LEADERSHIP
We Are Team Leaders
Rev. Kevin Davenport
President of Oakdale Cares
Born and raised in Chicago IL, Rev. Kevin L. Davenport learned from the late Rev. Dr. Willie B. Jemison, former Senior Pastor of Oakdale Covenant Church, that education was one of the primary keys needed for success. Kevin took this information to heart and received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Fisk University, his Master’s in Theological Studies from Vanderbilt University and has also completed his first year towards obtaining an M.B.A at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.
Rev. Davenport formally accepted his call to ministry at 21 years old and received his first full time ministry assignment at 25. Having over 25 years of extensive preaching and Pastoral experience in various ministerial capacities Rev. Davenport has served at Greater Pleasant View Baptist Church in Nashville TN, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Houston Texas, as well as New Beginning Covenant Fellowship, Emmanuel Baptist Church and Oakdale Covenant Church in Chicago, IL
In addition to his passion and calling for ministry Rev. Davenport is a social impact leader who put his political education to work and has engaged in public policy and economic development initiatives at the local, state and federal level. This work has led Rev. Davenport to travel the country working with community based organizations, local governments, community development corporations and community development financial institutions who seek to increase financial resources to underserved communities.
Rev. Davenport currently serves as the Senior Advisor for Campaigns and Coalitions at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition based in Washington DC and Founder and President of Channel IT.
During his down time, Kevin enjoys arcades, amusement parks, and live concerts to name a few.
Erie Crawford
Ph.D, LSW
Director of Mental Health and Counseling Services.
Dr. Erie S. Crawford is an accomplished human services expert with over 20 years of experience and a career-long focus on expanding access to and increasing the quality ofhealthcare programs targeting underserved populations. She is the Director, of Mental Health and Counselling Services for Oakdale Cares.
Dr. Crawford has been employed at the University of Chicago in the Infectious Diseases Department for over 12 years in many capacities. Erie is currently the Director of Women’s Perinatal Health for the Mother and Child Alliance at the University of Chicago.
Dr. Crawford has a deep commitment to reducing healthcare and mental health disparities and improving health equity through outreach, education, and stakeholder engagement.
Dr. Erie Crawford received her Ph.D. at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Business Psychology. She obtained both her Bachelors and Masters from Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work.
Ebony Johnson
Director of Career Readiness and Workforce Development
Ebony Johnson is a Human Resources consultant currently living and working in Flossmoor, IL. She has worked in the HR field for over eight years. Ebony possesses experience in several aspects of human resources including recruitment, training & development, career management, and compliance.
Ebony has her master’s degree in human resources management from Roosevelt University. In her free time, she likes to travel the world and enjoy new restaurants with her daughter and husband.
Lisa Cardine
Chief Strategy Officer
Lisa Caridine, Esq, currently serves as an Associate Human Resources Officer for the University of Illinois Chicago and its academic health enterprise. Her role as a strategic consultant and advisor includes responsibility for overseeing the accountability and operations for provider and employee engagement and employee relation. She is also responsible for collaborative strategic workforce planning and human resource compliance.
As a seasoned professional who provides advice and counsel to all leadership levels within the organization, she relies heavily on her team building skills. She also embraces a collaborative approach to decision making and communication among executives, medical staff leaders, hospital leaders, hospital staff, and medical faculty.
Lisa is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law. She has over thirty years of legal experience in the areas of labor and employment law and employee relations. Additionally, she has over twenty years of experience in the areas of education, healthcare, and non-profit management.
Lisa’s background and experience demonstrate her high values for serving, advocacy, collaboration, innovation, and lifelong learning. Her values are also evidenced through her service on various Boards. Lisa’s experience includes prior service as Board Chair for the Oakdale Covenant Church, Coveanant Central Conference Compassion, Mercy, and Justice Commission, and Covenant Initiatives for Care. She has also previously served as a Board member of the Oakdale Christian Academy and Covenant Ministries of Benevolence. Lisa currently serves as a member of the Covenant Trust Company Board of Directors.
Brighette Anderson
Live and Digital Correspondent
Oakdale Cares Board of Directors
COMING SOON
Oakdale Cares Advisory Board
COMING SOON
Beliefs and Values
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Family - We believe that we are all connected by blood, bond, and/or purpose
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Community – We believe in a unified community with shared vision aimed at improving the lives of low to moderate-income families and communities in the Chicago metropolitan area.
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Restoration - We believe society has a responsibility to restore to wholeness families and communities who have been broken by violence, trauma, disinvestment and structural inequities
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Mental Health - We believe it is our collective responsibility to remove the stigma of mental health and empower individuals and families with resources to gain the support they need.
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​Education – We believe it is our responsibility to prepare future generations with education that affirms their identity as individuals, exposes them to wealth-building practices, while positioning them to be extremely competitive in the market-place and their future academic endeavors.