Discussion Panel Bios
Xavier Ramey
Moderator
Xavier Ramey is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Justice Informed, a globally-reaching, Chicago-based organizational design and social impact consulting firm that works with various institutions to evolve their cultural, operational, business, and community strategies. Known for bringing his “invitation-based approach” to urgent social change and operational issues, his clients have included Ingredion, Emerson, Taproot Foundation, Northwestern University, Chicago Foundation for Women, The Office of the Illinois State Treasurer, Feeding America, the African American Alliance for CDFI CEOs, the Museum of Contemporary Art, BBIF Florida, and more.
Xavier is also a global keynote speaker on the topics of DEI, systemic equity, and organizational design strategies. He is an outspoken advocate and activist on matters of racial justice and policing who has helped advance the elimination of cash bail in Illinois as well as the advancement of a citizen-led police accountability office for the city of Chicago. He is a highly sought-after lecturer at top-ranked MBA and social impact university programs across the United States.
Xavier served the University of Chicago as the inaugural Senior Assistant Director for Social Innovation and Philanthropy, as the leader of the multimillion-dollar workforce and economic development strategy for the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, as a Development Director at the Young Men’s Educational Network, and as a consultant for organizations across Africa. He has held fellowships with the Masters Series for Distinguished Leaders, the Chicago Urban League, New Leaders Council, and others. He is a founding member of The #LetUsBreathe Collective, the acting President of the Rotary Club for Social Equity and Impact, and a Board member of Young Chicago Authors and Chicago Center for Arts and Technology.
Haman Cross III
Panelist
Haman Cross III is a distinguished artist and project manager based in Chicago, renowned for his community engagement, environmental awareness initiatives, and commitment to spiritual development. Cross is notably credited with providing the idea and co-creating the vision for the Douglass 18 mini-golf course in North Lawndale.
He served as a project manager for the Out of Eden Walk-Chicago project, part of Paul Salopek's global journey. He is the founder of Freedom House Studios, a creative space dedicated to fostering artistic expression and community collaboration. Cross integrates spiritual perspectives into his projects, emphasizing personal and collective growth. His initiatives often encourage participants to explore deeper connections to their surroundings and each other, fostering a holistic approach to community development and personal well-being.
Fr. Larry Dowling
Panelist
Fr. Larry Dowling (M.Div, D. Min), ordained in 1991, retired on June 30, 2024, as 17-1/2-year pastor of St. Simon of Cyrene Parish (locations at St. Agatha & St. Martin de Porres Churches), a predominantly African American parish on Chicago’s west side, currently residing at St. Giles.
He has a passion for healing and restoration of spirit, mind, and body of those who have suffered trauma from the multiple ongoing manifestations of systemic racism. He helped establish a free mental health center, the Encompassing Center, for the Chicago West Side community. He served on the Steering Committee to create the first Restorative Justice Community Court in Cook County. He is a founding member of the Archdiocesan Healing Garden Committee, a coalition of clergy and victim-survivors of child and youth sexual abuse. He is a trained Restorative Justice practitioner, published writer, avid reader, hiker, and cyclist.
Tanya Woods
Panelist
Tanya D. Woods, Chicago’s daughter and a licensed attorney in the State of Illinois, oversees all the operations, programming, strategic direction, and vision for the Westside Justice Center, a holistic legal aid clinic on Chicago’s Westside. She has served as the Executive Director since 2017, shortly after the organization was established in 2016. In her capacity she is also the co-architect and administrator of the state-funded legal-aid network of over 80 community-based organizations, Illinois Access to Justice. This network was created through the grassroots efforts of like-minded social justice organizations, activists, faith-based leaders, and elected officials who saw a need for free accessible legal services for people living in overpoliced and under-resourced Black and brown communities.
She is a certified Mediator and Trainer at the Center for Conflict Resolution and volunteers as a mediator in the most underserved courtrooms in the Circuit Court of Cook County. One of her greatest joys is that of adjunct professor at Loyola University, Chicago-School of Law, her alma mater. In that role, she either teaches classes of her own or serves as a guest lecturer. When she is not working in her chosen field, she is engaged in and supports the efforts of several bar associations including the Chicago Bar Association, Cook County Bar Assoc., and Black Women Lawyers Association. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Links Incorporated, and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Additionally, Tanya sits on the boards of the Catholic Lawyers Guild and the Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Over the span of her career, Tanya has been recognized for her growing body of work by several organizations.
Once a precocious and loquacious child, Tanya is now a highly sought-after public speaker. Before her career in law, Tanya enjoyed successful tenures in the higher education, government, tech, and non-profit sectors. She is the proud mom of two adult children, Kyra, an environmental policy advisor, and Cameron, a multi-hyphenated TV/film writer.