Meet The Team
Vanessa Beaver, Founder
Vanessa Bolden-Beaver is the President of Cycle Breakers LLC and Vice President of Programming for TRECC (Technology, Renewable Energy, Command Center).
With over 25 years of expertise in executive administration, business strategy, structure, and management, Vanessa is a trailblazer in fostering community empowerment and sustainable growth.
Cycle Breakers LLC encompasses several impactful initiatives, including:
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Glass Breakers Circle: A professional-centered business group.
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Breakers Mentorship Group: An 8-week program teaching foundational business structure.
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Cycle Breakers Healing Centers: Homes and resource hubs supporting reentry and domestic violence survivors, the homeless population, and ex-offenders.
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Beacon Light Armoire: A resource center dedicated to serving youth ages 0–18.​
Vanessa is the author of the book entitled "Embracing the Cycles of Gratitude," a daily guide to cultivating positive, focused thinking. She also co-hosts "The Platform" podcast, which shares inspiring comeback stories from individuals overcoming challenges.
She is passionate about bridging gaps between the “haves” and “have-nots,” Vanessa is committed to bringing resources and knowledge to underserved communities, laying a foundation for future generations.
If you change your mindset, you have the ability to change the whole world -Damien Thomas
Engia McGregor, Co-Founder
Engia McGregor currently the Co-Founder of Cycle Breakers Healing Centers and the President of Beacon Light Armoire.
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In addition, Engia represents and supports community advancement in the South Suburbs of Chicago through adoption of children, mentoring young men and women in re-owning their life goals and focusing on the needs of those less fortunate pertaining to food, personal items, clothing, etc. Engia has worked in case management for over 20 years with Interdependent Living Solutions specializing in placing homeless seniors in homes and shelters.
She has also served within various non-for-profit organizations for over 25 years working as a liaison with companies and individuals to supply resources for food, clothing, shelter, in addition to many other necessities of support needed to assist different groups and backgrounds.
Engia is also a certified chef in which she supplies private services to a selective group of patrons despite being highly recommended. Engia’s goal is to help whoever needs help despite economic status, race, background, or religion. She strives to enhance her local community and give hope to the hopeless, whomever they may be.
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Engia motto is “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending” -C.S. Lewis
DeJuan Gardener, Board Member
DeJuan Gardner is a motivated and driven leader that is passionate about helping people become successful.
Mr. Gardner is an elected official and business owner.
He currently holds the municipal office of Alderman, where he is the Chairman of the Finance Committee. As an alderman, he has successfully supported legislation that has promoted economic development, public safety enhancements, municipal infrastructure & roadway improvements, in addition to many other community initiatives. As finance chairman, I oversee a $39 million municipal budget. He works with a team of colleagues to ensure fiscal responsibility that upholds the contrives of the annual balanced budget.
As a business owner, he owns Priority Contracting & Logistics LLC. They provide both commercial and residential janitorial contracting. The company specializes in mold remediation contracting services. Our goal is to establish partnerships with large organizations and create subcontracting opportunities with smaller companies.
As a driven leader and motivator, he is passionate about helping others reach their full potential and achieving their goals. He has built relationships with many resourceful people on various platforms.
Mr. Gardner's overall goal is to bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, and support.
Elizabeth "Liz" Cruz, Consultant
Elizabeth “Liz” Cruz has worked in leadership positions throughout the field of mental health and substance use for more than one decade. This work recently led her to an appointment as the Lead Strategic Advisor to the Health & Well-being Working Group of the historic Statewide Women’s Justice Task Force of Illinois, a project of the Women’s Justice Institute (WJI), which united directly impacted women and over 100 other women leaders behind building a plan to reduce the women’s prison population by at least 50%. Since the appointment to the WJI, Liz has taken on a special role as Senior Advisor for the WJI and is currently working as a Care Coordinator for the Cook County Health/SAMHSA Women’s Reentry Initiative.
Liz also provides support to partner agencies in relation to civic engagement, training and assistance of gender responsive/trauma informed policies/practices and providing quality improvement/assurance on several grants with the WJI.
Elizabeth earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a concentration in Criminal
Justice from Argosy University in 2014, and her Master’s Degree in 2016 in Forensic Psychology. Liz desired to continue to educate, so much so that she was hired as an Adjunct Faculty and has been an instructor for over five years.
Liz continues her journey as a clinical professional, educator and advocate to provide guidance and support to women impacted by the legal system as well as students seeking to continue their educational journey, as she knows all too well the journey of both.
Cassandra Taylor, Consultant
Cassandra Taylor has worked in the fields of education and therapy services providing
knowledge to the young and old for over 10 years.
