ISN Staff
Working for a faith that does justice.
Erin Brown
Program Director
ebrown@ignatiansolidarity.net
216-397-6275
Erin Brown joined the Ignatian Solidarity Network in 2019. Originally from the Milwaukee area, Erin received her B.A. in theology and Hispanic studies from the College of Saint Benedict in Minnesota. After graduation, she moved to the Peruvian Andes as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. As a volunteer, Erin worked in after school programming for elementary school students at Parroquia San Pedro Apóstol in Andahuaylillas. Most recently, she was a member of the admissions team at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, WI. While in Milwaukee, she also served as a support person for the local Jesuit Volunteer community. Erin is an avid reader and outdoor enthusiast.
José Arnulfo Cabrera
Director of Education and Advocacy for Migration
jacabrera@ignatiansolidarity.net
216-397-2087
José Arnulfo Cabrera was born in a small village in Mexico and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. Growing up, Cabrera remembers his mom organizing undocumented workers in Cincinnati for a just wage and safe working conditions. During this time, he learned organizing tricks and skills to keep people engaged and hopeful during disappointing moments. It wasn’t long until Cabrera started organizing for immigration reform issues, sharing his family’s story and how he would benefit from legislation like the DREAM Act. After high school, Cabrera, a DACA recipient, studied at Xavier University, while at the same time working at the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center (IJPC) in Cincinnati where he started a group called Youth Educating Society (YES). Through his work at IJPC and YES he became an advocate for DACA recipients across Cincinnati, particularly at Xavier, by training and working with staff members on making Xavier a DACA friendly campus. In 2017 Cabrera attended his first ISN program, the Ignatian Justice Summit on Immigration, where Cabrera fell in love with ISN’s mission. He spoke at the Advocacy Day Public Witness during the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in 2017 and the 2018 Ignatian Justice Summit, and has contributed to ISN’s online content. After graduation, Cabrera served as a government relations associate at NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice in Washington, D.C. where he enhanced his understanding and knowledge of furthering pro-immigrant policy.
Lena Chapin
Networking and Development Director
lchapin@ignatiansolidarity.net
216-397-2082
Lena Chapin joined the Ignatian Solidarity Network in 2016. She loves meeting new people, forming relationships, and sharing her passions for humanity, faith, and social justice. She grew up in the Appalachian foothills of Southern Ohio spending time exploring both her faith and the wilderness. After graduating from John Carroll University with Bachelors of Arts degrees in both English and Communications, she spent a year in Immokalee, Florida with the Humility of Mary Volunteer Service. There she built homes, tutored second graders and teenage girls, and worked at a shelter for people experiencing homelessness. She also joined the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in their fight for fair wages and farmworker rights. In 2013, she earned the title of Master of Science in Journalism and Public Relations from Ohio University in Athens where she developed a love of craft beer, historical research, and chili cheese fries. Most recently she served as the Director of Development for Rose-Mary, a Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland organization which provides housing and care for children and adults with developmental disabilities and behavioral support needs. Lena lives in Cleveland Heights with her dog, Tuna and her cat, Hamster.
Kim (Miller) Coleman
Integrated Marketing Director
kmiller@ignatiansolidarity.net
216-397-2080
Kim (Miller) Coleman joined the Ignatian Solidarity Network staff in August 2011. After graduating from Gonzaga University with her degree in marketing and broadcast studies, Kim spent two years serving in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. During her first year, Kim worked with teens with developmental disabilities and provided programming and marketing services for STRIVE in South Portland, Maine. In her second year, Kim served as the outreach coordinator for Jesuit Refugee Service/USA in Washington, D.C. While at JRS/USA, Kim became very familiar with the Jesuit networks and created interactive refugee awareness programs, spoke to groups nationwide, and equipped students and parishioners to take action on issues affecting forcibly displaced persons. Kim is daily inspired by the Ignatian family members she meets, and she looks forward to continuing to empower students and parishioners to promote justice within their local and global communities.
Elizabeth Cross
Administrative Assistant
ecross@ignatiansolidarity.net
216-397-6282
Elizabeth Cross joined the Ignatian Solidarity Network in May 2018. She graduated from John Carroll University with a degree in English. In what seems like a previous life, she had a career with a major cellular service carrier as a customer service and retention manager, where she also had statewide training duties and became a special project coordinator for its market in Puerto Rico. Eager to leave the corporate world after 12 years, she became a full-time mom to her daughter Emily and twins, Joey and Sophie. Elizabeth re-entered the workforce some years later as a substitute teacher, a job she loved, particularly at her children’s’ school, St. Francis of Assisi in Gates Mills, Ohio, where she is also an active parishioner. Elizabeth is particularly happy about the papacy of Pope Francis and how he calls for Catholics to respond to the modern day needs of our world community with St Ignatius’ ideals in mind. She feels very fortunate to be part of ISN and finds her small role in supporting the Jesuit mission to be gratifying. She is also grateful for the many blessings she has in life: her family, love of cooking and the outdoors, dogs, and SiriusXM radio.
Brenna Davis
Director of Education for Justice & Environmental Initiatives
bdavis@ignatiansolidarity.net
216-397-2081
Brenna Davis joined the Ignatian Solidarity Network in February 2019. Originally from Tennessee, Brenna graduated from Boston College in 2010 with a B.A. in theology and Spanish. After graduation, she moved to Cleveland as a Jesuit Volunteer and served at The West Side Catholic Center, a multiservice center for people experiencing homelessness. In this role, she started holistic wellness classes such as yoga and creative writing for center patrons. At the end of her JV year, Brenna began working at Saint Martin de Porres, Cleveland’s Cristo Rey High School, as a theology teacher and cross country coach. After four of the most joyful and challenging years of her life as a social justice teacher, Brenna transitioned to the role of main office coordinator at the school and focused on not only administrative functions but also developed initiatives to promote joy and self-care for faculty and staff. More importantly, she was the self-proclaimed assistant to the director of facilities in all sustainability initiatives on campus. She is a certified spiritual director, Cuyahoga County Master Recycler, and is a member of NCR’s EarthBeat Advisory Panel. In her spare time, Brenna enjoys reading, running, bullet journaling, speaking Spanish, writing letters, and digging through trash cans to properly sort recycling.
