Executive Director

Mary Ellen directs all of the Association's activities with a special focus on community outreach and strategic partnerships with community organizations and governmental agencies. Mary Ellen comes to CBA from a long career of advocacy work, political and community outreach and public education reform. 

Deputy Director

Gillian manages the grant programs for energy efficient technologies and works to promote the preservation, sustainability and resilience of Chicago bungalows and vintage homes through community outreach, program development and communications. Gillian holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology with a social/cultural emphasis and a minor in Spanish from Indiana University.

Director of Communications

Angela manages digital and print media communications and develops outreach strategies to communicate CBA's message. Angela also contributes to program growth through the use of geographic information systems. Angela holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art History with an architectural emphasis from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Program Manager

Lia assists in the development and implementation of CBA’s energy efficiency programs. Lia holds a Master of Arts in Urban Affairs from Loyola University Chicago.

Membership Coordinator

Cathy manages membership engagement and the front office. She has an extensive nonprofit background and has volunteered for a local hospice organization, an HIV/AIDS support group and a substance-abuse hotline. 

Preservation and Resiliency Specialist

Carla Bruni is the Preservation and Resiliency Specialist at CBA. She handles all preservation- and sustainability- related fieldwork, inquiries, and educational materials, and is responsible for the creation of our National Register historic districts. Carla also facilitates, and occasionally leads, CBA's seminars and educational videos. Carla holds a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and is also a Lecturer within SAIC’s Department of Historic Preservation.

Artist-in-Residence

Tonika Johnson leads UnBlocked Englewood—a powerful expansion of her acclaimed projects Folded Map and Inequity For Sale. Focused on the 6500 block of South Aberdeen, UnBlocked Englewood restores and repairs homes directly impacted by the predatory land sale contracts of the 1950s and ’60s. Through a blend of home repairs, public art installations, and storytelling, Tonika works in partnership with longtime residents to confront the legacy of housing discrimination and uplift Black homeownership. Her role brings CBA’s mission into deeper alignment with racial equity, preservation, and creative placemaking.

Researcher-in-Residence

Amber gathers demographic data on residents and contractors, builds housing profiles, and designs algorithms to better understand the costs associated with various types of homes at different stages of age and condition, as well as creates a classification system that reveals the true costs of repairs and maintenance while monitoring land acquisitions and trends in the area in order to develop a comprehensive case study on how to scale and replicate a successful initiative like UnBlocked Englewood and create educational materials and how-to guides for both community members and city leaders, providing practical tools for sustainable growth and development.

Program Associate

Cheryl assists in CBA’s energy efficiency grant implementation and digital and print media communications. Cheryl holds a Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science and Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan.

Community Liaison  -  Habla español

Aurea "Audi" spreads the word about CBA programs and resources out in various Chicago and suburban Cook County communities. She builds relationships with local community organizations for outreach, and stays in contact with homeowners, assisting them with Home Energy Savings program applications and procedures, answering questions along the way.

Intern

Nyjah creates digital media, focusing on social media and graphic design, to increase awareness of CBA's educational resources and events. She also assists with maintaining records for the Trusted Referrals business directory and UnBlocked Englewood.