ABOUT US

The Rebels for Peace's mission is to uncover the next generation of leaders and bring relatable, sustainable, and transformational mental health programs to youth in underserved communities.

Healthy minds create healthy societies, and the Rebels for Peace are leading the way.

Staff

Prince Jimmar

Executive Director

Prince Jimmar, co-founder and Executive Director of Rebels for Peace, is a visionary leader with a passion for youth leadership, resilience, and mental health. Born and raised in Chicago, he is currently spearheading a groundbreaking peer-to-peer Mental Health and Violence Prevention initiative that delivers year-long programming to over 800 youth annually in grades 4–8 across South Side Chicago schools, as well as employed and trainer over 120 youth ages 16-24 in the past 5 years.

In recognition of his impactful work, Prince was honored as one of Common Purpose's 25 Under 25 in 2023. He is a graduate of ICJA's Institute to Innovate and is currently advancing his expertise through the Kellogg Nonprofit Scholar Program and the Executive Leadership Program with McKinsey.

He is a sought-after speaker, delivering classes, workshops, and inspiring talks to diverse audiences, including youth, businesses, juvenile prisons, athletes, and social impact leaders.

Dajohn White

Co-Founder

Dajohn White, co-founder the of Rebels for Peace, is a dynamic leader dedicated to empowering youth and fostering positive change in communities. Born and raised in Chicago, Dajohn turned a living room idea into a transformative movement that has since impacted thousands of kids across Chicago and beyond. Rebels for Peace began as a small group of passionate individuals determined to address violence and mental health challenges, and it has grown into a powerful organization delivering programs that inspire youth to become changemakers in their own right.

Under Dajohn’s leadership, Rebels for Peace delivers peer-to-peer Mental Health and Violence Prevention programming to over 700 youth annually in South Side Chicago schools. His commitment to youth leadership extends to co-hosting the Rebels for Peace Summer Internship Program, which equips youth aged 16–25 with the tools to lead, facilitate, and create a ripple effect of positive influence in their communities.

A natural storyteller and advocate, Dajohn is a sought-after speaker who engages diverse audiences—from youth and community groups to business leaders and social impact organizations. His ability to connect with people and inspire action has made him a beacon of hope and resilience in Chicago and a catalyst for change worldwide.

Logan Griggs-Mitchell

Program Coordinator and Lead Facilitator

Logan Griggs Mitchell is a dedicated Program Coordinator with a dynamic background in
program management and a passion for empowering the next generation of leaders. Currently
overseeing the Mini Rebels and Rebels for Peace Youth Leadership Program, Logan is
committed to creating impactful opportunities for young individuals to build essential skills,
inspire positive change, and leave a lasting mark on their communities.

In this role, Logan manages all aspects of program coordination, including planning, logistics,
implementation, and evaluation. By fostering inclusive and engaging environments, Logan
ensures that youth participants feel supported and empowered to lead. Responsibilities include
facilitating workshops, organizing mentorship opportunities, coordinating program schedules,
and maintaining clear communication among stakeholders.

Outside of program coordination, Logan enjoys brainstorming creative solutions, building
partnerships with community organizations, and championing the achievements of future
changemakers.

Melina Navarrete

Trainer and Curriculum Lead

As the Lead Trainer for Rebels for Peace, Melina Navarrete is passionate about fostering meaningful change through education and empowerment. She ensures the seamless delivery of the evidence-based SPARK curriculum, overseeing the quality of instruction and guiding facilitators through their professional journey—from interns to Lead Facilitators.

Melina's journey with Rebels for Peace began at just 19, when she joined as an intern. Her dedication and growth within the organization exemplify her commitment to its mission of creating impactful, sustainable change in communities.

A natural leader and mentor, Melina thrives on cultivating a culture of excellence, collaboration, and compassion. Whether she's refining training processes or empowering facilitators to reach their potential, she remains focused on the bigger picture: equipping others to be catalysts for peace and transformation.

Devlin Chestang

Youth leader and Facilitator

Devlin is a dedicated Facilitator and Youth Leader with Rebels for Peace, where he brings his passion for empowering young people and fostering positive change to the forefront. A Chicago native, Devlin joined the Rebels for Peace team in the summer of 2024 after participating in the organization’s transformative Summer Leadership Program. Since then, he has played a pivotal role in guiding and inspiring youth to become leaders and changemakers in their communities.

In addition to his impactful work with Rebels for Peace, Devlin is the founder of BKRY, a Chicago-based production company that shines a spotlight on the city’s rich creative talent. Through BKRY, he aims to elevate and celebrate Chicago’s artistic voices, creating a platform for local creators to thrive and share their stories.

Devlin’s dedication to youth leadership and creative expression makes him a powerful advocate for his community, embodying the spirit of resilience and innovation that drives both his personal and professional endeavors.

