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Board of Directors and Staff

Our staff and board members have a strong commitment to serving the many constituents of our organization. But first and foremost, they focus their energies on those people affected by racism and poverty to provide training for them to have a voice in the decisions which affect their families and community.

Our board represents a cross-section of our community and has a passion for our organization and for bringing about a more just society. The members work hard to ensure long-term sustainability of the organization and oversee that the funds raised are of benefit to the community.

Board Officers: 

Rev. Martin Woulfe, President

Jan Von Qualen

Roy Williams, Jr.

Sr. Marilyn Jean Runkel

Board Members: 

Sadieka Qadeem

Ulonda Gladney

Tamera Duncan

Dr. Glenn Walton

Linda Byrd

Vanessa Knox

Jim Dixon

Rev. Silas Johnson

 

Staff

  • Shelly Heideman - Former Executive Director/Consultant
    Shelly Heideman - Former Executive Director/Consultant

    Shelly was born and raised in rural Nebraska, the eldest of ten children. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas. She and her husband, Wayne, have been married for 37 years and are the parents of four children and grandparents of eight grandchildren. They have lived in Pleasant Plains, IL for 33 years, where Shelly served as mayor from 1993-2001. She was the executive director of the Elizabeth Ann Seton Program, a small nonprofit social service agency, for 8 years.

    Shelly is currently the Executive Director and Lead Organizer of Faith Coalition for the Common Good, a faith based nonprofit organization which addresses social justice issues and trains people affected by racism and poverty to have a voice in the decisions which affect their families and community.

    In December 2022 Shelly retired and is now working as an FCCG consultant.

  • Tyshianna Bankhead
    Tyshianna Bankhead

    Lead Community Organizer

  • Emma Shafer
    Emma Shafer

    Digital & Community Organizer, Environmental Justice and Integrated Voter Engagement
    Emma grew up in Springfield, IL and is grateful to live and work in her hometown. She is a graduate of The New School ('21, BA in Urban Studies), Lincoln Land Community College (Political Science). She is passionate about food and housing justice. In her spare time you will find her singing, hosting friends, and loving on Springfield in every way possible.

  • Quonie Barney
    Quonie Barney

    Community Organizer, Transformational Justice
    Quonie was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He is currently working towards his BA in Minister Leadership at Grace University. Quonie has called Springfield home for three years and plans to keep it that way. He is most passionate about solving injustice against humans; advocating especially for people who have been incarcerated and have mental illnesses.