The Phoenix Center was founded on April 1, 2001 by a group of LGBT teens wanting to create a safe place to meet. For a while meetings were in a garage and later met at a church. It was then that a Board of Directors was formed and the agency became a  501-c-3, not-for-profit.  Eventually we moved to a building at Laurel & 2nd St. and in 2005 bought our current home at 109 E. Lawrence Ave. Since that move, services and groups have expanded extensively.

Mission

The mission of the Phoenix Center is to support Central Illinois’ LGBT Community with programming for promoting equality, health & well being, and social and educational growth.

Staff

• Jonna J Cooley PhD 
  • Executive Director
  • since April 2006
  • 37 years in social services
  • 2016 Greater Springfield Chamber Not-For-Profit Director of the Year
  • Retired Adjunct Associate Professor at University of IL Springfield
  • Master’s degree in Counseling / PhD in Psychology
  • extreme animal lover
  • “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Gandhi
• Sara Bowen-Lasisi PhD(c) MPH
  • Assistant Director
  • since February 2019
  • Master’s in Public Health / working on PhD in Health Education & Promotion
  • “Watch carefully the magic that occurs when you give a person just enough comfort to be themselves” Atticus
• Ruth Ann Bertram
  • Director of Clinical Services
  • since October 2011
• Rachel King-Johnaon, CADC
  • Director of Clinical Outreach
  • since April 2021
• Jaime Estell
  • Housing Case Manager
• Jeanne Jimenez, RN, BSN
  • Clinical Outreach Specialist – W. Central IL
  • since December 2021
• Samantha Brown
  • Clinical Outreach Specialist – E. Central IL
  • since September 2021
• Teresa Silva
  • Community Engagement Specialist
  • since March 2022
• Lee Gelardin
  • Clinical Outreach Assistant
  • since March 2023
• Ronetta Buckner
  • Health Educator
  • since March 2021
• Lauren Masten, MSW
  • yOUTh Group Facilitator
  • since August 2022
• Dre Duvendack-Visk, MA
  • yOUTh Group Facilitator
  • since April 2022
• Dave Kohlrus
  • yOUTh Group Facilitator
  • since January 2023
• Teagan Sachs
  • yOUTh Group Facilitator
  • since February 2023
• Alex Bowen
  • yOUTh Group Facilitator
  • since November 2023
• Kate Schwartz, MS
  • Transgender Support Group Facilitator
  • since May 2022
• Gail Wasmer
  • TransParent Support Group Facilitator
  • since January 2019
• June Chappell
  • Peer Outreach 
  • since August 2022
• Queenie & Mini (RETIRED)
  • AdvoCATs 
  • since 2007 and 2009 respectively
  • years of greeting experience
  • petted and photographed by thousands
  • “meow, meow, meow….”

Board of Directors

• Dean Mentjes, President
  • Transportation Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Admin. IL Division
  • “I joined the Board because the Phoenix Center has made a difference in my life and the lives of so many LGBT people in our community, and I wanted to put my energy into giving back and helping out.”
• Paul Staab III,  Vice President
  •  Funeral Director, Staab Family Funeral Homes
  • “Joining the Phoenix Center was a simple way to say thank you to our community for all that they have done to allow my partner and I the opportunity to live our best together. I want to help ensure that progress continues.”
• Gina Snook, Secretary
  •  Bookkeeper, Quorum Consulting LLC
• Terry Dobbs, Treasurer
  • Owner & Business Manager, Designer Landscapes
    “I joined the board because I love the Phoenix Center, Jonna, PrideFest and all of the other activities including the fundraisers, Pride on the Patio and the housing program! “
• Sarah Disney
  • Realtor, The Group / Deb Sarsany Team
• Dena Marshall-Howell
  • IL Department of Children & Family Services
• Richard Martineau
  • Retired
• Karen Reynolds
  • Curriculum Development Specialist, SIU School of Medicine
• Gina Romer
  • ELA/SEL Teacher grades 6-8 & “Pride of the Generals” GSA Advisor / Springfield Public School District #186
• Candice Trees
  • Retired
• Lamar Walls
• Vanessa White
• David Yankee

artwork by Dennis Sklenka, Springfield IL