Our Staff & Board

Ja’Net Defell

President & CEO

Ja’Net Defell (Ja-Nay De-Fell) is the President and CEO of Community Desk Chicago (The Desk). Ja’Net launched The Desk in March 2023 to help shift power dynamics and improve the quality of life in under-resourced communities through capacity building, technical coaching and coordinated resources.

Under Ja’Net’s leadership, The Desk launched a $3M Neighborhood Developers Initiative program focused on comprehensive capacity-building for neighborhood-based real estate development in the Englewood, South Shore and Humboldt Park communities of Chicago. This initial investment is projected to garner an additional $20M in direct investments to these communities. Ja’Net was also instrumental in helping to formalize a city-wide effort around commercial shared ownership models in communities, now known as Community Investment Vehicles (CIVs). Through her collaborative research, a CIV Playbook was produced to provide a roadmap for communities to acquire and control neighborhood assets. There are now more than 10 emerging CIV models in Chicago.

Ja’Net’s work has been featured in several articles and media including the Crain’s Chicago Business, Block Club Chicago, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Suntimes, The U, and WBEZ.

Ja’Net has more than 20 years of management consulting, urban planning and real estate development experience. Prior to leading The Desk, Ja’Net served as a real estate subject matter expert for a federal agency, a real estate consultant and developer for a community lender and a management consultant.

Ja’Net holds a Master of Urban Planning and Policy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from the University of Michigan. She is a Fulcrum Fellow and a Field Catalyst with the Center for Community Investment, a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a LEED Green Associate.

Patrick Brutus

Senior Director, Neighborhood Development Strategies

Patrick is an experienced professional with more than 25 years of public sector experience in economic and community development. Most recently, he spent nearly two decades with the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development. During the Mayor Lightfoot administration, Patrick played a critical role as a Planner in the heralded Invest South/West Program and successfully managed the first three Invest South/West retail corridor projects to advance to the construction phase in Auburn Gresham and Englewood.   
 
“I am excited to join Community Desk Chicago and continue my work in bringing transformative change to Chicago’s most underdeveloped communities. Working alongside our CEO, amazing staff and community and philanthropic partners, I am glad to be joining a winning team and look forward to this new opportunity.” 

Ryan Wilson

Senior Director, Wealth-Building Strategies

Prior to joining the Desk, Ryan worked for eight years in affordable housing development where he oversaw projects that created more than 300 units of housing and managed over $100 million in development budgets. He co-led a team of project managers and analysts to support a development pipeline of nearly $500 million across five states, specializing in partner engagement, financial analysis, and funding research. As a research assistant with the UIC Great Cities Institute, Ryan supported the implementation of participatory budgeting for ward menu money in seven Chicago wards throughout the city.

Ryan co-founded the South Side Mural Project to install public art on Chicago’s South Side and serves as the treasurer for his housing co-op. He has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Wake Forest University and attended graduate school at UIC in Urban Planning and Policy. Outside of the office, you can find Ryan at Promontory Point, in the community garden, or on his bike.

Miranda Sanders

Operations Coordinator

Miranda Sanders is the Operations Coordinator at Community Desk Chicago, where she supports internal systems, communications, and daily operations. With a background in administration and graphic design, Miranda brings a creative and organized approach to helping mission-driven teams run smoothly. 

Before joining The Desk, Miranda worked in education for five years, ranging from early childhood to the university level, managing operations across various institutions. She also volunteers with Daughters of Haiti, a grassroots organization where she has led event planning, press outreach, social media, and donor engagement efforts. 

Miranda holds a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies from DePaul University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Indiana University. Outside of her role, she spends her time creating art, going on hikes with her dog, and reading.