ADVISORY COMMITTEE

JULIA TORO

Julia Manglano Toro studied law at DePaul University, College of Law, in Chicago, IL, and has a master's in international human rights law from American University, Washington College of Law, in Washington, DC. She received her law license in Washington, DC. She has over 17 years in the practice of immigration law. She has substantial experience in representing immigrants from all parts before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [USCIS] and the Immigration Courts, Executive Office For Immigration Review [EOIR], under the Department of Justice, as well as ICE Immigration Detention. Fluent in Spanish, Attorney Toro was named one of Washington, D.C.’s top immigration lawyers by Washingtonian Magazine.  

KATHLEEN HENEGHAN

Kathleen Heneghan is a communications professional with a demonstrated history of building relationships and advancing the mission and effectiveness of organizations in the sectors of government, education and nonprofit administration. Currently, in the Office of Community Planning and Development of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, she administers grants in the areas of community development, affordable housing and homeless programs. For over a decade, she served as the Director of Communications at Resurrection College Prep High School, the largest all-girls high school on the northside of Chicago. A life-long Chicagoan, Kathleen holds a B.A. in History from Roosevelt University and is a continuing student of Chicago architecture and the built environment. She is also a certified yoga instructor with over 20 year of teaching experience and she loves photography, writing, traveling and spending time with family and friends. Kathleen is grateful for the amazing work being done at FORA and is honored to be part of this joyful community.

TARA PRIMIS

Tara Brennan Primis graduated from Brown University and The University of Pennsylvania Law School. She previously worked at the law firm of Shaw Pittman Pillsbury Winthrop, where she specialized in public and private equity work. Long since retired from private practice, she has been fortunate enough to be an active volunteer in her community in Washington, D.C and has served on several boards of nonprofit groups there. Tara served six years on the board of Many Hands Inc, a grantmaking organization that supports nonprofits focused on women and children in underserved parts of the Washington, D.C metro area. She currently serves on its Emerita Board and also works on its Grants/Financial Review committee. She serves on the College Advisory Committee of Brown University as well as on the Brown Annual Fund Leadership Committee for the university. Tara also volunteers on a variety of committees at Sidwell Friends School, where she is a current parent. Previously, she also served as trustee at Norwood School Bethesda, Maryland, for six years and on the board of Kenwood Citizens Association for 10 years. Tara lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland with her husband Craig, their three children and their very jazzy labradoodle.

LOUISE WIENER

Louise W. Wiener is a Senior Fellow with Attendance Works and the founder of Learning and Leadership in Families. She tutored with FORA during the pandemic. She focuses on the link between formal and informal education for preschool through early elementary students. A mother of 4 sons and grandmother of 8, she lives in Washington, D.C.

FARAH ADIL

An advocate, journalist, and writer, Farah was born in India and raised in Dubai and moved back to India to pursue a degree in History and Economics. After graduating, she moved back to Dubai, where she worked for three years as a journalist at Dubai’s largest-selling newspaper, the Khaleej Times. Continuing her career as a journalist, she moved back to India to work as a news correspondent for New Delhi Television, a privately owned enterprised based out of New Delhi, affiliated to Sky News Network owned and operated by News Corp. She left the company in 1998, moving to Chicago where she became the founder, editor, and publisher of a magazine for Asian American Women, called Sahaara Magazine. In 2001, she moved back to India for a year with her two children to work as a TV anchor for Times Now. In 2002 Farah returned to Chicago where she worked as a speechwriter, collaborated with nonprofits that needed help raising funds and continued to write for leading newspapers in India. Within the past couple of years, Farah served as a vocal and vigorous advocate for President Biden’s campaign with several organizations including They See Blue, an organization based out ot the Bay area, that focuzed on mobilizing South Asians to vote. She headed the digital media team for the Chicago branch of the organization. After 20 years in Chicago, Farah continues to do freelance writing for different publications. When she learned about FORA, she felt inspired by the mission and impact of the organization and is overjoyed to be a part of the organization’s journey.

VISHALI CHADHA

Vishali Chadha, MBA, DAc holds a Bachelors of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of Business Undergraduate Program at University of Pennsylvania.  She has a Master’s in Business Administration from the Kellogg Management School of Business. She started her career in Equity Research in the REIT sector for six years and also worked in joint ventures and Financial Literacy for a Not-for Profit for four years. While raising her two children, she migrated towards Integrative forms of healthcare and most recently completed her Doctorate of Acupuncture from Pacific College of Health Science.  Vishali is passionate about using a holistic view of treating clients and being a partner in their journey towards optimal health. She has done externships with Rush Hospital in the Integrative Oncology area treating chemotherapy patients and an externship treating Veterans at Jesse Brown Veteran Hospital with pain management and PTSD.  She felt fortunate to be able to volunteer with FORA in 2020 and wholeheartedly believes in supporting education for this special group.  Vishali enjoys music, hiking, reading, board games and spending time with family.

JOHN ANDERSON

Originally from Evanston, Illinois, John attended the University of Minnesota to pursue a BS in Science Education. After graduating, he went back to Evanston, where he taught science for eight years at Evanston’s public high school, Evanston Township High School. Passionate about math, science, and engaging with people, John worked for Wells Memorial in Minneapolis before being deployed to Korea and Germany. After he returned to the states, John used his GI Bill to go back to the University of Minnesota to receive a Masters in Counseling and Guidance. Becoming increasingly interested in verbal interaction in the classroom, and helping teachers recognize certain patterns of inquiry, John went to Michigan State to receive a PhD in Science Education, completing his thesis on creativity and academic achievement. In line with his deep interest in classroom communication, John started working with a federal educational laboratory, developing classroom resources to elevate classroom experiences for both educators and students. Among these developments, he spearheaded COMIC (Cognitive Operations Monitored in the Classroom), which registers classroom communication, inquiry, and information, and helps educators intentionally structure their classroom to maximize learning outcomes for their students. Passionate about facilitating creativity and imagination, John is excited to be a part of FORA and to encourage kids to exercise the type of their brain that allows them to utilize their imagination safely and impactfully.

ALAN TAYLOR

Rev. Alan Taylor is the founder of Love with Courage: Making Connections for Meaningful Change. He served as a pastor for 24 years, most recently 18 years at Unity Temple in Oak Park. There, he supported the work of Mike and Kathleen to sponsor refugee families that led to the formation of FORA. He also cultivated relational network to partner with organizations on Chicago’s westside and with refugee & immigration advocacy organizations. His wife, Angelica Taylor-Cortes, served as a tutor throughout the pandemic, and their children, Marco and Erica, have tutored in the summer at FORA. Alan loves meeting people and learning their stories of resilience and bringing out their innate wisdom. He currently serves as a Spiritual Director, currently enrolled in Loyola University’s Spiritual Direction Certification program. He is available for rites of passage, and he provides training for organizations in capital campaign development, community organizing, and putting compassion and values at the heart of organizational development.