Chief Executive Officer
PhD, MS, MCHES
Chief Health Operations Officer
MPH
Jiana Calixto (pronouns – she/her) is the Chief Health Operations Officer at Equal Hope. Jiana’s responsibilities at Equal Hope includes reviewing process of operations for outreach and navigation efforts, grant management and budgetary oversight over community health initiatives. As well as maintaining and developing strong partnerships with local hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH), community-based organizations and stakeholders. In addition, she provides leadership for the community health team and Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, contributing to Equal Hope’s pillars of equal access, equal care and an equal voice.
Director of Health Research
MPH, PhD(c)
Sarah serves as the Director of Health Research for Equal Hope and supports the work of Equal Care through maintaining data that has and will be collected. Her work includes building survey tools, analyzing data, and reporting so that we may better understand quality mammography, breast cancer capacity treatment, and cervical cancer disparities. She received her MPH in Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology from the University of Illinois and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zambia.
Director of Finance
MBA
Maurice Byrd is a result-driven senior level management professional; Experienced analyzing business processes and developing solutions to meet the client’s/company’s desired outcome. Skilled business turnaround specialist, that employs innovative & strategic ideas to improve results. Professional that is proficient in finance, investments, real estate, accounting, and managing multiple divisions, with emphasizes placed on developing initiatives and criteria to foster success for the business.
Director of Development & External Affairs
CFRE, CAPM, MNA
As Director of Development and External Affairs, Christy brings more than a decade of experience in fundraising, donor engagement, nonprofit leadership, and building the relationships that help organizations grow.
Before joining Equal Hope, she served as Development Director at Deborah’s Place and has worked across housing, human services, higher education, and faith-based organizations throughout her career.
Christy holds a Master of Nonprofit Administration from North Park University and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Illinois State University. She is also a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). A self-described forever learner, Christy enjoys mentoring emerging fundraisers and helping others develop their own leadership.
Grants Manager
Sharon has worked in multiple capacities in nonprofit and cooperative sectors for nearly two decades. Her roles have spanned leadership, financial management, volunteer coordination and communications – extensive experience that helps her communicate the impacts and needs of organizations to funders. Sharon is also an arts writer and the dance editor of Newcity magazine.
Business Finance and Operations Manager
Business Finance and Operations Manager, Jasmine has a strong educational background in her field, giving her a solid foundation of knowledge and skills. Her work experience has allowed her to apply her education in a professional setting, develop new skills, and continue growing through new challenges and opportunities.
Community Health Worker
MHA
Lissa serves as a Community Outreach Navigator for our Lake County service area. She holds a Master of Health Administration degree from the University of Iowa and a bachelor’s in Community Health from the University of Illinois. A lifelong resident of Waukegan/Gurnee, Lissa enjoys being able give back and serve her community and surrounding areas equipped with her knowledge, experiences, and passion for advancing health equity.
Community Health Worker (IBCCP)
Nacary is our Community Health Worker for our Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP). She previously interned for Equal Hope last year and made a lasting impression on staff as she assisted with outreach and engagement ideas. She has CHW training from Malcolm X College. She is responsible for public outreach, education, and awareness about Equal Hope and our IBCCP program.
Data Coordinator
MPH
Berkelee is a Data Coordinator at Equal Hope supporting Equal Care projects. In May 2026, she earned her Master of Public Health in Chronic Disease Epidemiology from Yale University.
With a passion for cancer and data equity, Berkelee has a deep commitment to using data to create equitable solutions to reduce cancer incidence and mortality.
She began her career at Tempus AI as a Clinical Data Abstractor before joining the University of Chicago as a Clinical Research Data Manager, supporting leukemia clinical trials. During her graduate studies, she worked as a Research Assistant in a Sickle Cell Disease lab at the Yale School of Medicine and completed a clinical trial operations internship at AbbVie.
Development Assistant Patient Navigator
Sherlene Branscomb, has extensive demonstrated experience providing administrative support to Directors, Managers, VPs, CIOs. As an Assistant to the Director of Development at Equal Hope, Sherlene is responsible for Development Outreach, Administrative Support. She also serves as the Associate Coordinator of event planning.
Manager Community Health Programs
MHA
Aziza is the Manager of Community Health Programs at Equal Hope, bringing experience across community, government, and clinical settings. She is passionate about advancing health equity and making sure communities have the resources they need to thrive. Throughout her career, she has led cross-functional teams, developed programs, and strengthened systems to improve how care is delivered. Aziza values collaboration and believes lasting change happens when people work together to remove barriers and expand access to care.
Patient Navigator
Samantha is a Bilingual Patient Navigator at Equal Hope. She has a dual degree in Social Work and Latina/o Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and utilizes a patient-centered approach to her work. Since her teenage years, her academic and work involvement have focused on bridging disparities in the quality of care and resources that are available to marginalized women and youth, specifically within the Chicagoland area. Her passion is rooted in her personal lived experience as a Latina who has seen firsthand how her and her loved ones have been negatively impacted by existing health disparities. Samantha provides a warm, empathetic approach when working with patients and works alongside them to ensure they feel empowered navigating a complex healthcare system beyond their time as Equal Hope patients. Her current position has motivated her to pursue her master’s degree in social work.
Patient Navigator
Oreletta Garmon has 25 years of health care experience and has expertise in quality breast health services and community outreach. Prior to joining Equal Hope, Oreletta worked at the Sinai Urban Health Institute as a Community Health Worker II for the Helping Her Live program.
