Meet Our Team

Founder + Owner

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.

Guide + Programming Support

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.

Community Lead

Cynthia loves planning things, whether it be her next meal to cook, neighborhood to visit, or vacation abroad. Although not originally from Chicago, Cynthia proudly declares it the best city in the US and spends her free time taking advantage of Chicago's multiple hidden gem programs (feel free to ask!), as well as convincing everyone to move here.

Guide + Content Contributor

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.

Marketing Support

Catherine Zhang is a writer, music enthusiast and foodie from Atlanta now living and working in Chicago. Learn more about her here.

Web Developer

Milana is a digital strategist, storyteller and pop culture enthusiast who loves traveling, cooking, building community, lifelong learning and of course, reading! She grew up next door to Chicago in Northwest Indiana and has lived out her childhood dream of residing in the city proper since 2021.  

Graphic Designer

Guide

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.

Guide

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.

Facilitator + Volunteer

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.

Guide

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.

Guide

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.

Guide

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.

Guide

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).Her ideal morning is an early run, followed by coffee, a book, and a cat.

Guide

Courtney is a Chicago transplant from Omaha, Nebraska. After living in New York for several years, she will always pick Chicago over New York City as her favorite city. When not seen running around her neighborhood of Rogers Park, she works in Human Resources and loves reading and cuddling on the couch with her three cats.

Guide

Carrie is a runner, triathlete, book lover, and lifelong corgi enthusiast. She has lived in Chicago for 18 years and currently resides in Andersonville with her husband Bob and their four rescue pets.

Guide

Emily is an editor with a PhD in English from Loyola University Chicago. She loves reading about Chicago and is particularly interested in the history and literature of the 1920s and 1930s. She lives in the Hegewisch/East Side area of Chicago with her husband, dog, and cat.