Meet Our Team
Staff
Consuela Hendricks
Co-President, Co-Founder
Director of Programs and Planning
Consuela Hendricks is the co-president and Director of Programs and Planning at People Matter. She is a South Side Chicago native with over a decade’s experience in improving race relations between Black/ Latinx/Asian communities. Her background is in technology, urban planning, and youth mentorship. She has experience with government and policy at Senator Tammy Duckworth’s office, anti-displacement in Chicago’s gentrifying neighborhoods, and direct service with homeless folks across Chicago.
Angela X LIN
Co-President, Co-Founder
Director of Fundraising and Outreach
Angela is the co-president and Director of Outreach and Development at People Matter. She is passionate about tackling anti-blackness in Asian American communities on a grassroots level, both locally and globally. Her background is in community organizing and leadership development for parents, youth and seniors in Chinatown. In her free time she enjoys reading and writing queer Chinese Wuxia and mythology.
nat cisneros
Youth organizer
Nat is a born and raised Southside Chicago resident. Attended San Francisco State University, with a background in race and resistance. They have worked with youth for around 7-8 years, both as a facilitator, and program coordinator. With a familiarity to the ground work, they believe in fostering spaces that are youth centered. They enjoy bringing their personal love for the arts, and what it means to practice self-care into the work they do.
Board
Julie ming Liang
Board Member
Julie Ming Liang is a San Francisco Bay Area native and moved to Chicago in 2017. Julie is a passionate scientist and spends her free time teaching science to all ages from 5 year olds to adults to develop their critical thinking skills. She is currently a PhD candidate in the Interdisciplinary Biology Program at Northwestern University.
sharad crosby
Board Member
Sharad is a Project Administrator at the University of Chicago's Office of Global Initiatives and Strategy. He graduated from the University of Chicago with an AB in Public Policy in 2018. While in school, he worked for community organizations like MAPSCorps and NowPow, where he’s led survey teams that collected qualitative data to address community health problems.
Alexis
Board Member
Alexis is a self-taught software engineer, tech-based activist, and community member. He hopes to use technology to change the landscape of civics and how communities engage with government.
Former Fellows
Mylon Patton
Fellow
Mylon is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Chicago studying Political Science and Economics. He is passionate about embarking on a course of social justice and advocacy for those who are often overlooked and discounted in this world, serving those who may not have the voice or means to help themselves.
Keani staton
Fellow
Keani is a Chicago native and recent graduate of Vanderbilt University with a B.S in English Literature and Secondary Education. They are passionate about creating and supporting programs for marginalized communities and the youth to empower, educate, and express themselves.
Wendy Wei
Fellow
Wendy is a writer and researcher who investigates migration, belonging, and intergenerational trauma. A decade-long resident of the South Side, she is invested in supporting programs that not only foster inclusion but create communities where people can thrive.
Language Team and Current Leaders
Dakota Burnett
Language Planning Team
Dakota Burnett is a recent graduate from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has a background in rehabilitation sciences. As an aspiring educator, he hopes to encourage holistic youth development in urban education.
Alejandra Acevedo
Facilitator Aide
Alejandra is experienced in the fields of mental health and education and hope to involve herself with more youth initiatives in the future - whether that be by directly working with youth to help them better be able to live out the present and future they envision for themselves or by helping educate youth about the systemic inequities and the ways in which they can work to help create a safer society for everyone.
Julie Wong
Language Leader
Julie Wong was born and raised in Chicago. She is a first generation Chinese American and is currently a nursing student at University of Illinois at Chicago. She speaks elementary Cantonese but speaks English fluently. She enjoys watching Chinese dramas (historical ones included) and loves milk tea.
Matthew Hendricks
Summer/Fall Leader
Matthew is a Graduate of Mckendree University He has a Background in event planning, independent campaigns, recruiting, managing, and inspiring others to make a difference. As an aspiring Political leader he hopes to build inclusive systems.
Kin Ma
Cantonese Teacher
Kin is from Hong Kong and has been in the U.S. for 40 years. She am a parent mentor coordinator at Ward Elementary School. She likes to travel as well.
Past Leaders
Monique Arnold
Community Relations Intern
Monique Arnold is very interpersonal and optimistic. She works at the University of Chicago as a desk clerk and is also a nanny from time to time. She is pursuing a career in Human Resource Management.
Veronica Hernandez
Community Relations Intern
Veronica is a recent high school graduate and an aspiring kindergarten educator. Part of musical and theater after school matter program. She likes to watch TikTok and TV during her free time.
Si yuan ye
Language Planning Team/Language Leader
Si Yuan Ye likes to create theatre with Free Street Theatre and their awesome youth ensemble. He also enjoys playing League and the Nintendo Switch and watching T.V. during his free time.
Cesar Guerrero
Survey Captain
Cesar is from Joliet where he works as a legal assistant at the Spanish Community Center. Though his full time position is dedicated to immigration law, he has been involved in several projects including outreach, community resources and our food pantry. Outside of work you're likely to find him lost in the woods or lost in the crowd of a music festival.
Rashad Crosby
Survey Captain/ Media Team Lead
Rashad Crosby works as an assistant to the Line Producer on the television series Chicago PD. He is a recent graduate of the University of Chicago with a B.S. in Public Policy with a specialization in Urban Studies and a Minor in Cinema & Media Studies. As a new resident of Chinatown, he enlisted to become a survey captain for our Community Survey Project. He enjoys working on visual production and civic engagement projects that target Public health. In his free time he likes to watch sports, exercise, binge anime and movies (especially anything related to Star Wars) and filmmaking.
kin chow
Language Leader
Kin Chow was born and raised in Hong Kong and Cantonese is her native tongue. She has two adult kids, with one still in college. She has been a realtor for over 15 years. She moved back to Chicago from Florida few years ago.
Sandra moy-Lai
English Teacher
Sandy Moy-Lai is a CPS teacher and has taught for 27 years in private and public schools. She grew up in the heart of Chinatown and lived in Bridgeport. She loves to travel and spend time with family and friends.