In 2009, Oreletta served as a health educator in the AmeriCorps at a FQHC. In August of 2015, Oreletta joined Equal Hope as the Navigation Program Coordinator. In addition to her duties as a navigator, Oreletta also assists the Nurse Navigator in the Equal Hope Program.
Social Media Strategist
MPH
Leilani Lacson-Soltysiak (she/her) is the Social Media Strategist at Equal Hope, where she leads content creation and digital communications for both Equal Hope and the Chicagoland CEAL Program — part of the NIH Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities. Her goal is to create content that is educational, accessible, and even a little entertaining.
Leilani earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. She began her career in health research, working first as a research assistant at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (now Shirley Ryan AbilityLab) and later as a research coordinator at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. She has managed multiple research studies funded by the National Cancer Institute and pharmaceutical partners.
Driven by a passion for public health and health equity, Leilani pursued a Master of Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a concentration in Community Health Sciences.
Patient Navigator
Melina Martinez is a dedicated Bilingual IBCCP Patient Navigator at Equal Hope, where she has been contributing to the improvement of health outcomes in the community for five years. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from North Park University, she has a strong foundation in healthcare and is passionate about assisting her community. In her role, Melina helps patients navigate the complexities of scheduling crucial screenings, including mammograms and Pap smears, while also working to overcome barriers, such as language and transportation, that may hinder access to care. Through her work at Equal Hope, she is deeply committed to empowering her community and ensuring they have the resources and support needed to prioritize their health and wellbeing.
Community Nurse Navigator
RN, BSN, CHPN
Erin earned her Bachelor’s in Science of Nursing and minor degree in Spanish from Illinois State University. She has 9 years of nursing experience across a variety of healthcare settings including ICU, hospice case management, and peri-operative services. Erin feels motivated by the opportunity to contribute to a team that aims to support and empower women by identifying and overcoming barriers to access for healthcare services.
Patient Navigator
Karen is a Bilingual Patient Navigator that joined Equal Hope in January 2025. She is a recent graduate from Illinois State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology & Public Health with a double minor in Spanish and Latino/a Studies. Karen is passionate about helping individuals overcome barriers to healthcare by providing personalized support, education, and advocacy. At Equal Hope she helps patients navigate complex healthcare systems through scheduling mammograms for underserved communities. Her main focus is on removing barriers and promoting health equity ensuring every person receives the proper care and support they need to lead healthier lives.
Community Health Worker
Claudia Rodriguez has been a Community Health Worker for over three and a half years. She started her community health career as a COVID-19 Response Worker. At Equal Hope, she she provides resources and health education to individuals living in marginalized communities and is very passionate about her work.
Claudia grew up in the South Side of Chicago and having shared experiences with our clients we serve is her strong suite. Outside of Equal Hope, she is currently pursuing her degree in Public Health.
Patient Navigator
Kelldy is a bilingual Patient Care Navigator at Equal Hope, dedicated to supporting underserved communities with a focus on women’s health. She recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health science administration and brings over 10 years of customer service experience to her role. Passionate, understanding, and kind, Kelldy is committed to ensuring patients receive the care and support they need, while fostering a compassionate environment.
Patient Navigator
Anais is a Bilingual Patient Navigator with over 20 years of customer service experience and 10 years in the medical field. In her role, Anais is committed to making healthcare more accessible by guiding patients through the system, answering their questions, and connecting them to the resources and support they need. For Anais, the most rewarding part of being a Patient Navigator at Equal Hope is seeing the meaningful impact she has on people’s lives every day.
Patient Navigator
Diana Sanchez is a bilingual patient navigator at Equal Hope. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 2020. She worked for two years as a medical assistant where she developed her interest for helping others. She joined Equal Hope in July of 2022 and is committed in eliminating barriers for accessing healthcare. Currently she serves the community by helping men and women get their health screenings to ensure a healthier life.
Sr. Community Outreach Specialist
Donalynne provides outreach and education services to Equal Hope and is busy reaching out to women every day. She develops and strengthens relationships between Equal Hope and important leaders, community organizations, faith-based organizations, health institutions, and women’s associations. Donalynne attends community-based events and health fairs in Metropolitan Chicago to connect more women with Equal Hope’s services and educate women on the importance of breast healthcare, including the importance of early detection in saving lives. She empowers women through knowledge and links women to the Equal Hope navigators who help women access free mammograms or schedule mammograms or generally navigate the healthcare system.
Community Health Worker (Wellness West)
John is our Community Health Worker for our Wellness West project. It is an initiative on Chicago’s West Side that uses a comprehensive network of community-based partners and medical providers to screen community members with chronic illness for social determinants of health and provide comprehensive services to resolve identified issues. John serves as a bridge between the patient, the medical system, and community-based organizations by building trusting relationships with community members served by the program. John has a BS in Psychology in Addiction and has years of experience in case management and service coordination.
Sr. Community Outreach Specialist
Veronica Sanchez Villa is a community health worker with Equal Hope since November 2021. She provides outreach and education services in The Northern Lake County community. She is bilingual. She helps to connect women with their health by showing the importance of prevention through 1:1 connections or presentations.
Patient Navigator
Monserrat is a dedicated patient navigator and healthcare professional committed to supporting individuals through their healthcare journey. She is a certified Patient Care Technician (PCT) with an associate degree in Early Childhood Development. Her passion for both caregiving and education reflects her commitment to our patients by helping educate, motivate, and guide them.
She is originally from California and relocated to Chicago to continue growing in the medical field. She draws daily inspiration from her mother and father, whose compassion and resilience have shaped her.
