Toy Beasley, President
Background: Toy is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He completed the Drug and Alcohol Counseling training program (DACT) at Illinois Central College. Toy is President of the Mclean County Reentry Council (MCRC). Also, on the leadership Team with Mclean County Fatherhood Coalition. Toy has dedicated himself to improving the quality of life for individuals who have been incarcerated and struggle with substance use issues. He passionately helps these individuals regain self-efficacy and assist them in re-establishing themselves as contributing members of society. He is keen to draw on their strengths and inspire them to see beyond their current situation. Toy empowers them to tap into their potential as he holds to his heartfelt belief that every person has the ability to change the course of their life. One of the greatest examples that he gives is taking from the pages of his own life. He is a living testimony of hope, triumph, perseverance, and change. He shares his life struggles to encourage individuals that change is possible. He motivates them to keep stretching even when it’s uncomfortable. It is through this motivation that he stirs optimism and helps those he serve tear down years of dysfunction and cycles of poor choices, generating better outcomes.
Passion: Toy is an active member in his community and church. He volunteers at the McLean County Jail serving as a jail minister and he partners with varying organizations to provide mentorship, organization and consultation.
Colleen Shaw, Vice President
Background: In hery role as Outreach Manager at Bloomington Public Library she works alongside staff to develop connections with partner organizations and bring valuable services outside the walls of the library.
Passion: She is am passionate about connecting people with the services and resources they need to live free & purpose filled lives.
Michelle Cope, Treasurer
Background: Michelle’s goal as Outreach Library Associate at the Bloomington Public Library is to connect people and organizations with the resources they need, helping those who have been justice-impacted seems a natural extension of that role.
Passion: I want to ‘invite the uninvited’ and make them feel welcome in our community. I love finding ways to take away barriers that keep people from being successful in what they are trying to achieve.
Kara Alt, Board Member
Background: Kara is the Director of YWCA Labyrinth program, which provides outreach case management and transitional housing for women who have been justice-impacted.
Passion: Working at Labyrinth has opened my eyes to the barriers that individuals face after incarceration, and I want to be a part of a council that focuses on eliminating the barriers for those affected.
Langston Pates, Board Member
Background: Langston is from Central, Illinois. Currently, he owns and operates a six figure a year moving company, Team Relocation. Langston takes earned income from his moving company and invests it into real estate to grow passive income and financial freedom for himself and his family for generations to come. Langston is a father to 7 children, an employer to 5 men, and a servant to 1 God. This was not always his narrative. Before his success, Langston walked a very troubled path throughout his 40 years on this Earth.
Riddled by multiple prison terms, drug addiction, and co-dependency Langston lost his children to social services. During his incarceration, Langston had finally had enough. He decided to go back into the world with a different mindset. He wanted to add as much value to the universe as he possibly could using his gift. The thing he does the absolute best with the least amount of effort, manufacturing and delivery!
Heather Johnson, Board Member
Background: Heather is a dedicated Realtor and passionate advocate for equality, particularly for those seeking a second chance after past mistakes. She understands that sometimes, people are in the wrong place at the wrong time, or that sometimes, people make the wrong decisions (even if they felt it was for the right reasons.) With a heart for the unheard and underrepresented, she has been actively involved in her community for many years. Heather is a long-time volunteer with underserved populations. She founded two food rescue programs to deliver food directly from stores to those in need, ensuring it reaches the right hands. Additionally, she led a youth art program at Eastview for over 150 children, fostering creativity and community engagement. Heather remains active in her children’s schools and continues to make a positive impact through her professional and volunteer work.
Passions: Heather embraces the joys and challenges of parenting teenagers and takes pride in helping others realize their dreams. A master at navigating chaos, she often finds herself in the role of an unpaid therapist—a talent she jokes could have been her calling. With a knack for graphic design, Heather expresses her creativity while also taking on the task of organizing everyone’s lives, even if her own sometimes gets left out. These passions fuel her connections and keep her inspired.