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Saint Leonard’s Ministries is pleased to welcome Sally Gonzalez and Manny Perez to the Board of Directors that supports our mission to serve returning residents.

Sally Gonzalez drives operational excellence across finance, technology, human resources and strategic planning. For two decades, she has fostered a collaborative environment to deliver results for organizations in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.

Gonzalez is the Managing Director of Finance and Operations at Impact for Equity, a public interest law and policy center. She oversees all financial and operational functions, ensuring stability and growth.

Prior roles have included Vice President of Operations at the Better Government Association and Director of Business Administration at Cara Collective, where she oversaw business operations and led the effort to recruit participants to Cleanslate – a workforce social enterprise that hires people who have barriers to employment.
A proud Chicagoan, Gonzalez cheers on the Cubs, attends local festivals, and volunteers at food pantries in West Humboldt Park.

“When I went to the tour at Saint Leonard’s, the amount of people who have been working there for such a long time is a testament to how committed people are to the mission and the work,” Gonzalez says. “That helped me realize that this is somewhere that I also want to serve.”

Gonzalez knows the experience of having a family member who was incarcerated. Fortunately, her family was able to provide support to the relative upon release.
“We talk about poverty in different communities of color, but what we don’t talk about is the family relational poverty when you don’t have that relationship and connections with family members who can support you,” she says.

“I’ve seen how difficult it is for an individual to come out of incarceration and enter society. When there isn’t any support, it just really impacts their self-esteem and their viewpoint. And a lot of them end up back where they were.”

Manny Perez has spent his career generating opportunities for others via roles in City Hall, Cook County government and the private sector.

“I enjoy having a positive impact and being able to provide resources and tools for people to live their lives – and improve their lives,” Perez says.

Manny Perez has spent his career generating opportunities for others via roles in City Hall, Cook County government and the private sector.

He serves as Senior Vice President at Cabrera Capital Markets, a Latino-owned investment bank and institutional brokerage where he focuses on real estate and public finance. The company is part of a joint venture with the Chicago Housing Authority to develop LeClaire Courts, a $550 million project which will bring 700 residential units and 1 million square feet of commercial space near Midway International Airport.

He previously served as Deputy Mayor at the City of Chicago, leading former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s legislative agenda at the local, state and federal levels. Perez shepherded scores of legislative items, including the city’s first-ever casino, civilian oversight of police, and operating budgets totaling over $40 billion.

Before joining City Hall, Perez was the campaign manager for Lightfoot and served as the Intergovernmental Affairs Director for the transition. He has led a variety of campaigns, including U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s successful run for Congress in 2018 and his bid for mayor in 2015.

In Cook County government, Perez served as Special Assistant to President Toni Preckwinkle, Chief of Staff to former County Clerk David Orr, and Chief of Staff to then-Commissioner Garcia. He resides in Pilsen, and enjoys exploring new restaurants, training for his first triathlon, and rehabbing homes and apartment buildings

Drawn to Saint Leonard’s because of its longevity and impact, Perez is ready to support returning residents on their journey.

“This is an organization that’s been in the trenches even before this was work that may seem popular now,” Perez says. “They’ve been doing it because it’s the right thing to do, and they’ve been doing it a long time. That speaks to the credibility and values of the organization.”

We look forward to adding these two voices to the Saint Leonard’s community.