TGi Team
Devonta Boston
Founder | CEO
Southwest side Chicago native. An activist, A spoken word artist, community organizer, entrepreneur and so many more hats I wear. I am Devonta Boston the founder and CEO of TGi. I have been doing community organizing for over a decade and one thing I have seen time and time again is that the change has to start with us. I am passionate about increasing pathways and opportunities for youth in black and brown communities to follow their passion.
Amina Henderson
Program Instructor
Amina is a Southside native who has dedicated her life to bringing about positive change for the city's youth since the age of 15 when she was a student at Gage Park High School. She’s worked with organizations across the city with dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline, such as: Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP), Communities United and Voices of Youth in Chicago Education (VOYCE). After spending time in the field doing groundwork, passing state-wide legislation and protesting social injustices, Amina shifted gears and is currently assisting young people in identifying their passions and locating resources that aren't easily accessible in Chicago's neighborhoods. She went on to become a Mentor and Program Coordinator for Omega Chi Omega, a youth program curated by TGi Movement. In addition to her work as an organizer, Amina owns Chef Nino Cooks Co., a private catering company founded in January 2020. Cooking began as a hobby for Amina at the outset of the pandemic and has now blossomed into a passion she has fully immersed in while gaining her LLC certification in 2023.
Justin Clemons
Graphic Designer
Justin is a passionate artist who has been drawing since he was young. He believes there is an impact that can be made through art in the community. Justin also works at Magnolia Screen Printing along with teaching art to students as an After School Matters instructor.
Board of Directors
Ted Christians
Board President (Interim)
Ted Christians is the Executive Director of Amplify Chicago (Amplify), an initiative of The Academy Group. Amplify is a justice system to a professional pathway for young men ages 20 to 26 designed to drive economic development and wealth creation in Chicago's most resilient communities. Prior to Amplify, he served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Umoja Student Development Corporation (Umoja). Ted lives in Chicago with his wife and two sons.
Yasmin Cortes
Board Secretary
Hi! My name is YasmÃn Cortes, I’m a recent grad from Lehigh University, and a Gage Park High school alumna. I’m part of the first generation, Latinx, Southside of Chicago communities hoping to inspire and aspire change within the youth of our city.
Shayne Evans
Board Member
Shayne Evans is a Founder and Managing Partner of the Academy Group. Previously, Evans served as the Chief Executive Officer of the University of Chicago Charter School and managing director of the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute. At UEI, Evans also co-founded The Success Project, a curriculum focused on preparing students for college access and graduation beginning in 6th grade, a program included in President Obama's College Opportunity Day of Action.
Debra Gitter
Board Member
Debra is the Founder and Executive Director of Contextos. She has raised over $5 million and expanded ConTextos reach into Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala. Debra received her master’s from Harvard Graduate School of Education (2010) with a focus on international policy and social entrepreneurship.
Brian Foster
Board Member
Brian Foster is a native of Chicago, growing up on the city's southside, and attended Whitney M. Young high school.  He received his bachelor’s in communications from Illinois State University. Brian has worked in the corporate communications sector with real estate giant Koenig & Strey and the largest carsharing company globally, Zipcar. He also has an extensive not-for-profit communications background with prestigious organizations such as The Ounce of Prevention Fund, Urban Gateways, Top Box Foods, Community Renewal Society, and the Managing Director of External Affairs and Communications for City Year Chicago.
His true passion, however, has always lived within the event management sector. He has been the CEO of CollectiveQwest Marketing and Entertainment for over 15 years, owns and jointly operates Virtual Day Parties, is the former owner of In the Zone Sports (the first and largest Black-Owned intramural sports leagues for adults in Chicago), and currently hosts the In the Zone Podcast and The Blackboardtv.
A member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the 100 Black Men of Chicago, and the Chicago Assembly, Brian is also the proud father of four and happily married to Allison Foster, M.D.
Tom Cronin
Board Member
Tom is a Senior Manager within Deloitte Chicago’s real estate audit practice and a certified public accountant. He grew up in Evergreen Park, a south suburb of Chicago. Tom joined the TGi Board with the goal of helping the children and young adults of Chicago reach the full potential. Tom lives in the northern suburbs with his wife and two daughters.
Raven Adams
Board Member
Raven Adams is a passionate young attorney who practices various types of law, including family, nonprofit, and bankruptcy law. She grew up in the Oak Park area but traveled out of state for undergrad and law school. She previously worked as a pharmacy technician. With a passion for food, health, and personal development, Raven uses her free time to create and consume inspiration for healthy and holistic living and support of local and community businesses.
Annie Costabile
Board Member
Annie Costabile is a multimedia sports journalist working for the Chicago Sun-Times, where she has covered primarily the WNBA and NWSL since 2018. She is also the host and producer of the podcast Equal Play. She joined the Sun-Times after a year in Mississippi covering high school and college sports for the Clarion Ledger. She grew up in Addison, Illinois, and attended college at the University of Iowa.
