Meet our Team

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Deonte Tanner - CEO

Deonte Tanner was born and raised in Englewood, on the Southside of Chicago. He obtained his bachelor’s degree, May 2017, from Marquette University where he majored in Public Relations with a minor in Theology. He then obtained his M.Ed. from DePaul University in Educational Leadership. As a former Gates Millennium Scholar, he is currently a PhD candidate at DePaul University studying Educational Leadership. An inspirational speaker who lives to empower others. His entrepreneurial spirit fuels Servants For Hope. 

Charmaine Young

Charmaine Young is a graduate of Governors State University, where she studied psychology.  She was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago in the Englewood community. Charmaine plans to become a marriage and family counselor. She has a passion for poetry, serving and assisting the low-income in at-risk communities like Englewood.

Kendall Herrion

Kendall Herrion was born and raised in the Englewood community on the Southside of Chicago. He’s passionate about low-income residents and works to create better opportunities for those individuals through community outreach services. He is the founder of HoopVibes.  His love for the youth also drives him to provide the necessary motivation, service, and love needed to help them accomplish their dreams. Loving service is key!

Daniel McKenzie

As an up and coming photographer and cinematographer from Chicago, Dan has had a love for photography and film since he was 11 years old. Dan is the founder of MarkTime Studios. He directs the media department of the Family Centered Educational Agency where he puts his passion towards creating educational content for high potential low-income students across the Chicagoland area and the country.

Mario Dawson

Mario Dawson is the founder of Chosen Clothing Line. www.Chosenclothingline.com He serves as the youth director of Hopewell Church, and spends endless time meeting the needs of low-income children. He is passionate and committed to bringing hope to young adults from the Chicagoland area. 

Stephen Kusuma

Stephen Kusuma was born and raised in Semarang, Indonesia. In 2018, he obtained his bachelor’s degree from Marquette University where he majored in Finance and International Business. He recently received his Masters in Finance at University of California, Irvine. He is passionate about bringing change and inspiring others to be better.

David Barnes

David Barnes, reformed convict turned business, man. Born and raised on the Southside of Chicago to a single mother of six. His entrepreneurial spirit founded All Money In Enterprises (A.M.I) where he serves as the Chairman. He believes in the principles of mentorship, community, and lived experiences to impact lives and create systemic change. David has committed his life to mentoring and empowering communities.

Sam Wesley

I’m passionate about expanding the availability of quality education and job opportunities and I’m looking forward to applying this passion in Servants For Hope. I first learned about Servants For Hope from Deonte at Marquette University, his efforts to give back to his community inspired me. After Marquette, I moved to Seattle and started working on the AI for Alexa at Amazon. Throughout my time in Seattle, I’ve followed Servants For Hope’s work and helped where I could, now I’m excited to make a more direct impact in Chicago neighborhoods with this program.

Latisha Dillard

Latisha Dillard is a proud product of the Chicago Public Schools system. Her educational journey took her through Bret Harte Elementary and Chicago Vocational Career Academy before culminating in a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University. Her passion for educational curriculum content led her to further her studies at Saint Xavier University, where she earned a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Her current role is an Instructional Support Leader for Chicago Public Schools, where she wholeheartedly commits herself to providing comprehensive support to teachers and school administrators. Her greatest passion lies in mentoring youth and educators. She is dedicated to supporting and empowering our future leaders.

Octavia Tanner

Octavia Tanner, from Chicago, IL born and raised in the Englewood community. She currently holds a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health and a Master’s degree in Psychology. It was her upbringing that laid the foundation for my unwavering pursuit of education and desire to make a positive impact on her surroundings. Beyond her academic accomplishments, she actively sought out opportunities to give back to the community and make a difference in the lives of others. Throughout her educational journey, she volunteered time and expertise in local initiatives, mentoring aspiring students, and empowering them to pursue their dreams. Her commitment to service and genuine care for others is what drives her to this day.