Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders
Amate House’s passionate staff work closely with fellows to provide meaningful programming while supporting each through their year of service and leadership development.
Jeannie Balanda joined Amate House in the fall of 2016. She has over 25 years of experience in nonprofit management most recently as executive director with MayaWorks, a nonprofit social enterprise, and The East Village Youth Program, a college readiness and support program for underserved minority youth. She started her career in the nonprofit sector as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala. Jeannie has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and an MBA and Master of Nonprofit Administration from North Park University. When she’s not working, she loves to cook, follow politics, and spend time with her family and beloved dog, Grizzly.
Yoli (they/them/elle) is a graduate student at Loyola University Chicago in their third year of studying social work. After undergrad, Yoli worked as a Jesuit Volunteer for three years, one in San Jose, CA, and two in Managua, Nicaragua. Yoli is a lover of cozy jammies, basset hounds, and hiking in the mountains of the PNW. They have a passion for Latin dance and a knack for creative cooking adventures. Yoli is also living in community this year at the St. Francis Catholic Worker House in Uptown. They look forward to sharing their community with Amate fellows this year!
Tiffany Carmah’ is a born Chicagoan, where she earned her B.S. in Business Management & minored in Administration at National-Louis University downtown. Tiffany served in dual roles as an Administrative Assistant and as a Client Support Coordinator at a domestic violence shelter. She has also worked as a Client Service Representative at Catholic Charities within the 16 WIC Food & Nutrition Centers across the Chicagoland area. She has volunteered with Big Brother Big Sister and mentored young children across Cook county within CPS schools. Tiffany was given the name of smiley by her division teacher in H.S. because of her warm an inviting personality towards others. She enjoys cooking with her daughters, playing music and writing poetry.
Carrie (she/her/hers) graduated from Marquette University in 2019 with a bachelor's in finance where she also played on the soccer team. She then went on to play professionally in Spain for a year after graduation. Carrie is currently in graduate school at Loyola University Chicago earning a dual master's degree in Social Work and Social Justice. In her free time, Carrie enjoys reading fantasy books, playing board games, and spending time in nature by hiking and camping.
Unity Olivencia Ostercamp (she, her, hers) joined Amate House August 2020 after over twenty years of serving in higher education. Originally from New York City, her studies at the Moody Bible Institute brought her to Chicago, and she has come to see Chicago as home (though she can do without the winters). Currently, Unity is working on her Master's Degree in Social Justice from Loyola University, which will be completed in summer 2021. She hopes to create social justice and faith curriculum someday. In her downtime, Unity loves bike riding (bike is affectionally called The Green Machine) around the city, taking pictures, being with friends, finding new coffee shops (coffee is life), playing board games with her husband, going to the Lincoln Park Zoo (One of the ten free zoos in the United States) enjoying Winnemac Park which is her favorite place to relax and read books, and simply being outside. Unity loves to show off Chicago and its lakefront through her amateur photography.
Rachel (she/her/hers) is pursuing an MSW from DePaul University and has broad experience in the nonprofit sector. She has a BA in Sociology from Fordham University and was a Jesuit Volunteer at Loaves and Fishes in Sacramento. In her free time Rachel enjoys reading, thrift shopping, and spending time at the lakefront in any weather!
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