Meet Our Guides

FOUNDER

Allison spends her free time traveling, freelance writing, running, reading, and jumping in Lake Michigan (when it's not freezing!), among other hobbies. Read more about her story.

MANAGER

Fernanda is an educator, baker, and runner who loves to read, cook, get crafty, and explore new places with her family and friends. She’s originally from Ecuador and has lived in Chicago for 22 years.

Chris is the founder of The L.Y.D. Foundation. Through youth mentoring, financial literacy, college scholarships, fresh food initiatives, and much more, Chris and L.Y.D. aim to serve underserved communities in as many ways as possible.

Cynthia is the founder and organizer of Black Girls Read Book Club. A lawyer by day, history buff, and Uptown transplant, Cynthia enjoys reading and learning more about this city that she has called home for nearly a decade.

John is a 16-year CPS teacher who has written and taught curriculums focused on the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and Chicago. He volunteers at Open Books, is part of numerous book clubs, and juggles reading at least five books at any given time.

Quinn is a digital librarian with a passion for queer history, theater, digital humanities, and anything that can combine all three at once. They spend their time working in metadata, volunteering at Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, and managing two black cats.

Magaly is a former teacher and current Spanish Bilingual psychotherapist. She is passionate about mental health with a focus on the BIPOC community. In her free time, she enjoys running, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, attending street festivals, and visiting family in Mexico.

Cindy is a freelance writer, author, and podcaster in Chicago. She writes frequently about running for Runner’s World and other outlets, has co-authored two books, and co-hosts the Injured Athletes Club podcast. She has also completed 23 marathons, including four in Chicago.

Carla is a Chicago-based runner and book editor. Though she serves as a copy editor and proofreader across all genres, she has contributed to several recent running titles, including those by Peter Sagal, Becky Wade, and Ed Caesar.

Kaylee has been reading daily since her first solo book, The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree (age 5); she avoided running at all costs until she saw someone wearing a Rosehill Cemetery Crypt 5k shirt and decided that was a great reason to run (age 29). After a stint at a record label and years with a boutique fashion designer, she finally put her math skills to good use working as an accountant for nonprofits. Her ideal morning is an early run, followed by coffee, a book, and a cat.