Kara Breems

Kara Breems is new to the MVS Board, and recently wrapped up a career with the City of Chicago in urban planning, focusing on affordable housing. Prior to that, she worked as an urban planner in various municipal and nonprofit capacities, and has degrees from the University of British Columbia and Calvin College.
She’s a proud and active resident of the McKinley Park neighborhood of Chicago, where she helped found a community garden and a local economic development nonprofit.
She spends lots of time in her garden, rehabbing an old horse barn in the alley behind her house, and managing a cabin rental in Wisconsin.

Rev. Ashley McFaul-Irwin

Ashley is a lifelong Presbyterian, whose faith journey began in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland before moving to the United States in 2011. That same year,
she served as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) in Nashville, Tennessee—a program closely akin to Mennonite Voluntary Service—which deepened her commitment to service, justice, and community. Ashley completed her seminary studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and, in 2018, became the first openly queer person ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament by the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee.
Ashley now serves as Pastor at Lake View Presbyterian Church and is a member of the National Board of Directors for More Light Presbyterians. She is a passionate Irish rugby fan, enjoys weightlifting, and, in the words of her wife, “has a laugh that can be heard from miles away.”

Tom McKibben

Tom McKibben is a member of Chicago MVS supporting church, Ellis Avenue Church. He joined the MVS Support Committee in 2024. Tom works as a Software Engineer building web applications with occasional forays into other tech as the need arises. He lives in Hyde Park with his wife Grace in a house now emptied of four children grown to adulthood.
Tom and Grace served as Resident Heads in the University of Chicago student housing system for 5 years and he hopes to continue helping young people on their journey with MVS now.

Mark Walden

Mark Walden has lived in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago for almost 25 years, where he and his wife Julie have a small business preserving affordable housing in the community. He is also board chair for MVS-Chicago and the MVS house property manager, as well as Chamber Program Manager at the Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce.
He is a graduate of Macalester College (B.A. – International Studies), Palmer Theological Seminary (M.A. – Theological Studies), and North Park University (M.A. – Community Development).
He can be found each week playing ultimate frisbee in the pickup game that grew out of the Chicago MVS unit more than 30 years ago.

Kiernan Wright

Kiernan Wright grew up in Orrville, Ohio, and attended Goshen College before working for MCC in Chiapas, Mexico. Kiernan moved to Chicago in 2020 for graduate school at the University of Chicago.
Kiernan currently works as a psychotherapist and enjoys spending his free time outdoors and with friends. He joined the MVS support committee in 2022.

Ellis Avenue Church

Ellis Avenue Church is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Formed within the Southern Baptist Convention but part of it no longer, this progressive congregation is a member of the Alliance of Baptists and is pastored by the Revs. Jonathan Friesen and Jorja Porter; Jonathan is of Mennonite extraction.

Ellis Avenue Church is located in the Kenwood community on the south side of Chicago, and represents the cultural richness of the south side: the global community around the University of Chicago, the Black communities which surround the U of C’s Hyde Park neighborhood, and other ethnic neighborhoods such as Chinatown and Pilsen. The congregation is a small, dynamic church family supporting one another in all kinds of ways.

Pastor Jonathan wrote, “This is a “no-brainer” that we be… a supporting church for the MVS unit… Ways to include the unit in the life of the church include:

– Invitations to participate in worship (as they are interested and comfortable)

– Invitations to join… the Intergenerational or Quiet and Prayer Retreats

– Invitations to participate in church fellowship opportunities

– The Free Store could be a resource if they need anything (e.g. kitchen stuff); The Free Store has also been a place where the unit can get rid of stuff they don’t need that are cluttering the house too. It could also be a volunteer opportunity as well.

– Events to welcome/acknowledge the new household members and to have folks share at the end of their experience”

Lake View Presbyterian Church

Lake View Presbyterian Church is located in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, two blocks from Wrigley Field. LVPC is part of the “Boys Town” area and home to the Third Space community center, the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus, a theatre company and more.

Pastor Ashley writes: “Lake View Presbyterian Church is honored to serve as a supporting congregation for Mennonite Voluntary Service in Chicago. Decades ago Mennonite Volunteers came to our congregation and assisted with multiple projects. We are excited to partner again many years later. As a community committed to living out inclusive and engaged faith, we look forward to welcoming the volunteers into the life of our congregation. We are committed to extending hospitality by inviting volunteers to worship, sharing meals, and offering a community of care and encouragement throughout their year of service.

Beyond offering welcome and fellowship, Lake View is also glad to provide practical support. Our church facilities will be available as a meeting space for retreats, enrichment days, and gatherings that nurture reflection and community among the volunteers. We can also provide virtual meeting space through our professional Zoom account. Many of our members are deeply connected to non-profit organizations and justice-focused ministries across Chicago, and we are eager to help volunteers make meaningful connections as they explore and deepen their service work. In addition, our members will lend a hand with work days at the MVS house, helping ensure a safe and welcoming living environment.

We are excited to walk alongside the volunteers, sharing friendship, resources, and encouragement as they live out their call to serve and seek the common good in our city.”