Eirik Grunde Olsen

Director of Operations

Eirik is the co-founder of One Solution Foundation. He first became fascinated by the relationship between the mind, body and human capability after his experience as a Paratrooper in the Norwegian Army Special Command and deployment in the Middle East.

He has worked with individuals, businesses, non-profit leaders, schools, in the criminal justice system, as well as co-lead grassroots youth programs in Chicago, Gaza and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He is an international public speaker, speaking at conferences about the Mind, Mental Health and Resilience all over the world, with his main expertise being the power of the mind and resilience as the key to equality and global stability.

Board of Directors

Simone Edwards

Board Chair

Simone Edwards has over 28 years of experience in both financial accounting and
business management with international and domestic businesses. Simone is the Chief Financial Officer at Bobby E. Wright Comprehensive Behavior Health Services. Simone also has over eight years in an international non-profit where she managed the
foundation research operation with an annual budget of US$100 million.
Simone received her MS in Information System from Northwestern University and a
Bachelor in Accounting with honors from DePaul University.
Committed to servant leadership, mentorship, and excellence, Simone is an adjunct
professor at Chicago City Colleges where she teaches Computer Information Systems.
She also serves as a board member at Family Focus Englewood and an active member of Ingleside Block Club.

Mara Gleason Olsen

Treasurer & Development Director

Mara is the Co-founder of One Solution Foundation, and has over 15 years experience working with all people from walks of life , including MIT-trained physicists, UN directors, US Marines, NHL players, Microsoft managers, prisoners, the Chicago PD, and teens from Southside Chicago and Gaza.

Prior to founding One Solution, she co-founded and directed One Thought, a NYC and London-based company that trained hundreds of organizational leaders from around the world. She’s also the bestselling author of One Thought Changes Everything.

Mara graduated with a Master’s degree from Columbia University in 2006 and currently lives in Chicago with her husband and co-founder, Eirik.

David Sanchez-Aguilera

Secretary

David is a Human Resources professional in the Chicagoland area. He holds a master’s degree in Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies from the University of California, San Diego and is committed to using this knowledge to make workplaces more inclusive spaces. He has served as the Chair of the Illinois Diversity Council’s Editorial Committee since 2020 and currently works as an HR Service Partner with PuzzeHR where he consults for small-to-medium sized businesses. In the past, he has served as a Mentor for the Chicago Scholars helping underserved youth apply to and prosper in college . During his downtime, David enjoys rock-climbing, traveling to theme parks, and listening to podcasts.

Akilah McCord

Board Member

Akilah McCord is a highly accomplished nonprofit executive with over 15 years of distinguished leadership experience. Her career is marked by a proven track record in driving organizational growth, nurturing community partnerships, and securing diverse funding streams. Akilah's expertise lies in empowering small businesses and nonprofits through innovative strategic funding initiatives and impactful community engagement.

Her dedication to fostering meaningful change is evident in her ability to create sustainable solutions that address complex challenges. Akilah's strategic vision and hands-on approach have consistently delivered exceptional results, helping organizations thrive and achieve their missions.

Initiative

Institute 2 Innovate

Partners and supporters

REBELS FOR PEACE YOUTH-LEADER ALUMNI

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LANETTE

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BRANDON TILLERY

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CHARLES SADDLER

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ZION HAYES

RYAN ALMER

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INDIA SOODAN

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JULIANA TAPIA

JACQUELINE PADILLA

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MARK LAVAL SANDERS III

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ROSS PATEN

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LAYLA BROWN-CLARK

THEO ROSENBERG

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MARIAH

DYLAN ASSMANN

MIKAH ALLEN

JULIA NEUMAN

LESLIE HUDGINS

JACOBEE ROSCOE

CHANDRELLE DOUGLAS

MAYA THORNTON

CAMBRIA KHAYAT

MAGDALEN RIVAS

AMARI WILLIAMS

IAN SANTILLAN AND MINI REBL

VICTOR VALLES

DAJOHN AND CORIE

QUINTONN AND MINI REBEL

AYANNA AND MINI REBEL

LANETTE, MINI REBEL AND SIDNEY

JACQUIE AND MINI REBEL

LAUREN AND MINI REBEL ONDRIANA

ROBERT AND MINI REBEL

WORDS FROM THE CO-FOUNDERS

CHANGING CHICAGO
ONE MIND AT A TIME

Let your environment become a product of you.

The Rebels for Peace was founded by Dajohn White and Prince Jimmar after they had an insight about how all the things that seemed unsolvable like the circle of violence, retaliation, poverty etc all actually could be solved, if we looked at the mind, instead of complaining about what can't be done. They went from hopeless to hopefull, and now spend their time sharing this with as many people as they can.

Hundreds of youth-leaders has now joined their side in their Summer Leadership Program, and together they have impacted thousands of 4-8 graders in Chicago Public Schools.