Barbara Bowman is a pioneer in early childhood education, as well as an advocate, professor, author, and internationally-renowned expert on childhood development. She was born and raised on Chicago’s south side, and her experience learning and working both across the country and around the world has shaped her understanding of how young children learn.
As the federal government launched the Head Start Program in the early 1960’s, few people fully understood the early years of learning—and the importance of high-quality education for all children, across socioeconomic and racial lines. Bowman, together with child psychologist Maria Piers, social worker Lorraine Wallach, and businessman and philanthropist Irving B. Harris founded the Erikson Institute in Chicago in 1966, with the goal of empowering professionals who work with young children and families to understand child development and the promise the first years of life hold for a person’s long-term well-being.
While the theories, research, and practices at Erikson have evolved over the years, the organization remains focused on early childhood and the vision of Bowman and the other founders that all children deserve high-quality care and education.
Joan Harris is the past President and Chair of the Irving Harris Foundation, a Trustee of the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board, and in 2014 received the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama.
Most recently she was honored by her alma mater Smith College with the Smith Medal (2016). She has served as President, Chair, Director, and Trustee for many Chicago and national cultural organizations, including the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Juilliard School, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the League of American Orchestras (formerly American Symphony Orchestra League). Mrs. Harris served on the President’s Commission for the National Endowment for the Arts (1990). She was Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs for the City of Chicago (1987-1989) where she worked to emphasize Chicago’s importance as a cultural center both nationally and internationally. She also served as President of the Chicago Opera Theater and the Arts Alliance Illinois (formerly Illinois Arts Alliance).
It is through her leadership at Harris Theater for Music and Dance that small performance companies have a permanent site in which to perform. Harris Theater currently presents and is host to some of the most important national and international music and dance companies.
As the co-founder and co-director of Healing to Action, Sheerine Alemzadeh collaborates with survivor leaders across Chicago to ignite innovative, community-sustained strategies to address gender-based violence in low-income, black, brown, immigrant LGBTQ and disability communities. An expert on the intersecting inequalities of economic and racial injustice and gender-based violence, she has forged strategic partnerships in Chicago and nationally to develop coordinated, community-based responses to gender-based violence.
In 2011, Sheerine received the Skadden Fellowship to pilot a project focused on achieving workplace justice for survivors of sexual violence. She co-founded the Coalition Against Workplace Sexual Violence, and has trained over 1,000 community stakeholders on responding to gender-based violence. Healing to Action formed out of the Coalition’s work, after Sheerine and her cofounder, Karla Altmayer, identified a clear need for workers’ voices to lead cross-movement responses to gender-based violence in working poor communities.
The proud daughter of Iranian immigrants, Sheerine grew up in Virginia and received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in International Politics, with a minor in women’s studies. She went on to receive her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was a Toll Public Interest Scholar.
In February 2020, Tracie D. Hall was appointed the American Library Association’s 10th executive director in its 143-year history. In her new role, Hall oversees the oldest and largest library association in the world, made up of 57,000 members and more than 200 staffers. Hall is the first female African American executive director in ALA’s history.
Upon Hall’s appointment ALA President Wanda K. Brown observed that “Her unique combination of philanthropy and library know-how position her to be the leader ALA needs today. She is optimistic, energizing, and innovative, qualities that will serve the association well as it continues its investments in advocacy, development, and information technology.” Hall worked at the Seattle Public Library, the New Haven Free Library, Queens Public Library and Hartford Free Public Library. In 1998, she was among the first ALA’s Spectrum Scholars and served as the director of ALA’s Office for Diversity. She has served on advisory councils for the Institute of Museum and Library Services. She was highlighted as a “Mover and Shaker” in the field by Library Journal early in her career. Most recently, Hall directed the culture portfolio at the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation. Prior, she worked as Deputy Commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Hall was appointed to serve on the City of Chicago’s Cultural Advisory Council at the beginning of 2020. Hall has also served as assistant dean of Dominican’s Graduate School of Library and Information Science in River Forest and as visiting professor at Wesleyan among others.
Currently CEO of Chicago Child Care Society since 2016, Dara T. Munson, MPA is a native of Detroit where she served as President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Detroit, COO of Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan and Senior Director of United Way of Southeastern Michigan.
Munson’s early career and education were in the criminal and juvenile justice systems and she now serves as a Trustee of her alma mater, Eastern Michigan University Foundation Board. Since coming to Chicago, Munson has served on the Mayor’s early childhood education COVID reopening work group, the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership Youth Committee, the Illinois Partners for Human Services Board, and Vice Chair of Chicago Alliance for Collaborative Effort Board. She also serves on the Boards of the International Women’s Forum and Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Munson’s particular passion is for serving Black and Brown children, youth and families, to improve their opportunities to reach their highest human potential. She is dedicated to dismantling structural and systemic racism and oppression that creates barriers to education, economic security and freedom to live life in peace and without fear.
Felicia S. Davis is a self-described “girl from the South Side of Chicago.” Felicia spent the bulk of her professional career in public service. Most recently, Felicia served as the Interim President of Olive-Harvey College, one of the seven City Colleges of Chicago (CCC). Her primary responsibility was to provide vision for the College and continuous leadership and direction. She was also responsible for developing, maintaining and evaluating the academic programs and student services of the College and creating a climate which enhances student learning, stimulates creative approaches to teaching and learning and motivates both staff and students to optimum achievement.
Prior to joining City Colleges, Felicia served as Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s First Deputy Chief of Staff, the first Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement, and as Commissioner of the City of Chicago’s Department of Buildings. She also led the Public Building Commission (PBC) as its Executive Director. Felicia is a native Chicagoan and life-long resident of the City’s South Side, where she resides with her family. Felicia is proud to serve on the Advisory Board for the Willie’s Warriors Leadership Initiative and is a founding member of the South Side Giving Circle at Chicago Foundation for Women.
