Power Hope Winners 2026 - Care For Friends

Power Hope Award Winners 2026

Jim Clark

A native Midwesterner, Jim Clark has lived in Chicago for many years and is currently an Edgewater resident. He came to be a Care For Friends volunteer work through his work for The Church of Atonement. His volunteering quickly grew to thrice weekly. Jim has been an artist his entire life. He is proud of his five years of sobriety which has given him the resources and mental faculty to make his passion of art into a business. In 2022, Atonement kick-started Jim’s art career by inviting him to sell art at the first annual block party. This year he is honored to be included in the Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival.

Michael Dunham

On his 50th birthday, Michael decided to dedicate the second half of his life to serving others, focusing on food and feeding people. In the fall of 2025, after his mentor Charles Stewart retired, Michael took over the management of Care for Friends’ Edgewater location. He believes everyone deserves hot, delicious food, kindness, and a safe space to heal. With over a decade of experience in catering and restaurant kitchens, Michael is fully committed to his mission of feeding people through Care for Friends.

Christina Glickman

Christina Glickman is known in Chicago as a hope injector and a champion of women. She is the Co-CEO & Founder of I’m Not Dead, a media company amplifying women’s voices through storytelling and real-world activations that spark connection and community. She is also Head of Community and Experience at THE BOARD, a vetted community of C-Suite talent from worlds of Fashion, Beauty, Tech and more. Her everyday is spent inspiring women to show up as their best self.

Richard Havard

Rich Havard was just 25 years old when he took on the herculean task of starting the only LGBTQ+ affirming campus ministry at University of Illinois Chicago. It was under his thoughtful, fearless leadership that South Loop Community Table emerged. Now Rich serves as the Director of the Youth Mental Health Fund at Decolonizing Wealth Project (DWP), a $20 million initiative launched in 2025 to advance culturally responsive care and healing with young people. Before joining DWP, Rich was Director of Programs at Wayfarer Foundation, where he played a key role in moving over $83 million to spiritually rooted, justice-oriented nonprofits. In whatever context you might find yourself in the same room as Rich, you will no doubt be touched by his enthusiasm and hope. He is a friend, mentor, door-opener, confidant, and more to so many of us in Chicago.

Tamara Hoff Pope

Dr. Tamara Hoff Pope leads the strategic direction of Chicago Scholars, developing initiatives to support the organization’s mission. As Chief Strategy Officer, she oversees the Programs and Data & Evaluations teams to align activities with key priorities. Before entering the education nonprofit sector, Dr. Pope taught and mentored minoritized and low-income students as a professor and administrator. Her work focuses on creating equitable pathways to higher education for marginalized youth. Dr. Pope holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, a Master of Arts, and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Melissa Hooker

Melissa Hooker has taught students music at Mayer Magnet School since 2005. Believing that leadership begins with service, she founded the Ambassadors of Change student leadership program, empowering hundreds of students to make a meaningful impact in their school and beyond. Through a longstanding partnership with Care for Friends, Mayer's annual food drive has helped restock the organization's pantry year after year, giving all Mayer students and families the opportunity to come together in service and compassion. The work Melissa does with student Ambassadors continues to inspire the next generation to lead with kindness, purpose, and a commitment to making a difference.

Debra Hughes

Debra “Debbie” Hughes is a respected intellectual property leader whose career reflects a deep commitment to service, mentorship, and mission-driven legal work. As Assistant General Counsel at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, she helps guide strategic branding matters for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies, which collectively insure one in three Americans. Across her professional and civic work, Debbie is known for empowering others, strengthening institutions, and advancing a more inclusive and impactful intellectual property community.

Timothy Knudson

Alderman Timmy Knudsen has had the honor of serving as the 43rd Ward Alderperson since 2022. Born and raised near Chicago, he attended Illinois public schools all the way from Kindergarten through his law degree at the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign. Drawing on skills from his previous career as a private sector lawyer, as an alderman he works to innovate local government to maximize constituent services for the Lincoln Park community. Throughout his professional journey, he has championed causes close to his heart, from advocating for small businesses and fighting hate speech to aiding LGBTQ+ individuals seeking asylum. Grounded in grassroots activism, Timmy has tirelessly worked to uphold values such as reproductive freedom and merit-based endorsements for judicial candidates.

Dr. Christopher Owen

Dr. Christopher Owen holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin at Superior, Master of Music in Choral Music Education and Conducting from University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Currently a Professor at Northeastern Illinois University, Dr. Owen has taught choral ensembles, conducting, vocal music methods, and as head of music education has supervised clinical and student teachers. In addition to his work at the university, Dr. Owen is the Artistic Director for Windy City Performing Arts and conducts the Windy City Gay Chorus, Windy City Treble Quire, and Windy City Chamber Quire.

Madison Sitkiewicz

Madison Sitkiewicz is the Sales Communications Manager at Conagra Brands, where she has spent nearly five years supporting cross-functional communication initiatives across the organization. She also is the strategic force behind Conagra's month of service opportunities at Care For Friends. Outside of work, Madison enjoys staying active through CrossFit, spending time with her one-year-old son, Dillon, exploring new restaurants with her husband, and taking walks with her two dogs, Dobby and Moo.