MEET OUR TEAM

Alkeyna Aldridge

Director of Engagement & Economic Empowerment

Alkeyna Aldridge is an experienced public servant with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education and government administration industries. She is especially skilled in community development and social services with a focus on participatory decision-making. When she’s not helping out her native and much loved South Bend, she’s doing improvements on her house, cooking, and generally being awesome.

Martin Mechtenberg

Economic Empowerment Specialist

Marty is an architect, planner, and active citizen who has lived in South Bend since 2014.

His work with E3 involves serving grassroots and small-scale projects to create economic opportunities for all residents.

He is a fan of great design and is chronically attracted to optimism, high-quality tea and a good night’s sleep.

Dominique Edwards

Engagement Specialist

Dominique is a Black land steward, local educator, and urban planner who recently joined our community as the engagement specialist for the city of South Bend. She is a co-founder of the NWI Food Council where she works toward building a just, sustainable, revitalized food system for all in Northwest Indiana.

Bobbie Deleu, Program Manager

Ryan Ryker

AmeriCorps Member

Ryan Ryker currently resides in South Bend Indiana, he moved to South Bend to attend Indiana University South Bend, later transferring to Ivy Tech Community College. Ryan was also involved in the cryptocurrency industry, starting 2 successful companies he later sold. Ryan has a wonderful girlfriend, and a cute dog named Brody. He is dedicated to improving the lives of residents in South Bend and plans on finishing college once his term of service is completed as an AmeriCorps. He is excited to be able to make an impact in the community and city he now calls home.

Alix Underwood

AmeriCorps Member

Alix Underwood is a new AmeriCorps Member with the Engagement & Economic Empowerment Team. She recently returned from two years with the Peace Corps in Panama, where she worked with the Sustainable Agriculture Systems sector on community development projects like a women’s artisan group, tilapia fish ponds, and education initiatives. Alix looks forward to bringing the community engagement skills she learned in Panama to a local context. She is a Hoosier, born and raised in Muncie, and is quickly learning the ins and outs of South Bend. Alix is already impressed by the resilience and innovation of the city’s residents.

Courtney Crew

AmeriCorps Member

Courtney Crew is currently a new AmeriCorps E3 Team Member who is also currently working on her RN License through Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana. She already is a Medical Assistant/CNA. She found it to be a great way to get her foot in the door in the medical field. One of the main reasons she became interested in AmeriCorps and working with the City of South Bend was the many different developmental and educational opportunities that are offered. The skills and new knowledge she is learning are very relevant to her future in the healthcare industry as well as applying them to aspects of her own personal life as well.

David Cholak

AmeriCorps Member

David Cholak is a new AmeriCorps member with the Engagement and Economic Empowerment team. He grew up in and around South Bend and served in Peace Corps the Gambia for 27 months. He hopes to use the skills he learned there to help improve the South Bend community.