AmeriCorps Fellows

In partnership with AmeriCorps, the Uniting America program has hired 18 fellows to facilitate bridge building in neighborhoods with rapidly growing immigrant populations between immigrants, their children, and their native-Illinoisan neighbors. Each Fellow is being hosted by an ICIRR partner organization. The fellows are placed in various communities in Chicago and its surrounding areas. Fellows are going to be facilitators of community unity. Each week, fellows will be posting blogs as a way to keep people informed about events, experiences, and overall thoughts regarding their work. Also, every month there will be a spotlighted fellow showcasing an outstanding experience. Find a fellow near you!

My name is Maher Alhaj I was born in Amman, Jordan. I came to the United States of America in early 2000 and became a U.S. citizen in 2005. I finished an Associate degree in liberal Arts from Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, MI, and then earned my Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.  Being a fellow with the Uniting America Campaign is very important to me because becoming a part of this country has been such a liberating opportunity and I want others to have similar experiences. Immigration to me is a celebration of America and one of the things that makes this country so amazing.  One fun fact about me that I want to share is that I love life so much and I am so grateful to be here. I am working with Lambda Legal in the city of Chicago.
 
My name is Mary Claire Schmit and I was born and raised on the northwest side of Chicago. I recently graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in sociocultural anthropology and psychology. This year I will be working with ICIRR to develop partnerships for Uniting America, specifically focusing on ways to engage the business community. The path that led me to become a fellow was ultimately a long one, but it was the result of hearing the stories of my coworkers, my peers in school, my friends and my friends’ parents among many others and realizing that the visions and hopes that they have for themselves and their families are no different from mine or my family’s. I am hoping that this project will help more people, myself included, realize how interconnected we all are, so that we can better help our communities and one another. Fun fact:   I recently went Tarzan Swinging, which is similar to bungee jumping. 

My name is Alicia Williams and I am the social media outreach fellow for the Uniting America program. I received a Bachelor's degree in Politics from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY. I enjoy the outdoors; from snowboarding to organic farming I truly enjoy being active outside. I also, love cooking and my favorite thing to make is curry. During my study abroad semester in Argentina I worked with the immigrant community in Buenos Aires helping a non-profit faith based organization develop a website. Not only did I help develop a website there I also developed friendships and working relationships that have had an amazing impact on the work that I do with Uniting America. One interesting fact about me, I took disaster relief classes at the Red Cross and learned how to build shelters.

My name is Melissa Brown, I am from Joliet, IL, and I went to University of Illinois at Chicago and Roosevelt University. This year I will be working with the Spanish Community Center in Joliet I am very passionate about helping those who are less fortunate than me, I have always wanted to work in a field where i could really try to make a difference in peoples' lives and being a fellow was a perfect match for me. I am a runner, I ran the Chicago Marathon this year and I will be running in the St.Louis Marathon in April.
 
My name is Sara Hamdan and I am a recent graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago, with a bachelor's degree in anthropology. During the upcoming year, I will be working with the The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. I am looking forward to working with the CIOGC to encourage the interaction between Muslim immigrants and non-immigrants through volunteerism. I believe increased interaction will break down barriers between communities and help create an environment filled with mutual respect and understanding. 

My name is Lucy Smith and volunteering is my life. I am from Glen Ellyn, IL but have recently moved to Aurora in order to best serve this vibrant community! I graduated from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Linguistics and Spanish and have 2 years of experience working in the public education system. This year I will be working with Family Focus. I am an avid swing dancer and lindy hopper who will travel great distances for hoppin’ venues. I believe that ‘we need to be the change that we want to see in the world’ and know that this change is magnified through collaboration among community members. Only by involving everyone can we honestly stand united.

My name is Megan Benham, and I just moved to Schaumburg, IL.  I spent most of my life in a tiny town, English, IN.  You can find it on a map in the bottom of Indiana on the Ohio River.  That’s where I met my husband Justin, who I just married in June.  I spent four years at Duke University and graduated with a degree in Middle Eastern studies.  Now I’m an avid college basketball fan.  GO BLUE DEVILS!  I am so excited about the Uniting America program because I have seen how connecting to others through similarities instead of fearing differences has changed some of my own family member’s prejudices.  I want my work to help others in my own community do the same.  I’m sure I will be pretty busy with that, but in my spare time you can find me crocheting.
 
