Meet the Team

It takes a village to build strong youth.

That’s why Home Away From Home is just that — a second family, a safe space, a judgment-free zone, going beyond simple guidance and showing up for youth and our community. Meet the people who help create that space.

Meet Oscar & Catrina Parham

CEO & COO

Oscar and Catrina have built one of the few safe spaces and organizations in Zion, IL for at-risk youth, seeking mentorship, guidance, and opportunities.  They understand the power of second chances and opportunities for growth and self-improvement, especially in the Northern Lake County area that houses Zion, IL.

Oscar, the CEO, and Catrina, the COO, are products of the community. However, their journey through life encountered many obstacles. When Oscar was just five years old – the youngest of eight children growing up in Zion, Illinois – his father, a local business owner, had a heart attack and died in front of him. The impact and aftermath of the loss of his father and role model – with ensuing financial, emotional, and family struggles – ultimately led to his decision to drop out of school at age 16 and join a gang that Oscar believed to be his second “family.”

In 1988 when Oscar was 18, while many miles away, others who he had associated with in the gang were arrested for a murder Oscar had no involvement or knowledge of and did not commit. Despite this, prosecutors charged him with two counts of first degree murder. Oscar, maintaining his innocence and unwilling to plead to something he did not do for a six year sentence, was found guilty at trial and sentenced to the only sentence the judge could provide: mandatory life in prison with no possibility of parole. Meanwhile, Catrina spent over 25 years in healthcare as a nurse while raising children.

But Oscar and Catrina’s story didn’t end there.

While incarcerated he achieved more than just his nickname, “Smiley” – the upbeat guy went on a journey of self-improvement, leaving a lasting impact on those around him. Oscar’s compelling life story—together with his relentless optimism, work ethic, and skill sets developed by his educational and personal achievements—fueled his rise in leadership and recognition as a prison spokesperson. He participated in a prison debate team, advocating for the State of Illinois to reinstate parole opportunities for prisoners serving long or life sentences, and spoke regularly with large numbers of state representatives and senators, a local area Congresswoman, the Lieutenant Governor, and other officials about his story and the need for reform.  Oscar wrote his own clemency and post-conviction advocacy briefs, eventually convincing the State to commute his sentence and, in the summer of 2019, to be eligible for immediate release. He became a mentor to many and earned his Master of the Arts degree in Christian Ministry and Restorative Arts. 

Oscar used his experience from incarceration and clemency to ensure that other youth do not go down the same path, so he decided to build an organization that tackles the root of the issues using violence prevention and crime reduction strategies through a strong mentorship program. By cultivating mentors and mentoring youth at younger ages to prevent gang involvement, Home Away From Home works to engage our youth and communities in strategies that support youth exposed to, or at-risk, of violence and juvenile delinquency. The goal — creating a safe space and a second family for youth in the community.

Catrina Parham is a dedicated mother of four adult children and a seasoned nursing professional with over 30 years of experience. Her journey began as a young mother, during which she pursued her education at Mira Costa College in California and later at the University of South Alabama, where she earned her Nursing Degree.

Throughout her career, Catrina has made significant contributions to the nursing field, particularly during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. She has had the privilege of working with renowned sports teams, including the Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Sky, and the Milwaukee Bucks, providing essential healthcare support to athletes and staff alike.

Currently, Catrina serves as a Nurse in a mental health facility in Waukegan, Illinois, where she is committed to improving the lives of her patients. In addition to her nursing career, she is the Chief Operating Officer of Home Away from Home Youth Development and Reentry, an organization dedicated to supporting at-risk youth.

Catrina aspires to give back to her community by offering teenage pregnancy counseling and helping young people navigate their paths to success. She is passionate about exposing youth to various career choices and providing them with the essential resources they need to thrive in a nurturing, home-like environment.

With her extensive experience and heartfelt dedication, Catrina Parham continues to make a positive impact on the lives of those she serves, striving to empower the next generation to achieve their dreams.

Check out our amazing mentors & youth in action!

