Executive Board

Valena Hedin

President

Valena (they/she) has been a resident of Champaign County since 2012. They earned their Master's Degree in Social Work from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They have been involved in non-profit work since moving to Champaign and are currently employed as a Trauma Therapist at R.A.C.E.S. (Rape Advocacy, Counseling, and Education Services). In their work and personal advocacy, they strive to exemplify feminist, anti-racist, and gender and sexuality affirming values. After years of attending Uniting Pride events, Valena became involved with the Pride Committee and co-facilitating UParent in 2021 and found a welcoming, inclusive, affirming community that she wanted to continue to be a part of, and from there joined the board in 2022. When they are not involved in community projects, they can be found playing board games with their partner and friends and cuddling with their three cats.

Alli Nisley

Vice President

Alli (she/her) has been a resident of Champaign County since 2008. Her professional life has spanned across industries and positions in retail, service, and food and beverage, and now Alli works for the City of Champaign. Walking through so many different parts of this community over the course of so many years gives Alli a unique perspective she can bring to her work with Uniting Pride. She's also been an active volunteer with UP since nearly the beginning of UP's history. This means she's gotten to watch the organization grow and change, and is honored to step into this new leadership role as Uniting Pride embarks on the most ambitious period to date. In particular, you may recognize Alli from her deep involvement with Pride Fest, serving this year as the operations and logistics manager for the program (and being given the honorary title of "Head Lesbian In Charge").

Brette Dow

Secretary

​Brette (She/They) grew up in Central Illinois. She moved to Champaign in 2019, and started volunteering with Uniting Pride within a month of arriving. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational and Leadership Communication. Not only is she educated in this, but also has an impressive resume. Brette currently works for an insurance agency; but also has experience in corporate training, as a team lead, and customer service experience across the insurance/finance industry. Brette also has board experience as the current Secretary of Coalition of Urbana Cooperative Housing (COUCH). When Brette isn't working, you can find her on the stage as Raven Delacroix Starlings. She is your current reigning Mx. Chambana Pride 2022-2023. She started her drag career in 2018, and travels nationally. She also has a cat named Kyra, that likes snuggles and lots of attention. Brette enjoys watching and reading Horror content (Horror is queer!), and plays video games on her Xbox. 

Martha Mills

President Emeritus

Martha A. Mills (they...etc.[gender is hard, y'all]) has lived in Champaign since 2007. They work as an Office Support Specialist at University Laboratory High School. When not working, they can be found hanging out with their amazing kid, partners, and fur-babies. They've been in the activist community for a number of years, and are passionate about dismantling the systems of oppression that hold back members of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. They are a founding member of CUTENet, and have always been an admirer of the work Uniting Pride does in the community. They are currently taking classes in Labor & Employment Relations and Social Work in the hopes of furthering their ability to advocate for this and other communities.

Members at Large

Carlton Cummings

Carlton Cummings, Ph.D. (he/they) identifies as an effeminate Black gay man, born and raised on the Southside of Chicago. He completed his undergraduate education at UIUC in 2015. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University in 2022. He completed his Predoctoral Internship at the UIUC Counseling Center in 2021 and has been working as a Clinical Counselor at the Counseling Center since. Dr. Cummings provides individual and group therapy to UIUC students in areas such as anxiety, depression, identity development, diversity/multicultural issues, adjustment, self-compassion, historical/intergenerational trauma, minority stress, and BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ student concerns. Dr. Cummings enjoys social gatherings, singing, dancing, and traveling in his free time.

Ciara Dryden

Ciara (she/her) grew up in West Central Illinois and moved to Champaign in 2020. She currently works as Project Manager/Business Developer for a local commercial printing company. Ciara is also a professional, certified makeup artist (on hold at the moment because public health safety comes first!). Her passion though, is volunteering. Ciara is a trained CASA volunteer for Champaign County CASA, helping to lift the voices of neglected and abused children in our area, as well as helping with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and The Family Room. And she most recently held a position on the Projects Committee with JLCU. Ciara is eager to give back to the community that has welcomed her so completely. When she isn’t working or volunteering, Ciara is most likely reading thrillers, teaching herself how to do nails, or spending time with her significant other and his son having Nerf wars.

Shaciarra Hamilton

Dr. Shaciarra Hamilton (she/her) is a psychologist at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana Counseling Center. Dr. Hamilton received her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Xavier University of New Orleans in 2022. She completed her Predoctoral Internship at the UIUC Counseling Center in 2022 and has been working as a Clinical Counselor at the Counseling Center since. As a psychologist, Dr. Hamilton serves in a clinical role through therapeutic services, engages in outreach planning and executions, and serves on several administrative and outreach committees. Dr. Hamilton is a generalist and enjoys working with a variety of clinical presentations, and her professional emphases include multiculturalism concerns, queer issues, relational and cultural issues, identity development, trauma, disordered eating, and body image. Dr. Hamilton believes in the power of connection, community, and collaboration. Dr. Hamilton is originally from Mississippi, loves sweet tea and Laffy taffy jokes, and can be found riding horses, doing archery, or spending time with family and friends when not working or volunteering. 

