Author: weconnect

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Interview with Mary Stonor Saunders – Founder of Granola for Good 

By Charles Mombo

Photo: Mary Stonor Saunders/@granolaforgood

Meet Mary Stonor Saunders. Mary grew up on Manhattan’s upper west side (back in THE day!), but spent three months a year in a town with only 800 people.  Her mom was from an old American family and held a master’s degree, whereas her father, born in Palestine (his Armenian parents fled the genocide) and never completed his high school diploma. Mary went to her neighborhood public school and one of the wealthiest schools in America. All of this to say, Mary likes to think of herself as someone who is comfortable in a lot of different worlds and believe it informs everything about her.  Continue reading “Interview with Mary Stonor Saunders – Founder of Granola for Good “

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Interview with Dr. Christy Russell – A fashion, beauty, and lifestyle blogger

Dr. Christy Russell/ Photo Credit: Dr. Christy Russell

Charles Mombo

Meet Dr. Christy Russell. Christy is originally from Columbus, Ohio, born to Nigerian parents and moved to Chicago in August of 2021. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies. For over 20 years, she has worked in higher education at Ohio State University, Auburn University and most recently Vanderbilt University. Continue reading “Interview with Dr. Christy Russell – A fashion, beauty, and lifestyle blogger”

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Interview with Diane Burnham – Executive Director of the South East Chicago Commission (SECC)

Diane Burnham – Executive Director of the South East Chicago Commission (SECC) | Photo Credit: Diane Burnham

By Charles Mombo

Meet Diane Burnham. Diane is the executive director of the South East Chicago Commission (SECC). As the commissioner, she oversees and recommend the annual services, budget and Service Provider Agency to the city. She started in the fall of 2013 and was initially hired as a program manager over community development.  She started before the existence of the Special Service Area (SSA) #61 and the downtown Hyde Park brand. Continue reading “Interview with Diane Burnham – Executive Director of the South East Chicago Commission (SECC)”

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Michael Hall – Internationally Recognized Violist Soloist and Teacher

Michael Hall, Violist Soloist/ Photo Credit: Michael Hall

By Charles Mombo

Meet Michael Hall. Michael is a passionate musician who typically travels over 200,000 miles a year around the world to perform and teach. As an incredibly lucky person, he has performed for three former presidents, the King of Thailand, had over 90 composers write music for him, traveled and performed as a soloist around the world many times over. Continue reading “Michael Hall – Internationally Recognized Violist Soloist and Teacher”

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Interview with Executive chef Marco Bahena – BARDAVID Restaurant

Executive chef Marco Bahena/Photographed by Charles Mombo/ Surge Synergy, Inc.

By Charles Mombo

Meet Marco Bahena. Marco is the executive chef at BARDAVID Restaurant. A Chicago native, Marco is a graduate of the School of Culinary Arts at Chicago’s Kendall College. He previously worked at Martín Berasategui, a 3-Michelin star restaurant in the Basque region of Northern Spain. Continue reading “Interview with Executive chef Marco Bahena – BARDAVID Restaurant”

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Interview With Monica Lowe – An Attorney and Sewing-enthusiast

By Charles Mombo

Monica Lowe/ Michael Taylor Photography

Meet Monica Lowe. Monica is a multifaceted woman! First, she’s a mother to a wonderful 13-year-old boy.  Professionally, she works full time as an attorney.  When she in not working her full-time job, she enjoys sewing, triathlon (Olympic and half Ironman distance), traveling, and spending time with friends and family. Continue reading “Interview With Monica Lowe – An Attorney and Sewing-enthusiast”

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Interview with Kerese and Kristle: The Millen Twins

Kerese and Kristle The Millen Twins
Kerese and Kristle The Millen Twins

By Charles Mombo

Meet the Millen Twins. Kerese and Kristle Millen are Chicago natives and the founders of xXposure, a visual magazine.  The two-time authors of the books, “There’s Power In Your I Am,” and “Thoughts Become Things,” are educators who believe in instilling positivity into students’ lives.   Continue reading “Interview with Kerese and Kristle: The Millen Twins”

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Interview with Rev. Thomas Gaulke, Author of An Unpromising Hope

Rev. Thomas Gaulke, Author of Unpromising Hope

By Charles Mombo

Meet Rev. Thomas R. Gaulke, Ph.D., author of An Unpromising Hope. Thomas is a belief-fluid Lutheran pastor, serving in Chicagoland since 2009. Working in community, he has co-founded and collaborated with neighborhood groups across Chicagoland, working to shut down dangerous polluters and provide public transit. Continue reading “Interview with Rev. Thomas Gaulke, Author of An Unpromising Hope”