year-round staff
Kristen Mighty, PhD, MPH
Executive Director
Dr. Mighty, a Broadview native, joined the Quinn Center team in 2018 with an extensive background in public health, budget growth and management, data-driven assessment, and professional collaboration with a wide array of stakeholders. She earned two Bachelors of Science degrees in Microbiology and Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She holds both a Doctorate in life sciences and a Master’s degree in public health from Northwestern University. Over the past two years, she has established vital financial and grant management infrastructure and has led the effort to strengthen and expand youth programming, adult education programming, and senior outreach and support programming. As a servant leader, she is passionate to serve the community she grew up in and utilize her lived experiences to provide the needed personal and professional development of community members. She strives to empower community members in order to inspire them to be courageous enough to pursue their dreams. Contact Kristen at director@quinncenter.org.
Executive Director
Dr. Mighty, a Broadview native, joined the Quinn Center team in 2018 with an extensive background in public health, budget growth and management, data-driven assessment, and professional collaboration with a wide array of stakeholders. She earned two Bachelors of Science degrees in Microbiology and Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She holds both a Doctorate in life sciences and a Master’s degree in public health from Northwestern University. Over the past two years, she has established vital financial and grant management infrastructure and has led the effort to strengthen and expand youth programming, adult education programming, and senior outreach and support programming. As a servant leader, she is passionate to serve the community she grew up in and utilize her lived experiences to provide the needed personal and professional development of community members. She strives to empower community members in order to inspire them to be courageous enough to pursue their dreams. Contact Kristen at director@quinncenter.org.
LaToya Towns
Program Director
LaToya officially joined the Quinn Center team in April 2022, but has been a part of the Quinn family for 6 years, leading our adult and senior Zumba program. She holds a Bachelors in Secondary Education with English and Spanish as her majors. She is also a graduate of Living Word School of Ministry and Joseph Business School. She has led many community programs both here, in the United States, and in Mexico while studying abroad - teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), coordinating volunteers at a school and an orphanage in Mexico, and working as a summer camp director in the city of Chicago. LaToya's motto is “Use me to empower and impact the world with my love, my smile, and encouraging words” as she strongly believes that this will shine light on any community."
Contact LaToya at qcprogramdir@quinncenter.org
Program Director
LaToya officially joined the Quinn Center team in April 2022, but has been a part of the Quinn family for 6 years, leading our adult and senior Zumba program. She holds a Bachelors in Secondary Education with English and Spanish as her majors. She is also a graduate of Living Word School of Ministry and Joseph Business School. She has led many community programs both here, in the United States, and in Mexico while studying abroad - teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), coordinating volunteers at a school and an orphanage in Mexico, and working as a summer camp director in the city of Chicago. LaToya's motto is “Use me to empower and impact the world with my love, my smile, and encouraging words” as she strongly believes that this will shine light on any community."
Contact LaToya at qcprogramdir@quinncenter.org
Martha Ramirez
Youth Program Coordinator
Martha began her work at the Quinn Center in September 2019, though she has been serving youth in the Proviso community since 2010. Her background includes working with youth in education and social services in the Chicago area. She has worked with youth in group homes, hospitals, community centers, and schools with a focus on families and children in diverse communities. She attended B.U. Wheelock where she majored in Social Work. She is excited to serve the families and children in our community and be part of creating lasting and meaningful change in here at Quinn. Contact Martha at qcprograms@quinncenter.org.
Youth Program Coordinator
Martha began her work at the Quinn Center in September 2019, though she has been serving youth in the Proviso community since 2010. Her background includes working with youth in education and social services in the Chicago area. She has worked with youth in group homes, hospitals, community centers, and schools with a focus on families and children in diverse communities. She attended B.U. Wheelock where she majored in Social Work. She is excited to serve the families and children in our community and be part of creating lasting and meaningful change in here at Quinn. Contact Martha at qcprograms@quinncenter.org.
Jesenya Amaya
Youth Program Coordinator
Jesenya began her work at the Quinn Center as a volunteer in Fall 2018 and formally joined the staff in Summer 2019. She is a member of our sister parish Sacred Heart and lives and works in the Proviso community. Jesenya formally joined the staff in Summer 2019. She is currently completing her undergraduate degree at Dominican University and majoring in Education, as well as pursuing her certification in Family Engagement through HarvardX. She plans to continue serving her community and working towards The Quinn Centers’ mission of achieving social justice throughout the diverse Proviso community. Contact Jesenya at qcprograms@quinncenter.org.
Youth Program Coordinator
Jesenya began her work at the Quinn Center as a volunteer in Fall 2018 and formally joined the staff in Summer 2019. She is a member of our sister parish Sacred Heart and lives and works in the Proviso community. Jesenya formally joined the staff in Summer 2019. She is currently completing her undergraduate degree at Dominican University and majoring in Education, as well as pursuing her certification in Family Engagement through HarvardX. She plans to continue serving her community and working towards The Quinn Centers’ mission of achieving social justice throughout the diverse Proviso community. Contact Jesenya at qcprograms@quinncenter.org.