Jacqueline Kalipeni

Jacqueline (she/her) is the Chief Executive Officer of The Kalipeni Foundation, a 501c(3) organization dedicated to serving the communities of Luncheza, Malawi by providing water, education, and safe spaces for girls. Jacqueline was born in Malawi, Africa, but raised in America with her five siblings. The value of helping your fellow man came from the old African teachings that were instilled by her parents. Jacqueline attended the University of Illinois at Urbana, where she learned the power of using her voice. She is passionate about teaching people the power of only one human, importance of community, and that even as one, you can stand for one thousand. Jacqueline is one of the warmest examples that ordinary people can do extraordinary things if only given the opportunity to dream further than what they can see. Jacqueline has vast experience in education, international relations, social services, and volunteering. She is also a dynamic speaker offering workshops, trainings, guest lectures, and keynote addresses at churches, organizations, and academic institutions.

M.J. Salas

Originally from Los Angeles, California, M.J. Salas (they/elle) is currently a graduate student in the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois. Their research and passions reside in health equity and advocacy. Specifically, they aim to address and dismantle power gaps that persist within healthcare institutions in hopes to create more culturally responsive healthcare for LGBTQ+ BIPOC. After earning their Ph.D., M.J. aspires to become a university professor and continue community engaged work in support of equity and justice.

Staff

​Nicole Frydman

​Director of Operations

Nicole (she/they) started on her journey of volunteerism, advocacy, and action at a very young age. Her first experience was going along with Mom to the picket lines when Mom’s teachers union was close to striking, and as she knocked doors for political candidates - something Mom did a lot. This helped Nicole get an incredible lesson in direct action at a very early age that left an indelible impact. And then, after their middle school class did a day of service at a local homeless shelter, she and some school friends started their own action group called Kids Who Care in order to continue contributing to solutions to a vast array of problems. That would be the first time Nicole took a leadership role in what would become a long list.

Since then, Nicole’s work has spanned performing arts, political and social advocacy, education, administration and operations, fundraising, and programming and events. While studying classical acting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, they explored history, sociology, psychology, literature, political science, and art across a variety of mediums, to deliberately and purposefully become the kind of producing, teaching, and performing artist who affects the world around her. She still practices their craft today. But alongside her work as an artist, they discovered a love for the mechanics of how things work, and how a better functioning system can make a bigger impact on the world. This appreciation for organization and structure, while deploying the creative process at its best, is what brought her to nonprofit management and operations.
​
Now with 20+ years of adult work in this world, and 40+ years of participation when including work as a young person, they join Uniting Pride at a pivotal moment. UP is on a massive growth trajectory and Nicole is honored to be tasked with harnessing its potential to the greatest effect. An organization like this one always hopes our work results in us being out of a job, because there is no longer a need. Sadly, we’re seeing renewed energy in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, bigotry, and violence that makes our work even more relevant than ever. Nicole welcomes the partnership of anyone interested in tackling the challenges we face today, with a commitment to integrity, transparency, kindness, and respect. 
To better understand Nicole and how she approaches their work, think of this quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Joshua Gavel

​Operations Manager

Joshua Gavel (he/him) grew up in Champaign County before graduating from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelors in Fashion Design & Merchandising in 2018. After some time in Chicago, he returned to the 217 eager to get involved. Josh has long been passionate about volunteering, advocacy, and program development, being actively involved in leadership in multiple student and community organizations and volunteering with Planned Parenthood in high school to leading Styling for a Cause, the Fashion Design and Merchandising Association, and Alpha Rho Chi as President during his time at SIU. After college Josh worked with Macy’s midwest flagship as a member of their leadership team, managing their children’s division, SantaLand, their seasonal onboarding, and serving as the Manager in Charge of Community Outreach and Giving. In this role Josh was fortunate enough to expand his passion for community outreach and development while raising funds for local and national philanthropies such as Bernie’s Books, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Center on Halsted, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Trevor Project. He continued his path into nonprofit work by serving as a Regional Director with Alpha Rho Chi’s national leadership team, helping to develop young leaders in the art, architecture, and design fields. When not working or volunteering Josh loves to spend his time watching movies with his partner and their dog, Ralph, as well as continue exploring his passions for fashion and graphic design, music, and literature. He is excited to continue serving and advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community in his role as Operations Manager. ​

​Aiden Novinska

​Operations Coordinator

Aiden (he/him) graduated from Illinois State University in 2022 with a B.S. in Mass Media and moved to Mahomet shortly after. His work experience spans marketing, events, and food and beverage, and he's excited to begin the rewarding journey of non-profit work. Aiden served as a Marketing Assistant in the ISU Dean of Students office while in school, spent time volunteering with the Humane Society of Central Illinois, and holds a certificate from the American Red Cross in Adult and Pediatric First Aid and CPR. He is eager and honored to give back to a community that has given so much to him. Outside of work, you’ll find him traveling, making art, or playing with his dog. ​

Committees

Uniting Pride committees address many important issues of interest to the Champaign County LGBTQ+ community. Our committees have helped to implement and organize pride festivals, develop and create fundraisers, and foster a warm and welcoming environment for all. We’re in the process of expanding our committees in a large way. If you are interested in learning more about what it means to serve on a committee, click HERE and expand the Committees Section.

Existing Uniting Pride Committees:
Advocacy Committee 
Events Committee
Finance Committee
Fundraising and Outreach Committee
​Youth and Family Committee