Meet Our Board of Directors

  • Sue Schuman

    Sue Schuman

    Board Secretary

    Sue Schuman took early retirement from teaching for 16 years as an elementary school teacher in Beach Park, Illinois. Prior to obtaining her Masters in Teaching, to begin her second career, she earned a B.S. Marketing at DePaul University and was an Account Manager for various advertising agencies in the city. Her client list includes many Fortune 500 Brands such as Kraft Foods, Sears, Citigroup, and more. During her advertising career, she donated her time tutoring kids at Cabrini Green in the old Montgomery Ward building across the street.

    Her father was a school teacher on the west side of Chicago who made a huge impact on his students.  Inspired by his impact, she continues to follow his legacy by making sure her students and other youth understand the importance of hard work and education. She has continued to donate her time tutoring and guiding them, through their endeavors, as they reach adulthood and beyond.

  • Lily Gleicher

    Board President

    Lily Gleicher, Ph.D., is currently a Senior Supervisory Research Scientist for a national non-profit that works to create a fairer, more just, and more humane pretrial system. Lily also teaches part-time at Loyola University. She previously worked as a Research Analyst for the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority and as a Research Scholar for the Robina Institute, conducting research and evaluation, writing and developing grants, providing technical assistance and training, and working with a variety of stakeholders. She has experience training community supervision staff in evidence-based supervision practices that support a “coaching” vs “referee” style of communication and support.

    Lily is passionate about criminal and juvenile justice reform, youth development and reentry, building community capacity, and dismantling systems that perpetuate harm. She received her BS from the University of Connecticut in 2011, and her MS and Ph.D. in Criminal Justice in 2012 and 2018, respectively, from the University of Cincinnati.

  • Gina Roberts

    Board Director

    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.

  • Susan Daniel

    Board Director

    Susan Daniel is a dynamic workforce development specialist and community advocate whose career spans banking leadership, small business lending, and deep engagement in community service. A former banking executive, she now dedicates her talents to mentoring at-risk young adults by helping them unlock opportunities through scholarships and grants, education, and career readiness. Susan serves as Workforce Development Coordinator and board member with My Father’s Business and volunteers with several organizations, including Bernie’s Book Bank, Meals on Wheels, Legacy Reentry Foundation, Mothers Trust Foundation, Community Purse Lake County and the North Chicago Community Partners. She is a former board member of both The Sports Shed and Gifts from the Heart (Milwaukee, WI) and has served as an active Rotarian for 11 years in Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Known for building trusted relationships with young adults as well as community and nonprofit leaders and connecting people to resources, she brings a hands-on, heart-driven approach to breaking cycles of violence. Susan is deeply committed to creating pathways out of poverty and being a steady force for good in every community she serves. As a board member of Home Away from Home, she is proud to champion mentorship, equity, and lifelong empowerment.

  • Ken Schmetterer

    Board Director

    Ken Schmetterer is a business litigation attorney at DLA Piper.  Ken maintains a significant pro bono practice, most recently in matters involving prisoner rights, reentry and clemency efforts, federal civil rights claims, mental health support, and sexual exploitation. He consistently serves on or assists non-profit organizations and boards, including those advancing youth defense and youth justice, reentry and mentoring support, education equity, social/emotional learning, and restorative practices. Among his other policy advocacy efforts, Ken served as a leader of DLA Piper’s large-scale signature Juvenile Justice Project. As part of this effort, he served as the senior editor of From Juvenile Court to the Classroom: The Need for Effective Child Advocacy, a substantial policy study assessing and working to improve the transition of children from the juvenile court system back to school. Ken has co-authored four United States Supreme Court amicus briefs for the American Bar Association before the United States Supreme Court, supporting youth in the criminal justice system.

  • Michelle Clifton

    Board Director

    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.

  • Karen Levi

    Board Director

    Karen Levi serves as the Chief of Juvenile at the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. Prior to her working for the State, she worked at the Lake County Public Defender’s Office.  Karen was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Juvenile Courts.  Karen formed the LCBA Juvenile Law Committee.

    She serves on the board for the LCBA, AWALC and CTAD.  Karen is also the co-chair of the Lake County Juvenile Justice Council.

    Karen is active in her community of Highwood where she lives with her husband and family.

  • Christell Ayers

    Board Director

    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.

  • Jackie Cunningham-Bailey

    Board Director

    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.