My name is Militza Pagan. I was born in Puerto Rico but I have lived in Chicago since I was 4 years old. I received my Bachelor’s from Yale University. I decided to become a Uniting America fellow because of the experience I had while in college volunteering at a community organization that served a predominately Latino and immigrant community. Whether it was tutoring a student in English or working on a campaign to raise money for a new community building, throughout my time there I was able to see how my involvement provided immigrants an opportunity to better their lives. Volunteering provided me with a great satisfaction and brought purpose to my life. Uniting America has provided me with a unique opportunity at P.A.S.O. - Proyecto de Accion de los Suburbios del Oeste (West Suburban Action Project) to blend two things I enjoy: volunteering and working with the immigrant community. I have a goal of visiting the so called 7 wonders of the world. So far I have walked the Great Wall of China and have visited Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. Next stop: the city of Petra in Jordan.

My name is Hugo Jacobo and I was born and raised in Chicago. Both of my parents immigrated from Morelos, Mexico and I have a younger sister. I recently graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Political Science and a double minor in Latino and Latin American Studies and Spanish. At Northern I was involved in a variety of organizations and activities including Dream Action NIU and Omega Delta. I recently completed the Public Policy & International Affairs Fellowship at the University of Michigan. I became a Uniting America Fellow because I saw this as a great opportunity to help change the dialogue of immigration policy in our country through direct community involvement. I believe volunteerism is a vital component of community development and democracy and I hope to assist in creating a network of service opportunities for all residents of Des Plaines with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. In high school, I traveled and played saxophone in a Spanish reggae/ska band.

My name is Katherine Rivera I am a second generation Filipino-American, born and raised on the north side of Chicago. I attended Northside College Prep and the University of Washington (go Huskies!), where I received my BA in Linguistics with a special interest in French and Arabic. I decided to become a Uniting America fellow with the Asian American Institute after a major event in my life- the recent revolution in Egypt started while I was studying abroad in Cairo. Everything about the place I called home for the past few months had changed and I found myself evacuated to Istanbul with no idea what to do next or who to ask for help. It was essential for me to learn the language and culture to make life work in that new place. I ended up loving my unexpected semester in Turkey so when I got back to the States, I became interested in building those bridges for people who are new to my city.

My name is Izabela Grobelna. I graduated in May 2011 from North Park University with a degree in Sociology and a great passion for Chicago's local communities. The relationships I built in various immigrant communities fundamentally changed the way I think of myself. When I was 10 years old, I emigrated from Poland with my family and because of my heritage became a member of the Polish-American community. Yet, I no longer just think of my identity in terms of my heritage, but I consider the city I grew up in as a great part of my identity--I am a Chicagoan. I became a Uniting America fellow with the Chicago Cultural Alliance to share my passion for Chicago and its diverse communities, as well as the importance of community dialogue to reflect on our shared identity to this city and its neighborhoods--not only as immigrants, but also as Americans, hyphenated  or future Americans--but in the context of our personal stories. When I am not working in communities, I submerge myself in art by photographing, drawing, or art museum visits.

Hi, my name is Kathleen O’Donovan I am a first generation Irish-American who grew up in Wilmette, which is a northern suburb of Chicago. I am a recent graduate of Kalamazoo College in Michigan where I received my degree in Anthropology/Sociology and Spanish. During my time at school I became very involved in bilingual tutoring and immigrant workers’ rights programs. Through these experiences I experienced that when people come together they are able to achieve great things that other wise they would not have been able to do. Being the daughter of an immigrant Uniting America’s goal is close to my heart. I am excited to be a part of this new initiative to bring together long time residents and new immigrants.  This year I will be working with Hispanic American Community and Education Services (HACES) in Waukegan.  In my free time I enjoy horse back riding and watching soccer.

My name is Courtney D. Sharpe. Twenty-four years ago I was born in Washington, DC where I spent my early childhood before moving to the suburbs of Houston, TX. I first arrived in Chicago six and half years ago to begin my undergraduate degree at Northwestern University and fell in love with the city. After graduation I served in Morocco as a Peace Corps volunteer where I experienced for an extended period of time some of the obstacles that immigrants face on a daily basis. As a result of my time in Morocco I found myself looking for opportunities to work with immigrant communities and landed at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Currently I am spearheading two research projects with Harvard University including the launch of a civic engagement program that encourages community involvement among people going through the naturalization process. Fun fact: I have studied nine languages (though I claim proficiency in but a few).