Cassandra obtained her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Chicago State
University where she was certified in IMCANS. She was a teacher’s assistance and provided
individualized tutor services for Northeastern Illinois University. While working in the educational field, she begins to ponder, why do children and parents decipher problems the way they do? Upon matriculating through the education program, she decided teaching was not her only focus but to understand the mind of a person. She always had a mindset to understand others which lead her to begin to study of the function of the brain.
Cassandra obtained her master’s degree in counseling from Chicago State University. She
graduated Chi Sigma Chi Lota within her class. She also is a published author within Sage
Publications Multicultural Journal.
Currently Cassandra continues to spread her years of experience and knowledge by providing private therapeutic services to married couples and individuals in new innovative ways. She is an employee of Catholic Charities working as a Case Manager until a new assignment is added.
Her motto is “change is constant, and evolution is inevitable”.
Rebecca Gutierrez, Consultant
Rebecca Gutierrez is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) and a certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC).
She received her master’s degree in Clinical mental health counseling from Argosy University and holds state certifications in anger management and brain spotting. She has been in the behavioral health field since 2005 and has worked with many different populations including adolescents, dual diagnosis, and court mandated clients. She specializes in the treatment of resistant/mandated clients that have multiple clinical diagnoses and prior trauma.
She currently serves on the Kankakee Drug Free Inc board as the vice president which is an organization that helps raise funds for Kankakee County Drug Court. She continues to be an advocate for changing the stigma associated with people that have behavioral health diagnoses and truly believes that people can change if they are willing to do the work.
Kelvin & Tanya Easter, Board Member
Kelvin Easter is the Senior Leader of Destined to Win Christian Center located in Park Forest, IL. Both he and his wife Tonya are passionate about developing a Christ-centered, authentic congregation, focused on the Word and power of God. He is Founder and CEO of Leading Edge Legacy a personal and leadership development for profit organization.
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Kelvin's educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia College. He is an alumnus of the Jack Hayford School of Pastoral Nurture and has started working towards his master’s degree in Divinity at The King’s University in Van Nuys, California. He was employed for 20 years with DeVry University. The last 8 years of his 20-year tenure, He was the Senior Director of Admissions for DeVry’s Chicago Campus.
He is certified as a Ministry Coach through Ministry Coaching and is a Certified coach, speaker, and trainer through Maxwell Leadership. Pastor Kelvin and his wife Tonya have two adult children, Isaiah, and Chanel. They reside in South Holland, Illinois.
LaShawn Jones, Board Member
LaShawn Jones is a committed community activist with more than 30 years of experience in the Chicago Heights area.
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She has spent the last 14 years at the Chicago Public Library, where she fosters connections with local businesses and addresses public relations concerns. Currently, LaShawn serves as the accountant for the children's program at Chicago Miracle Temple Church, leveraging her expertise to benefit the community.
Furthermore, as the administrator of CMT Teach Me How Academy for the past 8 years, she manages a variety of programs that provide essential supplies and support to low-income families, firmly believing that hard work and determination pave the way for achievement.
Melissa Williams, Board Member
Melissa Williams possesses over 30 years of expertise in community advancement and development. As a lifelong resident of the Chicagoland and South Suburban areas, she has cultivated a profound passion for supporting others in these communities.
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A Retired Registered Nurse, Melissa has significant experience in emergency and critical care units, complemented by over 20 years as a home health care worker. Furthermore, she is dedicated to children's welfare, having operated her own daycare center for eight years and served as a foster parent in collaboration with DCFS. Actively involved in outreach initiatives, Melissa has taken on roles as a teacher and events liaison to empower underserved communities.
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She is also the founder of "King's House of Vision and Faith," a non-profit organization committed to fostering positive change.
David Jordan, Board Member
Dynamic IT Executive with over 20 years of leadership experience, David excels in driving technology initiatives and digital transformation while optimizing IT operations to enhance productivity and client satisfaction.
David has a proven track record in leading large teams and managing multimillion-dollar budgets, delivering complex infrastructure projects that yield measurable results. My expertise in implementing strategic solutions has successfully streamlined processes, reduced costs, and improved efficiency across global organizations.
He is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation, cultivating strong stakeholder relationships, and executing technology roadmaps that enhance competitive advantage and ensure sustainable growth.
Keonna England, Board Member
A committed and versatile attorney focused on positively impacting future generations With expertise in international human rights, criminal, and family, she emphasizes family unification, global talent acquisition, and estate planning. Skilled in offering strategic legal advice, training professionals, and launching innovative initiatives to tackle generational issues and empower communities.