YOUTH
EMPOWERMENT
PERFORMANCE
PROJECT
Board of Directors
Allie n Steve Mullen
Board Co-Chair
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Allie is a nationally recognized composer, music producer, singer and songwriter who has composed music for over 500 national TV commercials and 100 feature length documentaries and independent films. As an Adjunct Assistant Professor at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, their days are spent exploring the intersection of music & film, with an emphasis on the cultural role of music. This fascination has led to their current work as a founding member of the Chicago Podcast Collective. Allie identifies as trans-feminine and ‘gender-mobile.’
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Beth Martell
Board Treasurer
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Bethany Martell (she/her) is the Vice President Research Operations at Rush University System for Health. In this role, Beth oversees research operations and infrastructure and leads the administrative operations for the research enterprise. This includes but is not limited to human subject and animal subject protections; sponsored programs administration; training and education for research faculty and staff; as well as systems and infrastructure needed to support and advance research activities across the portfolio including laboratory, community, and clinical based research activities.
Prior to joining Rush, Beth spent almost 20 years at UChicago Medicine: Pritzker
School of Medicine/Biological Sciences Division (BSD) and UC Medicine (Hospitals/Health System) facilitating and overseeing the clinical research portfolio. As the Executive Director of the Office of Clinical Research, she was responsible for all aspects of clinical research administration: Institutional Review Board; Research Billing (epic builds, charge review/sorting; patient account AP/AR); EPIC Research business owner; education and training; auditing; contract endorsement; research systems/IT; infrastructure; liaison with hospital and university.
Beth received her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She recently completed the requirements for the Harvard Medical School Executive
Education Certificate program in AI in Healthcare. She is actively involved in the
community serving as Treasurer for both the Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Oak Park and the A.F. Ames Elementary School PTA in Riverside, IL.​
Danielle Bainbridge
Board Secretary
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Danielle Bainbridge (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Northwestern University, where she also holds courtesy appointments in Performance Studies and Black Studies. Her book, Currencies of Cruelty: Slavery, Freak Shows, and the Performance Archive, examines the lives of African American sideshow and freak show performers who were also enslaved and is currently under contract with NYU Press (Jan 2026). Danielle is also a creative writer, playwright, web series creator, and filmmaker. From 2017-2020 she was the co-creator, researcher, writer, and host of the PBS Digital Studios web series "The Origin of Everything," which focused on highlighting unusual and under-told history and streams on YouTube and Facebook. Her digital media work has been honored with Webby Awards, Telly Awards, and other award nominations.
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Her creative nonfiction and fiction appear in Moko Magazine, Killens Review of Arts & Letters, and The Mechanics’ Institute Review Online. She was the inaugural winner of the 2015 Barry Lopez Prize for creative nonfiction from Cutthroat: A Journal of the Arts (judged by Nick Flynn). Her memoir Dandelion was a semi-finalist for the 2016 Kore Press memoir award, the 2023 St. Lawrence Book Award from Black Lawrence Press, and the 2024 creative nonfiction prize from Autumn House Press. Dandelion won the inaugural 2024 Uplift Voices Nonfiction Prize from Jaded Ibis Press (judged by Myriam Gurba). It is currently under contract and scheduled to be published in November 2025. She received a 2016 scholarship from the Tin House creative writing workshop in Portland, Oregon.
As an artist and educator, Danielle is passionate about engaging communities that have traditionally been relegated to the margins by representing Black, brown, and LGBTQ+ people with care and complexity. She is honored and excited to be joining YEPP's revolutionary mission. ​
Jessica Taylor
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Jessica Taylor is currently the owner and head strength coach of LIFTED, a weightlifting and lifestyle business focused on making movement feel approachable, empowering, and rooted in justice. Prior to her work in the wellness space, Jessica spent over a decade teaching music, leading programs and operations in the nonprofit sector. Originally from Michigan, Jessica moved to Chicago almost two decades ago for graduate studies in Public Service at DePaul University where she researched community based arts and urban redevelopment.
For most of her life, Jessica didn’t see herself as an athlete and often felt unwelcome in traditional fitness spaces. But just before her 30th birthday, she picked up a barbell—and everything shifted. In 2017, she made a midlife career shift to become a strength coach, Olympic weightlifter and trainer. She likes to “swerve industry lanes” to expand the concept of “gym culture” through community and connection. In her business, LIFTED, strength isn’t just about lifting heavy—it’s about feeling connected to your body, building confidence, and showing up for yourself. Jessica is deeply committed to creating spaces where movement is accessible for all bodies, all abilities, and all backgrounds. She holds the USA Weightlifting Level 2 Coach designation, is an assistant USA Weightlifting instructor, a pre/postnatal coach, trauma-informed practitioner, and a competitive Master’s Olympic weightlifter who now competes internationally.
Jessica is a passionate connector – someone who values relationships and believes deeply in the power of community. Whether working with her clients/athletes, chatting with a neighbor or exchanging ideas at a workshop, she believes everyone brings something to the table. When not working she enjoys gardening, hanging with her dog Lola, dabbling in and supporting the creative arts and spending time in nature. ​
Susan Marcus
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Susan has been a supporter of YEPP for several years and is excited to be a new member of the Board of Directors as of summer 2025. She earned her PhD in American Studies at the University of New Mexico in American Studies concentrating in Cultural and Gender Studies and focused on 20th Century Social Justice Movements; she also holds an MBA from Pace University. After working for 30 years in higher education as a professor and administrator, she retired in 2022 from her position as Dean of Instruction at Harry S Truman College. Planning for retirement, Susan completed her certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language at DePaul University and is grateful to again be teaching and learning from immigrant adults.
Susan is a native New Yorker - who loves to visit there but is always very happy to come back to her Chicago home and community. A Rape Crisis Hotline Line advocate for 15 years, she is trained in crisis intervention and is certified in community and parent/child mediation. A theater lover, Susan is a volunteer usher with The Saints, is in two book groups and is starting to get the hang of being retired.
Vincent Wiggins
Board Co-Chair
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Dr. Vincent Wiggins is the Director of the Center for Faculty Development and Excellence at Southern California University of Health Sciences. Previously, he served as Dean of Career and Continuing Education Programs at Harry S. Truman College and Dean of Instruction at Harold Washington College in Chicago, where he worked with faculty and staff to support students’ academic success. Dr. Wiggins completed his Doctorate of Education in Curriculum Design at DePaul University. His research focuses on students’ academic success in higher education by using instructional technology and self-directed learning taking a holistic approach.
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Dr. Wiggins is certified in Adult Education, Professional Leadership Training, IT Project Management, and Six Sigma. As a Master Online Teacher (MOT), Quality Matters Peer Reviewer, and Certified Online Learning Administrator (COLA), Dr. Wiggins’ commitment to education includes researching multiple delivery modes for learning that include hybrid and online learning. In his roles in management and as an educator, he has developed various training programs and facilitated workshops for students, faculty, and staff. His presentations include his passion for the importance of an all inclusive environment. He has presented on pedagogy, andragogy, and technology at professional conferences.