Board Member

Christell D. Ayers,

Christell D. Ayers, a Southside Chicago native, is a retired U.S. Army Captain and veteran, as well as a proud single parent and grandmother. She founded A-List Limo and Bus in 2009, growing it from two cars to the largest minority, female-owned transportation company in Illinois. After 21 years with the Lake County Forest Preserves, she pursued her dream full-time and now uses her experience to mentor young people and support future entrepreneurs. As a board member of Home Away from Home, she is dedicated to shaping tomorrow’s leaders.

Board Member

LaMichelle Hecht

LaMichelle Hecht, CPA, is the owner and CEO of Overhead Solutions Group, LLC. She brings with her more than nine years of accounting experience, including accounting, audits, business valuation, business and personal tax issues, and consulting.  LaMichelle was born in Chicago, IL. When she is not working, she enjoys going on walks, spending time with her family, listening to podcasts and traveling. LaMichelle's technical and business background includes accounting, auditing, tax consulting, general business consulting, and internal controls. In addition, he has in-depth expertise in the management of engagements, consultation with business owners and individuals regarding company operations and strategic planning, overall tax planning including individuals and their closely-held corporations, family tax planning, entity formation, analysis and control of costs and gross profits and budgeting. She has a passion for helping her clients develop and achieve their financial goals. She has a focus on providing high-quality services equally and treats all her clients with the same respect and professionalism, regardless of income or size of the business.

Board Member

Michelle Clifton

Michelle Clifton earned her PhD in theology and Christian social ethics at Loyola University Chicago. Michelle’s passion is interrupting the US’s overreliance on incarceration and finding creative alternatives, such as equitable and accessible education or restorative justice solutions through collaboration with those most impacted. In 2018, she founded the “School of Restorative Arts,” an MA program in Illinois’ prisons serving over 100 incarcerated men and women at Stateville and Logan Correctional Centers. She currently serves as founding director of prison education at Lewis University and has worked with Lewis to launch a BA program in two Illinois prison facilities. She has published numerous books and articles on mass incarceration and other topics in the field of social ethics.

Board Member

Zakee Darr

Zakee Darr is a dedicated professional with over 20 years of experience in youth and family services, including a notable career as Program Director at the Racine Family YMCA, where he specialized in program development and community outreach. Now the owner of Z-Pro Graphix, he supports the community through advertising, design, and nonprofit services. An active member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Zion, IL, Zakee organizes local events like the "Love For All, Hatred For None" basketball tournament. His ongoing commitment to community development is evident in his work across Lake County, IL.

Board Member

Gina Roberts

Gina Roberts has called Lake County home for her entire life. A mother of two and a wife to Douglas, she is a lifelong community advocate in Lake County. For years, Gina served on local Parent Teacher Associations and parent networks. In 2017, she was elected to serve on the Zion-Benton Township School Board and held the position of board secretary.

In 2020, Gina ran to represent her community on the Lake County Board. Elected to represent northeastern Lake County, she serves as the Vice Chair of both the Law & Judicial and Legislative committees of the Lake County Board. Additionally, she serves on the Special Committee on Broadband and the Planning, Building, Zoning, and Environment Committee.

As a Lake County Board Member, Gina also serves as a commissioner for the Lake County Forest Preserves. At the Lake County Forest Preserves, she is the Chair of the Finance Committee, Vice Chair of the Legislative Committee, and serves as a member of the Rules, Diversity and Cultural Awareness, and Ethics committees.

Gina serves as the Lake County Board’s representative on the boards of the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center and the Lake County Juvenile Justice Council. She also serves on the Lake County Housing and Community Development Commission.

Outside of her elected capacity, Gina is the President of the Kiwanis Club of Zion-Benton, an organization dedicated to supporting local youth programs. She serves as the Vice President of Lake County Democratic Women, an organization dedicated to electing Democratic women to local office. Additionally, she serves on the boards of Home Away From Home Youth Development and Reentry Organization, which supports formerly incarcerated youth, and Coalition Legal, an organization that helps people seal or expunge eligible criminal records. Gina is an Honorary Board Member of A Safe Place, an organization that supports victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.

Gina is fundamentally passionate about helping people in need. Outside of her work, she is a passionate photographer and a wanderlust traveler. Gina lives in Beach Park with her husband Douglas and her dogs, Charlie, Henry, and Louie.

Board Member

Jackie Cunningham-Bailey

Jackie Cunningham-Bailey was raised in Waukegan, Il, Parents Vice Chair Lake County Board, Mary Ross Cunningham and the late Samuel D Cunningham Jr, married to Wayne Bailey, mother of seven including nine grandchildren, her siblings 40th Mayor Samuel D. Cunningham Jr, Rev Dr. Emerson Ross, Late Private  Alvin Cunningham, Belvia Finch, Dimple Finch-McLain and Levi Finch. Jackie’s graduate studies include an associate degree from Kee Business College (Medical Assistant Program) Norfolk, VA, Certification of General Human Services (College of Lake County 2020) Grayslake, IL, resides in Round Lake Beach, IL. Jackie’s love for women and children has lead her into the rooms of many prestigious leaders, which allowed Jackie with becoming the Founder of Miles and Smiles Girls Club, a girl’s group for young girls who struggle with reading and writing, Board of Director and Chairwoman with the Avon Cares Food Pantry, serves as a Board of Director with N.I.R.C.O (Recovery Community Organization) Chair and Vice President Alumni NICASA (Women Of W.O.R.T.H) Substance Abuse Community Organization for women, children and families, Committee Chair (Lake County Nineteenth Judicial Adult Probation Employment and Housing committee), 2013 Lake County People’s Voice Community Service Awardee, Board of Director Clock Wise Theatre, Chair Lake County Regional Planning Commission of Lake County Board, Mentor and advocator with Lake County Haven (Homeless Shelter for Women), Waukegan Township Coalition to Reduce Recidivism 2021 Woman Repatriate of the year, 2022 Current member NAACP Lake County Branch, 2023 Lake County NAACP WIN award, active member of Jesus Name Apostolic Church under the leadership of Pastor Tiffany Peppers and Bishop John I Caples, Jackie currently is actively involved with Lake County State’s Attorney Office and Lake County Sheriff Office with Gun Violence Initiative curriculum CJCC committee, Jackie Also serves as President for Safe Illinois Lake County, Board of Directors with Friends of Lake County Forest Preserve. Jackie has continued to serve as a community advocator for women with children due to her own untrusted past, Jackie has thrived to become a voice for women all over Lake County with issues that can help them become a more productive person and parent along with their children. During my mother’s campaign her slogan made a lot of sense to me and allowed me to really understand what my purpose was in life, 

“Be a part of the solution, not part of the problem” Stephen R Covey

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“Be a part of the solution, not part of the problem” -Stephen R Covey.

Board Member

Ken Schmetterer

Ken Schmetterer is a litigation attorney at the law firm of DLA Piper. His pro bono, non-profit, and volunteer work has focused largely on issues of youth justice, education equity, restorative practices, social and emotional learning, constitutional challenges to life-without-parole sentences of children, improved mental health support for incarcerated persons, and individual clemency and parole efforts,  Ken’s research and policy advocacy has been directed to the assessment and recommendations regarding the impact of police in schools and improving the process and options for youth seeking a return to school following their release from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, among other issues.