Anayeli Aguilar graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in 2019 with a bachelor’s in Justice Studies and a minor in Criminology and Child Advocacy. She gained professional expertise while working and volunteering in nonprofit organizations. In her previous role, she served as a Case Manager working directly with the homeless population connecting them with community resources. Anayeli is passionate about helping those in need and is excited to bring that energy and passion to supporting those in her community of Evanston. Anayeli enjoys traveling and getting to know new places around the world.

Nicole Brownlee has a passion for serving marginalized people and brings nearly two decades of experience to build just and equitable communities. With a background in educational and housing policy, she served as the Director of External Affairs for the Atlanta Public Schools, as Legislative Advisor on housing, education, and appropriations to the late Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and most recently as the Organizational Manager for Urban Intellectuals where she coordinated the delivery of Black History programming. Nicole is a tireless advocate for social justice having co-founded several parent initiatives focused on strengthening the racial consciousness of parents whose children attend the local schools. She also founded an adaptive ski program for students with disabilities. She graduated with Honors from Howard University and lives in Evanston with her husband and two sons. 

Sarah Delgado has a passion for social justice and almost 10 years of housing equity experience. She oversees intake and housing counseling staff, provides direct client support through counseling and community education, and ensures that her team has appropriate training and resources. Previously, Sarah worked in policy and advocacy for Fair Housing rights at the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance (CAFHA). She was also a Housing Counselor, Condominium Program Coordinator, and Interim Executive Director at Lakeside Community Development Corporation.

Mayra Moreno is bilingual/bicultural and uses her lived experiences and knowledge of overcoming hardship to help others. Prior to Open Communities, Mayra worked as a District 65 Parent Advocate connecting with families most in need through parenting education and support of the parent-child relationship. As the Community Navigator Coordinator, Mayra provides outreach to the community in Spanish and English to help educate residents about their rights and assists clients in finding resources to meet their needs. Mayra lives in Evanston with her family and enjoys connecting with friends, nature walks, reading, and watching movies.

Eve Subrin Williams, JD, joins Open Communities with a desire to bring her knowledge of employment discrimination to housing. Eve uses her community outreach and Board experience to expand awareness about housing discrimination throughout the north shore and to build partnerships with new allies. Her 2022 Northwestern University certification in Leading Equity and Inclusion in Organizations offers a fresh lens on how the organization’s Strategic Planning and Equity Audit can be embedded moving forward.

Our Fair Housing Investigator was born and raised in Chicago. She grew up in Public Housing which birthed her passion for criminal justice reform and fair housing/housing reform. She earned her BA in Political Science and Justice Studies at Northeastern Illinois University and her Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Her Commitment to social justice led to internships with Legal Council for Health Justice, CGLA, and Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, followed by full-time employment with Legal Aid Chicago and Westside Justice Center. She enjoys watching Beyonce concerts, reading, and watching sports during her spare time.

Sarah Buckley graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in 2019 with a Bachelors of Social Work. She has been working in non-profits for about 4 years, and has gained significant experience in working with individuals and families experiencing housing instability. Sarah has a passion for helping and loves to uplift others to see their strength in the challenging moments of their lives. She is excited to start her journey at OC and be a part of a team that shares the same passion for our community. She loves anything and everything outdoors. Her ideal day is filled with sunshine, live music, and good friends.

Claudia is the 2025–2027 ACLS Leading Edge Fellow at Open Communities, serving as Policy and Community Research Manager. A former Northwestern University scholar, she brings more than two decades of experience in strategic communications, narrative design, and social impact. Her work advances racial  justice by shaping national conversations, influencing public discourse, and developing campaigns that connect research, storytelling, and policy change. A published writer and journalist, Claudia integrates data and narrative to build power and advance equity. She has also helped raise over $1 million to support community-based initiatives. Outside of work, she’s a proud dog mom to a spirited rescue pup.

Sarah B. Petersen, LCSW, is a community connector who uses linkages to create meaningful change for equity and justice. Trained as a clinical social worker, Sarah has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit, education, mental health, and interfaith sectors. Through volunteer work advancing racial equity in Evanston’s public education and civic arenas, Sarah recognizes the central role fair and affordable housing plays in creating inclusive, just, and vibrant communities. Sarah lives in Evanston with her family and loves spending time in nature, reading, and being creative.

Our Director of Fair Housing shifted towards the policy and administrative side of social work practice after more than a decade of therapeutic work with youth and families in the mental health sector. Inspired by The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein, he decided his passion was in the realm of housing justice, organizing and advocating for the human rights of all people to access safe and affordable housing, free from discrimination. He graduated with a Master's  at the University of Chicago's Crown School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice in June 2021. He joined our team in December of that same year.

Dalal began serving non-profits in 2016. She started in the Evanston school district, supporting immigrant and refugee families. As an immigrant herself, she understands the difficulty to navigate a different world. She joined Open Communities in 2021, bringing her passion for social justice to empower underserved populations.

She earned her bachelor's degree in architecture and urban planning from the Polytechnic School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Algiers and a master's degree in urban planning and real estate project management from the University of Rennes 2. She also earned a master’s degree in wood construction.

Dalal lives in Evanston with her family. She enjoys connecting with friends, nature walks and baking. She has lived in 4 different countries, speaks 3 languages and is learning a new one.

Our Fair Housing Analyst grew up in Chicago and Evanston before attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She studied Molecular and Cellular Biology pre-medicine, but after graduating in 2020, she began to transition to the world of public health and policy. Since then, she has worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA at a nonprofit clinic in Chicago and completed a fellowship with Cook County Government through the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. As the Fair Housing Analyst with Open Communities, she will continue her pursuit of knowledge in public health from a holistic standpoint while working to expand organizational capacity through outreach, education, and advocacy.

Rae Lindow graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a minor in International Humanitarian Assistance. After growing up in Germany, she is passionate about expanding access to green and walkable spaces for all communities.  As a VISTA member, Rae is using her experience to revamp the intake system at OC. She is excited to learn more about the nuances of housing issues and the best ways to help those in her community. In her spare time, she likes to walk around her neighborhood, read books, and make jewelry. 

Sarah Price, JD, considers herself a lifelong learner. She has spent the bulk of her legal career in the non-profit sector: advocating for the rights of individuals who are homeless to meaningfully access their education, representing tenants in eviction cases, and advising individuals with disabilities about their civil rights. Her combined background in education and law fuels her passion for helping people learn about their individual rights and available community resources. She lives in Evanston with her spouse and two children and is thrilled to be working with a team devoted to ensuring fair and inclusive housing in her hometown.