Lotus Enterprise, Social Change Made for the 21st century

Christopher serves as Lead Coach and Teacher for Lotus Enterprise. Christopher is an American justice-system-impacted person of color with multiple disabilities. Before serving as Lead Coach and Teacher for Lotus Enterprise, he served as Managing Director of DeAngelo's Change, LLC, an organization dedicated to advancing social, economic, and political support of justice-system-impacted people of color. 

Christopher also led local, state, and national public policy efforts as the Diversion and Reentry Policy Analyst at Access Living, a Chicago-based service and advocacy non-profit organization for people with disabilities. In this role, Chris led policy efforts focused on supporting individuals with disabilities who were impacted by the criminal justice system.

Before joining Access Living, Chris led citywide community organizing efforts for Heartland Alliance’s READI Chicago, an organization focusing primarily on reducing gun violence through cognitive behavioral interventions, employment, and wrap-around social services for high-risk individuals. In addition to community organizing, Chris helped lead student civic engagement at the University of Chicago’s University Community Service Center and was responsible for designing the social justice-based cohort programs for undergraduate and graduate students at the university. 

Through his work at the Vera Institute of Justice, Chris also led formerly incarcerated youth in developing policy and program recommendations for the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice. Finally, Chris worked with the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, where he advised UChicago students on ways to use their educational experiences to promote civic engagement on Chicago’s South Side.

Chris has served on the boards of Chicago Votes, a nonprofit organization committed to empowering young people and engaging them in the political process. He has also served on the board of the Cook County Detention Center, where he supported efforts to eliminate solitary confinement. Chris also served as a member of the Illinois Justice Project’s Illinois Reentry Council and the Illinois Department of Human Services' Department of Mental Health - CESSA (Community Emergency Support Services) Act Statewide Advisory Committee. 

Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in political communication and economic development from Oglethorpe University, as well as a master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago - Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. Chris also received a certificate in Public Policy Analysis from the London School of Economics and Political Science, as well as a certificate in Urban Leadership from Oglethorpe University. 

Pamela serves as the Chief Program Officer for Lotus Enterprise. Pamela is a licensed professional counselor and trauma-informed mental health specialist, bringing over twenty years of experience in behavioral health, crisis intervention, and rehabilitative support to Lotus Enterprise. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Psychology with a specialization in trauma, further strengthening her expertise in evidence-based practices and program development.  

Pamela served for three years as a mental health counselor within the Florida state prison system, providing clinical support to incarcerated individuals with complex emotional and behavioral needs. This direct experience with correctional mental health equips her with a deep understanding of the barriers to reentry, the factors that contribute to recidivism, and the critical need for coordinated housing and wraparound services.

Her professional background encompasses work in special education, autism support, and crisis response, providing her with broad insight into vulnerable populations and systemic service gaps. Pamela's expertise supports Lotus Enterprise with strategic planning, content design, and trauma-responsive programming for individuals involved with the justice system. 

She is committed to advancing equitable opportunities, expanding access to stable housing, and promoting community-based solutions that foster long-term reintegration and self-sufficiency for formerly incarcerated people and people with disabilities. Her leadership strengthens the organization's mission and its capacity to deliver measurable, sustainable impact. 

Pamela holds a bachelor's degree in education from Loyola University of Chicago, as well as a master's degree in counseling from LeTourneau University, and a master's degree in psychology from National Louis University in Chicago, IL. Her current PhD is in progress at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Washington, DC. Pamela also holds certification in suicide prevention and is a certified mental health evaluator.  Pamela has also been a member of the International Honor Society for Psychology and Counseling.