Our People

CO-DIRECTOR

Tamara is an empathetic, Spirit-led leader who nurtures self and others towards personal and collective wellness, growth and liberation. She is a Liberatory Coach & Consultant and her practice holds abolition, transformative justice, sovereignty, and Self-determination as core beliefs. Informed and driven by her personal story as a Black woman and someone who is intimately familiar with the struggles born of racial capitalism, she is passionate about protecting, expanding and sustaining ethnic studies as foundational to the survival, wholeness and thriving of BIPOC and multiply marginalized peoples. Tamara lives in the historic Bronzeville community, and is a daughter, sister, auntie and sister-friend, who embraces joy cultivation and building beloved community as necessary practices to dreaming and constructing new worlds.

CO-DIRECTOR & FOUNDER

Cecily Relucio is a Pinay racial equity and justice practitioner with 30 years of experience in youth and adult learning, educational leadership development, and business administration. She has led anti-racism initiatives in K-12 and higher education institutions and non-profit organizations. Cultivating and sustaining ethnic studies in Chicago is Cecily’s freedom dream: her way of building a lasting legacy with and for the people and communities that have blessed her with a home, a tribe, and an abundant and joyful life. Most importantly, Cecily is a mom to two biracial daughters, Vanessa and Mia, and together they live in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood. She is the proud daughter of Filipino immigrants.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Rito Martinez is a giver, dedicated to personal development and collective healing. Growing up in Chicago's Little Village, he overcame challenges to become an award-winning educator, focusing on students’ exploration of self, identity and culture. His efforts in creating culturally relevant curricula and building student relationships earned him the Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence. As the founder of Social Justice High School, Rito fostered a vibrant school culture to bridge social and racial divisions. Now, he is Founder and President of Love and Liberation, a trauma-informed coaching and consulting firm focused on healing justice and equity.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

José Antonio Rico, a Chicago community leader and educator, serves as the Executive Director of Truth, Racial Healing and previously held the role of Chief Impact Officer at United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. Rico's background includes leadership as the former Executive Director of the White House Initiative On Educational Excellence For Hispanics and as the founding principal of Multicultural Arts School, prioritizing social justice and arts integration. With a blend of education, public policy expertise, and personal experience as an immigrant, teacher, and father, Rico is committed to fostering community, racial equity, and empathy in all his pursuits.