Our Team
Steve Gates
Founder and CEO
Steve Gates is Founder and CEO of Reimagining Roseland Community Collective (R2C2), an organization supporting youth to realize their highest aspirations in a community Steve has lived his entire life.
Steve has his B.A. in Criminal Justice from Jackson State University and his M.A. in Social Work from the University of Chicago with a concentration in Violence Prevention. He previously served as Senior Manager of New Partnerships at Chicago Beyond, as well as a Director at Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. where he helped launch the program in Chicago.
Divonte Lumpkin
Chief Financial Officer
Divonte Lumpkin is Chief Financial Officer of R2C2, and he brings a depth of expertise to his role overseeing the organization's financial operations.
Divonte graduated with honors from Texas Southern University with a Bachelor of Business Administration, and he has honed his financial skills across the private and social sectors, including roles at The Chicago Housing Authority, FDIC, Deloitte, Acclivus Inc. Chicago, and Facts Financial Consulting.
DeVonne Carothers
Program Director and Case Manager
DeVonne is a lifelong Chicago south sider who grew up up in the Beverly neighborhood before moving to West Pullman. DeVonne graduated from Corliss High School and went on to graduate from Barber-Scotia College, an HBCU in Concord, North Carolina.
In his current role as a Program Director and Case Manager, DeVonne builds trusting relationships with clients and provides them with access to much-needed resources.
DeVonne's goal is to always be a man that stands for his family, work ethic, and values, including integrity. Outside of R2C2, DeVonne is an avid sports fan, and he has served his community as a basketball coach for several AAU teams.
LaNita Reed
Program Director
LaNita Reed is a proud Chicago native and community‑driven leader empowering families and expanding opportunities for youth. LaNita graduated from Jackson State University, where she studied Elementary Education, and she brings a trauma‑informed, relationship‑centered approach to her work.
As a Program Director at R2C2, LaNita leads initiatives that strengthen families, build partnerships, and create pathways to stability and healing, including the opening of Mattie’s Place, a supportive housing program.
LaNita is also a cosmetology teacher and uses her skills to expose young people to careers in the beauty industry, helping youth to develop their creativity and enabling them to craft entrepreneurial visions for their lives.
LaNita’s long‑term goal is to open a community center and develop housing for single mothers. Outside of work, LaNita prioritizes self‑care and cherishes time with her family.
Our Board
Joseph Haley
Joseph Haley is a distinguished education leader, currently serving as the Executive Director for the Safe Achieve Academy of Chicago. Safe Achieve Academy, Chicago’s sole institution of its kind, is dedicated to supporting adjudicated and expelled students who face limited educational options. Despite the challenges students face, Joseph cultivates learning environments characterized by respect, tranquility, and nurturing.
Joseph also serves as the President of the Richard C. Haley Scholarship Foundation, which has awarded more than $700,000 to students since its inception. As a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, Joseph instills the importance of service to others.
Delphine Cherry
Delphine Cherry is a State Lead at Brady United, an organization working to unite Americans against gun violence and create a safer America. She is also founder of the Tender Youth Foundation (TY), which she formed after the murder of her son, Tyler Randolph. The TY Foundation provides support and resources for family members and loved ones in communities impacted by gun violence.
Delphine grew up on the south side of Chicago, and she is an activist for peace on the forefront of the movement to find solutions to America’s gun violence crisis.
Delphine is a graduate of Governor State University where she received her B.A. in Criminal Justice. While attending Governor State, she received numerous academic awards such as the Ralph Turner Scholarship.
James Rudyk
James Rudyk is a professor at DePaul University, where he teaches in the School of Public Service and conducts research focused on the construction and representation of race, the relationship between race and affordable housing policy, and the role of community in equitable policy development.
In addition to teaching, James has spent over 16 years working with grassroots non-profit organizations, including work as the Executive Director of the Northwest Side Housing Center.
James is a proud member of Chicago’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice Equity Advisory Council.
A native of Cleveland, James graduated with honors from John Carroll University with a BA in Race and Identity Studies. He also holds his Masters in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University.
Josh Williams
Josh Williams is a Senior Consultant at 17a, where he supports strategy design and implementation projects for public-serving organizations nationwide.
Originally from Chicagoland, Josh's career has spanned work in the private, public, and social sectors, including roles as Director of Strategy at Chicago Beyond, Associate at McKinsey & Company, and Director of Development and Communications and English and special education teacher at LION Charter School in the South Bronx.
Josh holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, a Master of Science in Teaching from Fordham University, and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.