Elizabeth Young
Development Coordinator
Liz began her work at the Quinn Center in November 2019. Prior to joining the Quinn Center, Liz coordinated the local implementation of a national anti-poverty, social justice program on behalf of the Archdiocese of Chicago, which included managing marketing/PR, communications, grant evaluation and administration, fundraising, and program development projects. She also has an extensive background in community service and social justice education after spending six years working in Campus Ministry at a local Jesuit high school. Liz holds B.A.s in Anthropology and Spanish from the University of Notre Dame and an M.A. in Social Justice & Community Development from Loyola University Chicago.
Contact Liz at qcdevelopment@quinncenter.org.
Development Coordinator
Liz began her work at the Quinn Center in November 2019. Prior to joining the Quinn Center, Liz coordinated the local implementation of a national anti-poverty, social justice program on behalf of the Archdiocese of Chicago, which included managing marketing/PR, communications, grant evaluation and administration, fundraising, and program development projects. She also has an extensive background in community service and social justice education after spending six years working in Campus Ministry at a local Jesuit high school. Liz holds B.A.s in Anthropology and Spanish from the University of Notre Dame and an M.A. in Social Justice & Community Development from Loyola University Chicago.
Contact Liz at qcdevelopment@quinncenter.org.
rotating staff, interns & FELLOWS
Lizette Martinez
Social Work Intern, Taller de Jose Companerx
Lizette is a second year social work student who has always felt a calling to a life of service. She was born and raised in Chicago’s predominately Latinx communities and is fluent in Spanish. Considering herself a Chicana, Lizette wholeheartedly embraces her Latino roots, culture and heritage. Before joining Quinn Center, Lizette worked as a Community Health Worker/Promotora for the last fifteen plus years. She has participated in outreach activities in various Chicago communities that have included community health fairs, preventative education workshops, care coordination and connecting people with local services. She aims to bring her experience and love for service to the Maywood community and help people and families with linking them to resources and accompany them through a very complex social service system. Contact Lizette at qccompanera@quinncenter.org.
Social Work Intern, Taller de Jose Companerx
Lizette is a second year social work student who has always felt a calling to a life of service. She was born and raised in Chicago’s predominately Latinx communities and is fluent in Spanish. Considering herself a Chicana, Lizette wholeheartedly embraces her Latino roots, culture and heritage. Before joining Quinn Center, Lizette worked as a Community Health Worker/Promotora for the last fifteen plus years. She has participated in outreach activities in various Chicago communities that have included community health fairs, preventative education workshops, care coordination and connecting people with local services. She aims to bring her experience and love for service to the Maywood community and help people and families with linking them to resources and accompany them through a very complex social service system. Contact Lizette at qccompanera@quinncenter.org.
Hana O'Hagan
Schweitzer Fellow, Senior & Caregiver Programs
After graduating from Creighton University with a BS in Chemistry, Hana worked as a private caregiver and a CNA before beginning medical school at Loyola University’s Stritch School of Medicine last year. Hana began volunteering with the Quinn Center in the fall of 2020, serving with weekly senior programming and Tertulias Spanish-English language exchange. She is now helping to develop caregiver programs with the Quinn Center and hopes to connect more caregivers to helpful resources and Quinn’s supportive community. Hana is passionate about caregiving and serving seniors. Contact Hana at qccaregivers@quinncenter.org.
Schweitzer Fellow, Senior & Caregiver Programs
After graduating from Creighton University with a BS in Chemistry, Hana worked as a private caregiver and a CNA before beginning medical school at Loyola University’s Stritch School of Medicine last year. Hana began volunteering with the Quinn Center in the fall of 2020, serving with weekly senior programming and Tertulias Spanish-English language exchange. She is now helping to develop caregiver programs with the Quinn Center and hopes to connect more caregivers to helpful resources and Quinn’s supportive community. Hana is passionate about caregiving and serving seniors. Contact Hana at qccaregivers@quinncenter.org.
Katherine Mott
Loyola CCGH Intern, Senior & Caregiver Programs
Katherine is a second-year medical student at the Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and the newest member of the Senior Programing team. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor’s in Biology and loves spending time with seniors. Before joining the Quinn Center, Katherine worked as a nursing assistant at a community hospital, served as a Promise Fellow through AmeriCorps, and throughout high school worked in a nursing home. Her interests include storytelling, caring for the elderly, and all things Chicago (hot dogs, running on Lakeshore Drive, the White Sox, etc.).Contact Katherine at qccaregivers@quinncenter.org.
Loyola CCGH Intern, Senior & Caregiver Programs
Katherine is a second-year medical student at the Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and the newest member of the Senior Programing team. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor’s in Biology and loves spending time with seniors. Before joining the Quinn Center, Katherine worked as a nursing assistant at a community hospital, served as a Promise Fellow through AmeriCorps, and throughout high school worked in a nursing home. Her interests include storytelling, caring for the elderly, and all things Chicago (hot dogs, running on Lakeshore Drive, the White Sox, etc.).Contact Katherine at qccaregivers@quinncenter.org.
