Meet the team

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Brian has spent over 30 years organizing for justice and equity in diverse communities. Half of that time has been with the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA), where he led campaigns on housing, immigration, healthcare, workers’ rights, and more. He rejoined JCUA in 2020 to strengthen development, communications, and engagement strategies.

Previously, Brian served as Executive Director of Common Cause Illinois, where he helped secure landmark democracy reforms like Same Day and Automatic Voter Registration. Earlier in his career, he worked on environmental justice issues including urban agriculture, lead poisoning, and toxic waste.

Brian holds a Master’s in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor’s in Public Affairs and Environmental Science from Indiana University.

Briang@fotp.org

COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Egna serves as the Communications and Outreach Coordinator at Friends of the Parks, where she also leads the Nature Along the Lake (NAL) education program on Chicago’s South Side. She brings unique expertise and energy to her work with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a background as both an educator and environmentalist. Egna is especially passionate about connecting young people to the natural world and believes parks are essential for learning, recreation, and community well-being across every Chicago neighborhood.

egnas@fotp.org

ADVOCACY AND POLICY MANAGER

Hannah is the Advocacy and Policy Manager at Friends of the Parks, where she leads policy strategies, advances advocacy efforts, and partners with communities to ensure that every Chicagoan has access to clean, safe, and vibrant parks. She holds a Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences from the University of Illinois Chicago and a Bachelor of Science in Health Behavior Science from the University of Delaware.

With a background in public health, community-engaged research, and environmental justice, Hannah brings expertise and passion to her role. She is committed to addressing the root causes of inequity, elevating community leadership, and advancing health justice by protecting and expanding Chicago’s parks and green spaces. For Hannah, parks are more than amenities—they are vital to our neighborhoods' health, joy, and well-being.

Hannahw@fotp.org

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT

Kevin is the Director of Operations and Engagement at Friends of the Park. In this role, he oversees organizational operations, finances, the PAC Fiscal Sponsorship Program, and the Internship Program. Before joining FOTP, Kevin spent over 13 years at a non-profit mental health and research clinic, bringing deep experience in fostering supportive, mission-driven environments.

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Purdue University, a Bachelor of Business Administration from Robert Morris University, and a Master of Arts in Psychology from The Chicago School. Kevin is committed to creating inclusive spaces where people of all backgrounds feel valued and connected. He believes parks are powerful tools for improving mental health, reducing stress, and strengthening communities by offering safe, welcoming spaces for connection and engagement.

Kevinw@fotp.org

Board Chair

Bronwyn brings deep experience in park advocacy and nonprofit leadership to her role as Friends of the Parks Board Chair. A lifelong lover of the outdoors, she grew up exploring parks, climbing trees, and camping—values that continue to guide her leadership today. As President of the Midway Plaisance Advisory Council (MPAC), Bronwyn is a powerful advocate for protecting Frederick Law Olmsted’s historic South Side park. Under her leadership, MPAC successfully stopped a proposed parking garage on the Midway and became a leading voice for park equity, transparency, and environmental stewardship. A recipient of FOTP’s 2019 VIP Award, Bronwyn champions accountability, racial equity, and climate resilience in Chicago’s parks. She also serves on the Boards of the Promontory Point Conservancy and the Olmstead Network. Bronwyn holds degrees from Northwestern University and the University of Chicago, where she holds an MA in International Relations and earned her PhD in Comparative Human Development.

Vice Chair

Lauren, a proud Hyde Park resident, raised her family surrounded by some of Chicago’s most iconic parks—Jackson, Washington, and Burnham—and draws daily inspiration from Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Lauren is deeply rooted in her community. As a co-founder and board member of the Hyde Park Jazz Festival and the Hyde Park Art Center, her favorite park, Promontory Point, holds special meaning as a place of beauty, connection, and reflection. Committed to Friends of the Parks’ mission, Lauren is a passionate advocate for equitable access to nature and public spaces that bring people together and strengthen Chicago’s neighborhoods.

