network, having been involved with LVI since she joined as an AmeriCorps member in the VOCAL program in 2004. During her placement at the Blue Gargoyle in Hyde Park, she worked as a literacy specialist. After that, she became the VOCAL program coordinator at LVI, a position she held until 2016. Chamala continued her association with LVI as a board member before applying for the Executive Director role. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Roosevelt University and has over 25 years of experience in program management, budget oversight, and team leadership.
Rhianna Brandt | VOCAL AmeriCorps Program Coordinator
Rhianna Brandt holds a PhD and MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston, as well as a summa cum laude BA in English from Salem College.
From October 2021 to June 2023, she served as the Outreach & Program Coordinator for the New English MA program at the University of Houston, where she focused on student recruitment, outreach, and building institutional partnerships. Additionally, Rhianna has taught First-Year Writing and served as an Instructor in the Harris County Jail Reentry Program for the Inprint Foundation.
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Ann Connelly is the Program Assistant, supporting all phases of Jump Start programming. She joined the LVI Jump Start program in October 2024 to support IYC-Warrenville. Ann has a Bachelor’s degree from Elmhurst University and a background in delivering continuing education programming for non-profit organizations.
Ann Connelly | Jump Start Program Assistant
Board of Directors
Blake Dunphy | President
Blake joined the Board in 2015. He has been a Chicago Public School teacher for 15 years. Before that he taught ESL in Guangzhou, China for a year and was a real estate broker in Chicago. Blake has a Bachelor’s in History from Colorado College, and a Masters in Teaching in Secondary Education from National Louis University.
John McLeod | Treasurer
A security consultant, John has been a member of the Board since 2004 and currently serves as the Vice-President/Treasurer. He is a former local political party official who has been active in his Rogers Park community for the past 30 years and his temple, where he has been a board member for the past 12 years. He has twenty years of work experience in the public sector in the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, and 15 years in the private sector in safety and security. He holds a BA in American Studies from Roosevelt University and is a past President of LVI.
Neisha joined the board in July 2018. She has a broad background in the non-profit sector having served various stints as a program director, program manager, and an operations coordinator, the latter with North Park University, where she also earned a Masters in Non-Profit Management. Neisha is currently a Systems Administrator with the Salvation Army and is also enrolled at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine where she is pursuing a Doctor of Medicine degree in the Addiction Psychiatry Residency Program. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Phoenix University and is a former VOCAL AmeriCorps member.
Neisha McNeal | Secretary
Nia Martinez
Nia Martinez is an instructional designer with over 15 years of experience designing, developing and facilitating instructor-led and e-learning courses with international development organizations, non-profits, and financial and healthcare corporations in Latin America & the Caribbean, West & Southern Africa, Afghanistan, China and the United States
Nia has a deep passion for learning as a vehicle to create behavior change and help others see their unlimited potential to realize their goals and dream. This deep passion for learning can be attributed to the LVIVOCAL Program- having served as an AmeriCorps member at Albany Park Community Center in 2004-2005. She is so grateful to be on the LVI board.
Nia earned her Master's in Instructional Design and Learning Technology from George Mason University. Master's in Social Work from Washinton University in Saint Louis, and eLearning certificate from George Mason University.
Nia lives in the DC area with her husband, Luis, and her two boys, Marco and Antonio.
Marla Jackson Allen
Marla Jackson Allen has recently joined the Board of Directors after years of supporting the organization from the sidelines. She is a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur, best known as the owner of Have A Fit Girl, where she offers fitness coaching and nutritional meal plans for women. Additionally, she prepares women for Body Wellness and Fitness Competitions. Marla is also the founder of the HAFG 12-Week Challenge and Body Transformation program.