President & CEO

Olatunji Oboi Reed serves as the founding President & CEO of The Equiticity Racial Equity Movement. He works globally as a racial equity tactician, increased mobility advocate, and racial justice activist. Oboi’s passion lies at the intersection of community, culture, and health.

With an extensive background in both nonprofit management and corporate social responsibility, he is most proud of his work to create a diverse coalition of people, organizations, and businesses all working together to achieve racial equity and mobility justice across the City of Chicago.

In 2015, Oboi was awarded The White House Transportation Champion of Change award by The White House and the United States Department of Transportation, under the administration of President Barack Obama. Oboi serves as Co-Chair of the Transportation Equity Network, Steering Committee Member of PolicyLink’s Transportation Equity Caucus, and Steering Committee Member of the Free To Move Coalition.

Senior Director of Development

Bonnie@equiticity.org

Bonnie Scarlett-Logan serves as Equiticity’s first Senior Director of Development. In this position, Bonnie is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive fund development strategy that will support the organization’s next chapter of growth and impact.

Bonnie brings nearly 30 years of experience executing marketing, public relations, program development, financial management, and fund development strategies designed to uplift residents and improve communities. She has helped fulfill the missions of other Chicago organizations dedicated to equity, including North Lawndale Employment Network, Heartland Alliance, The Resurrection Project, and Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago.

Although her passion for community development also led her to opportunities in Colorado and Florida at points in her career, she came home to Chicago, the community that shaped her and where she raised her daughter. She believes her varied personal and professional experiences culminated with the honor of joining the Equiticity Racial Equity Movement.

Bonnie holds a Certificate of Non-Profit Fund Development from the University of Notre Dame; MBA in Integrated Marketing Communications from Roosevelt University; and a BA in Journalism from Columbia College Chicago. Exploring Chicago with her daughter and other family and friends, reading, and walking and biking on Chicago’s lakefront are among her favorite ways to spend her time.

Senior Advisor, Mobility Innovation

Ellen@equiticity.org

With a spirit of adventure and challenge, Ellen strives to align the business case, the moral argument and the environmental imperative for transportation law and policy that is sustainable and equitable. Throughout a career that brought her to Washington DC, Alaska, the Republic of Palau, and Chicago, she has been a committed collaborator and has become a transportation geek (loves a good graph)!

The pandemic showed that we can have a world of cleaner air, that we could make streets that are welcoming to people on bikes and people on foot. It gave impetus to making transportation more equitable.

Ellen has worked in public transit at federal and local levels, serving in the Obama Administration as Chief Counsel for the USDOT Research and Innovative Technology Administration and Chief Counsel for the FTA. At the Chicago Transit Authority she served as Deputy General Counsel for Policy and Appeals and learned that everyone has a CTA story. Before joining the CTA, she practiced environmental law with Jenner & Block in Chicago and Van Ness Feldman in Washington, D.C.

Director of Programs

Remel@equiticity.org

Remel Terry is a distinguished community leader and advocate based in Chicago's Westside, with an impressive professional background spanning over 15 years in technical leadership, case management, advocacy, people leadership, program development, and community organizing. Her unwavering commitment to advancing the Black community and empowering its youth is a testament to her dedication and values instilled during her upbringing within a tightly-knit community.

Early on, Remel demonstrated a deep passion for community sustainability, focusing her efforts on social justice issues by collaborating with prominent organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and Black Lives Matter. Her work in addressing social justice, police misconduct, and accountability showcased her determination to eradicate racial disparities.

Remel has consistently partnered with grassroots organizations to confront legislative and enforcement inequities, economic development, education, legal system reform, healthcare, affordable housing, and political action. She has received recognition from the Fred Hampton Scholarship Fund for her empowering leadership, particularly in revitalizing neighborhoods and promoting financial and social equity in Chicago.

As a former Vice Chair for the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Targeted Community Engagement Council and an advisory council member for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), Remel has demonstrated her dedication to community service. She also contributed her expertise to the Good Governance Transition Committee during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration, highlighting her commitment to good governance.

In her recent role as Interim Commissioner for the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA), Remel continues to make strides in public safety. She co-led the most recent Superintendent search for the Chicago Police Department, making history yet again. Remel co-owns Black Gaming League, a company focused on digital gaming awareness and opportunities while actively engaging in community initiatives targeting youth and violence prevention.

Remel Terry is renowned for being a voice for the voiceless and a collaborative force within the community, working closely with residents, non-profit organizations, and elected officials. Currently, she serves as the 1st Vice President and Political Action Committee Chair for the Chicago Westside Branch NAACP, showcasing her dedication to civil rights, human rights, and community development.

Remel earned her Bachelor of Science in Aviation Administration with a Minor in Business from Lewis University. With over a decade of membership in the Chicago Westside Branch NAACP, she remains deeply involved in her community. Beyond her professional endeavors, Remel finds joy in traveling both domestically and abroad, further enriching her perspective and experiences. Her transformative work in community engagement was duly acknowledged through a resolution from the Board of Commissioners Cook County, IL, sponsored by 2nd Cook County District Commissioner Dennis Deer.

Director of Advocacy & Movement Building

Jose@equiticity.org

Jose Manuel (he/him/el) was born and raised in the Little Village neighborhood in Chicago, IL. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as an Aviation Supply Specialist in 2008 and was Honorably discharged in 2012. After which, he resumed his educational career earning a B.A in Political Science and a Master’s in Public Administration from Roosevelt University. That is where he began organizing students and co-founded the Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter at Roosevelt in 2016 where the team worked hard to raise student voter registration and student political discourse by hosting events and speakers to share political and social ideas.

The Covid-19 pandemic re-activated Jose Manuel and he began organizing with UNETE La Villita, a volunteer-led community group fighting gentrification and over-policing in Little Village. As the Transit Organizer with Chicago Jobs with Justice, he led the Transit 4 All campaign that created Chicago’s very first city-wide transit riders union. Dedicated to liberation and social justice, Jose Manuel brings people together to build the collective power needed to create change.

Operations Coordinator

Zair@equiticity.org

Zair is a firm believer that in order for Chicago to be considered the best city in the world, all 77 neighborhoods of Chicago have to be the absolute best. In his most previous role, Zair organized multiple transportation and health oriented events at the 31st Ward Alderman's Office. He also organized around transportation inequities in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood of the city, which recently saw unprecedented investments in new bike lanes, bike locks, and Divvy bike share stations.

He is currently finishing up his second year at UIC as he pursues a Bachelor's degree in political science. In his free time, Zair loves to workout at the gym and ride his bike to the lake.