Leadership

Darica Charles | Program Director

Darica Charles has been with Onward Neighborhood House since 2005, and has held roles with increasing responsibility across multiple Onward House programs. She started in the classroom at our former West Town location as a School Age Coordinator, then moved to Site Manager. When Onward House initiated the move from West Town to Belmont Cragin in 2008, she held roles as Special Projects Manager, then Director of Youth & Community Services. In 2018, Ms. Charles was promoted to her current role as Program Director, where she oversees the planning and implementation of Onward House’s services.

Prior to working at Onward House, Ms. Charles worked as a Kindergarten Teacher/Site Director for Mary Crane Center. Darica grew up in nearby Kilbourn Park, and received her B.A. from Northeastern Illinois University.

Emilio Araujo | Director of Development and Communications

Emilio is a passionate advocate for equity and opportunity, driving transformative growth by deepening Onward House’s impact and leading a major campaign to build the new Onward House CARES Community Center that will expand services for immigrants and working families. A proud Chicagoan and Posse Foundation Scholarship alum, Emilio brings an empathic understanding of Chicago communities, a desire to collaborate and bridge gaps through partnerships, and a strategic mindset to the work of building a more inclusive and thriving city for all.

Rocio Ochoa, Ed.D., MBA | Director of Human Resources

Rocio Ochoa serves as Director of Human Resources at Onward House, where she supports organizational development, employee engagement, talent strategy, and workplace culture. She brings extensive experience in human resources, operations, and organizational leadership across the nonprofit and corporate sectors.

Rocio holds a doctorate in Ethical Leadership and is committed to creating inclusive, people-centered workplaces where employees and organizations can grow and thrive.

Mary Harrington, APN | Director of Community Health Initiatives

Mary Harrington combines clinical experience with nonprofit leadership focused on improving access to care for underserved communities. Her work is grounded in the belief that health is shaped by far more than medical care alone and that families deserve compassionate, coordinated, and culturally responsive support. By bridging direct patient care with organizational leadership, she brings a unique perspective on the barriers, needs, and systems that shape community health outcomes.

Mary serves on the Board of Directors for CommunityHealth, the nation’s largest volunteer-based free clinic, where she chairs the Development Committee, participates on the Clinical Leadership Council, and volunteers as the Clinical Site Lead at CommunityHealth at Onward House. She was also a key contributor to the development and opening of that site. As a bilingual practicing nurse practitioner, she remains closely connected to the experiences and needs of the patients and families these programs are designed to serve.

Gerbis Badell | Director of Community Services

As a proud Venezuelan, Gerbis J. Badell brings years of experience working with immigrant communities. Since joining Onward Neighborhood House in March 2024 as an Intake Data Specialist for the Illinois Welcoming Center, he has advanced to his current role as Director of Community Services. In this position, Gerbis J. Badell oversees three vital programs: Adult Education, the Illinois Welcoming Center, and the Food Pantry. His commitment to community is at the heart of his work. While his professional journey began with his degree as a Petroleum Engineer in Venezuela in 2016, his true passion lies in serving and supporting others.

Pamela Castro | Center Director

Pam Castro is the Center Director for Onward Neighborhood House and has more than 19 years of experience in early childhood education. She believes every child deserves a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where they can learn, grow, and build confidence. Throughout her career, she has been committed to partnering with families and supporting teachers to create meaningful learning experiences for every child.

Having grown within Onward Neighborhood House, Pam has served in several leadership and teaching roles before becoming Center Director. She is passionate about developing strong teams, empowering educators, and ensuring children and families receive the highest quality support. Her goal is to foster a center where relationships, respect, and lifelong learning are at the heart of everything they do.

Administration

Ernesto Delatorre | Director of Finance
Nereida Barreno | Finance Specialist
Zitlali Farias | HR Generalist

Early Childhood Education & School Age Leadership

Dr. Kimberly Thier | Director of Special Education & Quality Assurance
Gabriela Munoz | Coordinator for Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA)
Lisseth Bustamante | Specialist for Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA)

Early Childhood Teachers

Blue Birds 1 — Early Head Start
Pricila Chavez (Teacher)
Yailin Benitez (Teacher)

Blue Birds 2 — Early Head Start

Little Bears 1 — Early Head Start
Vilma Ortiz (Teacher)
Hortencia Rubio (Teacher Assistant)

Little Bears 2 — Early Head Start
Yvonne Sosa (Teacher)
Bree Luckman (Teacher)

Koalas — Head Start
Nancy Avile (Teacher)
Janice Johnson (Teacher Assistant)
Donna Roman (Paraprofessional)

Butterflies — Head Start
Margarita Acosta (Teacher)
Martha Aich (Teacher)
Araceli Navarro (Paraprofessional)

Bumblebees — Head Start
Amanda Scott (Teacher)

School Age

Home Visitors

Gracemarie Rosario | Home Visitor
Nathali Garcia | Home Visitor
Sandra Mizhquiri | Home Visitor