Jamal Litebulb Oliver

Jamal "Litebulb" Oliver

Co-founder Litebulb is a dancer and dance activist at the forefront of footwork culture in Chicago. Known for the intricacy and velocity of his moves, Litebulb has performed with leading artists like Chance the Rapper and DJ Rashad. Since 2009, he has traveled to international stages, from New York PS-1 to the Barbican in London. In 2014, he co-founded The Era Footwork Crew (The Era). Now touring global venues and Chicago schools with The Era, Bulb’s practice is both intensely local and broadly international. He has received awards and grants for his innovative work, including recognition as a dancer of the year in Dance Magazine, a major arts grant from Chicago Dancemakers Forum and University of Chicago/Arts and Public Life, and as a choreographer of the year by New City magazine. He also appeared in a dance cameo with fellow footworker P-Top in the movie, Manglehorn, with Al Pacino. Litebulb was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, where he lives and works today.

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Wills Glasspiegel

Co-founder and executive director Wills Glasspiegel is a documentary filmmaker, artist and scholar writing about the cultural history of Chicago footwork in his PhD dissertation in African American Studies and American Studies at Yale University. Before his involvement with footwork, Wills produced public radio segments for All Things Considered and Morning Edition, and was recognized as a co-recipient of a Peabody Award in 2014 for his contributions to the public radio program Afropop Worldwide. Wills’ documentaries and collaborations have been featured in a variety of publications including CNN, FADER Magazine, Dazed and Confused Magazine, Pitchfork, Nowness, and DIS Magazine. Wills received his undergraduate degree in English from Yale, and holds a master’s degree in Media, Culture and Communications from New York University. Wills was born in Washington, DC, and moved to Chicago as a teenager. He currently resides in Chicago.

Delorth “Dee-Dee” Stallorth

Delorth “Dee-Dee” Stallworth

An ardent advocate for social justice and equity through the arts, Dee-Dee holds a bachelor's degree in criminology, law and justice, with a minor in sociology, from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). DeeDee is a Foster Care Case Manager at Lakeside Community Committee working to provide the families of neglected and abused children with a continuum of services designed to facilitate a positive foster care relationship. DeeDee is also pursuing a master's degree in social work at Chicago State University (CSU) and will graduate in 2020. Dee-Dee is a lifelong south side Chicago resident. As founding advisor and co-manager for the dance collective, The Era Footwork Crew, she is instrumental in helping to communicate the history and value Chicago footwork to diverse audiences, arranging opportunities for Chicago dancers at prominent venues across the city and the world.

 
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Janeca Holbrook

Janeca Holbrook is a lifelong Chicagoan, deeply involved and committed to the mental and physical well-being of her community. Using her experience and education, including a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, and Master’s degrees in psychology and health care administration, Janeca brings life-saving skills and assistance to her fellow residents in underserved neighborhoods throughout the city. She is currently a behavioral health specialist with Next Level Health Care Chicago, where she uses an integrated physical/behavioral health care coordination model to provide training and resources to clients and their families. Throughout her career, Janeca has led group counseling, community treatment, crisis intervention and psycho-social rehabilitation interventions. She is a longtime volunteer at the Chicago Park District, working with troubled and homeless youth, including teenagers who were victims of domestic violence and rape, helping them to survive and turn around their lives to positive, productive pursuits. A scholarship fund she created has sent 50 kids to summer camp at Russell Square Park. Janeca’s affiliations in the city include the Salvation Army, YMCA of Metro Chicago, Chicago Behavioral Hospital, Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4), The Psychology Center, and Social Works.

 

Jose Ochoa

Jose Ochoa brings over 15 years of education, management, and executive leadership experience to OTC. He also shares an avid love for the arts and the desire to improve community life within the city of Chicago. Most recently, Jose was the Chief Operating Officer of 160 Driving Academy – the nation’s largest adult CDL vocational institution. Prior to this, Jose was a senior associate with McKinsey & Company, where he worked with various public sector organizations in improving law enforcement, disaster response, and infrastructure spending. Jose’s career started as a high school chemistry and biology teacher at Hirsch Metro High School in the Chicago neighborhood of Chatham. He then served as the Academic Dean of Chicago Hope Academy on Chicago’s west side prior to going to graduate school. Jose is a life-long musician, having played guitar and string bass in rock bands, church groups, and jazz bands throughout his life. He received his undergraduate degree in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry from Yale University and received a Master’s in Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Jose was born in Bogota, Colombia, raised in Joliet, IL and currently resides in Chicago.