Vice Chair

Deborah is a seasoned non-profit leader and fundraising expert who currently serves as adjunct faculty in the Nonprofit Management Certificate Program at UIC. Her lifelong love of Chicago’s parks began with summers at Foster Avenue and Rainbow Beaches, family time at Bixler Playlot, and countless miles biking the Lakefront Trail. Having lived in cities without strong park systems, she deeply values what Chicago’s green spaces bring to urban life. On the FOTP Board, she contributes her expertise through management-focused committees that strengthen the organization’s advocacy and community work.

Treasurer

Thurman is a Vietnam War Coast Guard veteran, a retired Cook County tax assessor, and a commercial real estate broker. Growing up in Englewood, he spent his youth at Ogden Park, where he learned to swim and play sports and first experienced community life—he even saw Dr. Martin Luther King speak there. His favorite park today is Marquette Park, reflecting his lifelong connection to Chicago’s green spaces.

Secretary

Nancy Juda joined the Friends of the Parks board in 2018 to advance her commitment to equitable access to nature across Chicago. A founding steward of a community garden in Lincoln Park, she believes every Chicagoan should have opportunities to connect with the city’s natural spaces. Over the years she has worked for or served on the boards of several organizations that are dedicated to empowerment, environmental sustainability, equity, and community building. With a working artist and art instructor background, Nancy brings a creative lens to her advocacy for environmental sustainability, community building, and park equity. She continues to find inspiration and beauty in Chicago’s vibrant public parks.

Board Member

Frederick N. Bates has been a practicing attorney for nearly five decades. He brings deep experience in international business, labor, and tort law and a lifelong commitment to public service. A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law, he has dedicated significant time to pro bono work representing clients in criminal and civil cases. Fred also taught American Legal History for over a decade at DePaul University and has led seminars on labor law, antitrust, and legal ethics. He currently serves as a trustee for several nonprofit organizations, including Friends of the Parks, Victory Gardens Theatre, and the Newberry Consort. A lifelong park lover and Jackson Park native, Fred is also a life member of the Sierra Club and a steadfast advocate for environmental stewardship and equitable access to public spaces.

Board Member

Lorraine Pedersen Chavez is a first generation college student, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Columbia University in New York City with Honors in Political Science. She is a National Academy of the Sciences/ Ford Foundation Minority Dissertation Fellow from the Political Science Department at the University of Chicago with her M.A. also from that department. She organized the first Earth Day at her high school and recently served as an elected officer of the Midway PAC in Chicago.

Board Member

Pete Leki has served on the Friends of the Parks board for several years and has collaborated with the organization for over two decades as an ecology teacher and educator with Nature Along the Lake. Pete holds an interdisciplinary degree in Ecology, Education, and Neighborhood Studies from Northeastern Illinois University. Pete believes Chicago’s parks and natural areas are essential sanctuaries for physical and mental health and advocates for restored nature in every neighborhood across the city.

Board Member

Sheldon Bernard Lyke is an Associate Professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he teaches property law and researches the preservation of parks and the commons. A former member of the Midway Plaisance Advisory Council, he combines academic expertise with community advocacy and has published work on social justice in outlets including the Chicago Sun-Times. Born in Riverdale on Chicago’s South Side, Sheldon now lives in River North and has visited 18 national parks, reflecting his lifelong passion for both local and national green spaces.

Board Member

Troy McMillan is a passionate advocate for parks. She believes these spaces bring people together and foster community, health, and joy. Troy champions equitable access to Chicago’s parks and lakefront with a special focus on the Last Four Miles, which would add nearly 500 acres of new parks and beaches and extend the lakefront trail from Evanston to the Indiana border. Any park is a Troy favorite; however, she volunteers and continues to support the Berger Park Cultural Center, the Broadway Armory, and the West Ridge Nature Park.