Convening, Amplifying, and Investing in Chicago's Youth-Serving Ecosystem

Sana Jafri is the Executive Director of the Chicago Learning Exchange (CLX), a nonprofit network of 200+ youth-serving organizations in Chicago's out-of-school time learning ecosystem. Sana has been with CLX for over eight and half years and during this time, her accomplishments include creating the City of Chicago's first festival for experiential learning entitled Chicago Learning Days as well creating the Brother Mike Award for outstanding connected mentorship.

Sana has diverse personal and professional experiences that are woven together by an emphasis on improving lives and communities through racial equity and social change. Her previous professional experiences include working in philanthropy, community development, and education (in-school and out-of-school).

Sana completed her Master's in Public Policy and Administration at Northwestern University. Sana received her undergraduate degree in secondary teaching from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Sana's most important role is also serving as a mom to two little boys.

Hillary Cook joined the Chicago Learning Exchange team in October 2022 as the Director of Programs. In this role, Hillary leads CLX's programmatic portfolio of collective learning and impact programs, community building and network opportunities, and special events that amplify and invest in the work of Chicago's youth development professionals.

Prior to joining CLX, Hillary worked in youth development for 14 years, building programs that centered youth voice and leadership within art museums. Her practice as an informal educator and programmer was driven by co-creating with communities, platforming the power of youth voice, and creating equitable career and mentorship programs. As a Chicago youth development professional, Hillary actively participated in CLX. Those experiences as a network member were transformational for her practice as an educator, and allowed her to see the power of social impact networks in action.

Hillary studied at Penn State University and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, earning degrees in Art Education, Painting, Art History, and Arts Administration. Celebrating the power of creativity and youth voice are also at the center of her collaborative practice at home as a mom to two messy and energetic kids.

Lance Russell serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Chicago Learning Exchange, leading all financial and administrative activities that support the organization’s mission to catalyze racial equity, access and quality in Chicago’s out-of-school time ecosystem. Lance is a nonprofit consultant with experience in youth services, workforce development, education and social enterprise.

Prior to founding his consulting practice, Lance was the Executive Director of Spark Program, a out-of-school time mentoring and career exploration program for Chicago middle schoolers, and served as the Chief Executive Officer for Chicago Tech Academy high school. Before transitioning to the nonprofit sector, Lance spent twenty years in the technology sector, including co-founding and leading PointBridge, a technology consulting firm specializing in collaboration and content management solutions.

A native of Northwest Indiana and the son of public school teachers, Lance earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Indiana University and has completed graduate-level coursework in cultural and educational policy studies at Loyola University. He lives in Oak Park, Illinois with his two teenage children.

Allison Shackelford serves as a Program Associate at the Chicago Learning Exchange. In her role, Allison leads the work of growing and activating CLX’s member network and supports all CLX programming.

Before joining CLX, Allison spent nearly a decade working in direct service roles with Chicagoland youth in the out-of-school time (OST) space on topics ranging from literacy to Shakespeare to civic engagement to social-emotional learning. In her most recent role, Allison led the community engagement and programming efforts for a non-profit serving middle-grade students in the Englewood, Humboldt Park, and North Lawndale neighborhoods of Chicago in partnership with Chicago Public Schools. Her youth development practice is rooted in a deep respect for young people and a desire to support the creation of sustainable OST environments where young folks can safely develop, form relationships with peers and supportive adults, and explore their interests and identities.

Allison earned a BA in Theatre Performance from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2014. She furthered her education to support her commitment to high-quality, high-impact youth work by earning an M.Ed in Youth Development from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2021. Born and raised in Alabama, Allison has proudly called Chicago home since 2015.

Elisheba is an education leader with 15 years of experience working in government and with nonprofits offering her expertise in program design, curriculum development and project management. From instructing high school students in New York City, mentoring and training teachers at Chicago Public Schools, to producing educator workshops and academic conferences at the Art Institute of Chicago, Elisheba is committed to centering social justice and inclusive practices in all areas of her work. During the pandemic, she founded an arts organization, Black Marigolds, for elementary students in the Waukegan area which was created to broaden access to culturally relevant, project-based learning and art experiences to the community.

Elisheba joined CLX as Senior Development and Communication Manager to continue working to achieve equitable outcomes and racial equity in the out-of-school time ecosystem.