Management Team
Working together in solidarity!
Monika Black, MA, MHA, PhD
Co-Founder, Executive Director
Monika Black is a community partner, educator and researcher. As a community partner Monika provides a wide range of services. At the individual level she is keen on engaging individuals in the active progression and advancement of themselves as leaders in a way that creates synergy at multiple levels of one’s life. When working at the organizational level, she partners with organizations and leaders as an extension of the organization, intently integrating the organizations vision, culture, strengths and resources in a way that helps to more succinctly align program theory, design and evaluation. As an educator Monika provides her students with the knowledge, experiential understanding and space to fully integrate their learning experience so that participants can advance academically and personally. In her research Monika focuses on the design and development of culturally grounded interventions that will lend towards the achievement of impactful policy, processes and procedures and real results across various under acknowledged and utilized communities. Specifically, she focuses her research on diverse populations, women, community organizational development and leadership engagement.
With a Master’s degree in both Clinical Psychology and Healthcare Administration, Monika was responsible for the leadership, mentoring and program design and development f or Las Caras Lindas from 2008-2010. Monika recently completed her Ph.D. at DePaul University in Community Psychology.
Yemisi Dinkins, MA
Executive Fellow
yemisi@lascaraslindas.com
Yemisi grew up on Chicago’s SouthSide and, as an adult, she has lived in a number of neighborhoods. Yemisi has a total of 10 years of professional experience. Her accomplishments include managing multi-million dollar accounts for a global banking corporation, creating and teaching a skills development curriculum, and managing a technology center located in Chicago’s Austin and Garfield Park neighborhoods. She has also taught technology to youth from underserved communities in Boston and she has worked with a market research firm collecting and analyzing data. Most recently, she has been assisting start-up organizations with business development and planning. Yemisi joined the LCL team as an executive Fellow after receiving her Master’s at DePaul University.
Lisba Romo – Martinez, Director of Youth LEADers
lisbarm@lascaraslindas.com
Lisba Romo-Martinez serves as Marketing Manager for The Kaleidoscope Group a full-service diversity and inclusion consulting firm. Lisba’s passion for inspiring underserved young women to become leaders stems from her own experiences growing up in a predominantly Latino neighborhood. She is a motivational speaker for young women and was a quarterly writer for the “Healthy Living for Latinas” series featured in the Girlfriends Health Guide for Women of Color Magazine from 2008 to 2011. Lisba is a graduate of the AGUILA (Eagle) Leadership Program that is dedicated to promoting Latino Leadership and community engagement. She is currently the Youth LEADers Program for Las Caras Lindas. Lisba received her Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Robert Morris University. She is a member of the Latina Leadership Circle, a book club/support group of about 12-15 Latinas who meet once a month. Lisba’s goal is to positively impact the lives of young women and to be their role model so that they too become our future leaders. In her spare time, Lisba enjoys reading, dancing, poetry, writing and participating in cultural events. She assists her mom with creating hand crafted jewelry.
Lissette Romo, Creative Director
lissetter@lascaraslindas.com
Lissette Romo has a marketing background of over 4 years of professional experience in brand strategy, marketing campaign implementation, and event planning focused on obtaining bottom-line results in business-to-consumer based industries. Currently, she is an Executive Administrative Assistant for an Accounts Receivable Management company. Lissette earned her Bachelor of Science in Business degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago majoring in Marketing and Management with an emphasis on Entrepreneurship. Growing up in Chicago’s Pilsen area, Lissette developed an immense passion for contributing to youths’ development through mentorship. Throughout her high school education up to present, Lissette has remained active within the community for nine years; volunteering in various roles such as tutoring with several youth organizations. Recently, Lissette partnered with Las Caras Lindas as a Creative Development Director. Through her role, she hopes to create a positive impact in the lives of young women and inspire them to become leaders themselves. Lissette is a recent Graduate of the AGUILA (Eagle) Leadership Program that is dedicated to developing and promoting Latino leaders who give back to the community. In addition, she has been a member and volunteer for other non-profit organizations that promote Latino/minority personal and professional development, such as the American Red Cross Association, Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA), and National Hispanic Sales Network. In her spare time, she enjoys expressing her creativity through the development of her artwork designs. Other interests include learning about other cultures, attending artistic events, dancing, reading, and baking.
Donna Medina, LEAD Core Program Director
donnam@lascaraslindas.com
Donna Medina has been involved in her community for almost nine years. She grew up and still resides in Humboldt Park and works towards being active in her community. Her first non-profit experience began as an internship at Youth Service Project, a youth based organization that assists in creating a nurturing environment that promotes self-awareness, accountability and respect. Her involvement at YSP inspired Donna to make non-profit work a key part of her career. Since then, Donna has continued to volunteer with many non-profit organizations to gain experience and to enhance her skills. Donna is a graduate of the AGUILA (Eagle) Leadership Program that is dedicated to promoting Latino Leadership and community involvement. Donna is devoted to work as a mentor, motivational speaker and leader for young woman. She recently partnered with Las Caras Lindas as a Program Director. She joined LCL to make a positive impact in the community and to promote leadership and diversity for young woman. Donna is also a mother of two young boys who are a vital part of her life. On her off time, Donna enjoys experiencing all types of culture from art to music, reading, and community cultural events.
