About

Program Director

BAMANI OBADELE

Bamani has more than two decades of experience and excellence in community organizing public policy and advocacy.  

Born and raised on Chicago's South Side, he is responsible for Acclivus' government relations, advocacy programs and team building. As a leader in restorative justice and outreach programs, Obadele has worked in several high profile positions throughout his career, including at the Community Area Project, State of Illinois, Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd Ward), Greater Roseland Community Committee and Vista. 

Field Director

JOHN HARDY, MA

As field director,  John oversees training and program operations for close to 40 staff who provide violence prevention services to 5

level-one trauma centers and two high risk communities. Prior to this role, John served as Senior Program Manager for CeaseFire/Cure Violence Chicago, providing comparable programmatic oversight for program operations across 18 communities and 5 level-one trauma centers. Prior to this promotion in 2016, Mr. Hardy served for 5 years as case manager for patients injured by violence and treated at John H Stroger Hospital, Cook County’s public trauma center.  In this role, John provided supportive aftercare to patients shot, stabbed, or beaten to ameliorate the impacts of trauma injury and direct at-risk individuals on a healthier trajectory. 

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Director, Strategic Partnerships

SHERI D. RUFFAI, PhD

As director of strategic partnerships, Dr. Ruffai supports individual and programmatic development for the unique staff and services provided by

Acclivus through community engagement and partnerships. For the last 10 years Dr. Sheri D. Ruffai has worked diligently to create safe spaces and provide resources for individuals living in underserved communities. She started her journey by working with youth involved in the Juvenile Justice System, providing intensive in-home Multi-Systemic Therapy to juvenile offenders as well as their families. 

Field Director

TOMAS ORTIZ

Tomas oversees training and program operations for close to 40 staff who provide violence prevention services to 5 level-one trauma centers and two 

high risk communities. Prior to this role, Tomas served as Senior Program Manager for CeaseFire/Cure Violence Chicago, providing comparable programmatic oversight for program operations across 18 communities and 5 level-one trauma centers. Mr. Ortiz began his violence prevention career as a violence interrupter for the Latino team at CeaseFire. Recommended by the Latino team supervisor for Hospital response work, Tomas then served as bilingual case manager for patients injured by violence and treated at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, following 5 years as Hospital Responder for John H Stroger Hospital, Cook County’s public trauma center.