Christopher Kerr
Executive Director
ckerr@ignatiansolidarity.net
216-397-2088
Twitter: @chris___kerr
Chris joined the Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN) as executive director in 2011. He has over fifteen years of experience in social justice advocacy and leadership in Catholic education and ministry.
Prior to ISN, he served in multiple roles at John Carroll University, including coordinating international immersion experience and social justice education programming as an inaugural co-director of John Carroll’s Arrupe Scholars Program for Social Action.
Before his time at John Carroll, he served as a teacher and administrator at the elementary and secondary levels in the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Chris speaks regularly at campuses and parishes about social justice education and advocacy, Jesuit mission, and a broad range of social justice issues. He currently serves on the board of directors for Christians for Peace in El Salvador (CRISPAZ). Chris earned a B.A. and M.A. from John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. He and his family reside in Shaker Heights, Ohio.
Kelly Swan
Communications Director
kswan@ignatiansolidarity.net
216-397-6248
Kelly Swan joined the Ignatian Solidarity Network staff in 2016 and is a graduate of Wheeling Jesuit University. Kelly began her career in northern New Jersey with children experiencing homelessness and in family ministry for an Episcopal parish. She then returned to her childhood mountains of West Virginia and coordinated a religious education and service immersion trip program at a parish in Charleston, WV. With her husband and young children, she then spent a year working and living in community at Nazareth Farm in Doddridge County, WV, and most recently spent six years in Wheeling, WV, engaged in projects related to holistic family life, community education, Appalachian advocacy, sustainable agriculture, and mothers’ spirituality. Kelly served as interim director of Wheeling Jesuit University’s Appalachian Institute in 2010, co-founded Black Swan Organics, a precursor to Grow Ohio Valley, a food justice non-profit in Wheeling, WV, served as interim director of the Children’s Museum of the Ohio Valley, and most recently worked as a writer and the production editor for INWheeling and Metroburgh Magazines in Wheeling and Pittsburgh. Kelly lives in the Cleveland area with her husband and four children.
Interns
Josie Schuman
Intern
interns@ignatiansolidarity.net
Josie is a student at John Carroll University. She is double majoring in education and English with a minor in Spanish. She is originally from Bedford, Ohio and graduated from Walsh Jesuit High School. On campus, Josie is involved with campus ministry as a sacristan and participant in various retreats, the honors program, and the Sweet Carolline’s acapella group. Her passion for social justice began in high school after participating in Walsh’s similar Labre program, which involves working with the homeless, and spending time at Bethlehem Farm in West Virginia on an immersion trip. Josie hopes to further cultivate this passion for faith and justice while at ISN.
Cailin Drake
Intern
interns@ignatiansolidarity.net
Caitlin is a student at John Carroll University. She is majoring in early childhood education with minors in Spanish and peace, justice, and human rights. Caitlin is a graduate of Walsh Jesuit High School. She is part of the Arrupe Scholars Program and is active in Greek Life and the Center for Service and Social Action. Caitlin found her passion for social justice through attending the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in high school and through immersion trips to Nicaragua and Ecuador.
Kiera Reilly
Intern
interns@ignatiansolidarity.net
Kiera Reilly is a student at John Carroll University. She is majoring in psychology with a concentration in child and family studies and minoring in peace, justice, and human rights. Kiera is from Avon, OH and is a graduate of Saint Joseph Academy in Cleveland. On campus, she is very involved in campus ministry, the Center for Service and Social Action through weekly service, and Greek life. She is also an Arrupe Scholar. Kiera’s passion for social justice stems from being involved in Catholic Schools for Peace and Justice in high school, attending two service trips to Louisville, KY, and the Navajo Nation in Arizona, and from attending the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Ally Fritsch
Intern
interns@ignatiansolidarity.net
Ally Fritsch is a student at John Carroll University. She is from Toledo, Ohio and graduated from Notre Dame Academy. She is majoring in sociology with a human services, health, and social justice concentration and is minoring in theology and religious studies. On campus, she is very involved in campus ministry, the Center for Service and Social Action, Labre, Agape, and the honors program. Her passion for social justice began when she went on an immersion trip to El Salvador and the U.S.-Mexico Border. Ally hopes to grow in her education of various social justice issues while at ISN and to become a more well-rounded advocate for others.
Matthew Loughran
Intern
interns@ignatiansolidarity.net
Matthew Loughran is a student at John Carroll University. He is majoring in political science and peace, justice, and human rights. Matthew is from Pittsburgh, PA, where he went to Mount Lebanon High School. On campus, he is involved with the service organization Seeds of Hope and is a work-study student in the peace, justice, and human rights department. Matthew attended the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in 2018, which inspired him to go on an immersion trip to the U.S.-Mexico border and to further pursue his interest in standing for social justice. His passion for social justice comes from the various experiences he has had in working with those on the margins and the belief that all people, regardless of who they are, where they are from, or what they do are deserving of love and respect.
STAY CONNECTED:
Sign up now to connect with the Jesuit network and learn how you can learn, educate, pray, and advocate for justice year-round.
About:
The Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN) is a national social justice network inspired by the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola. ISN was founded in 2004 and is a lay-led 501(c)3 organization working in partnership with Jesuit universities, high schools, and parishes, along with many other Catholic institutions and social justice partners.
