ABOUT
Renew Communties Non-Profit
Love In Action
The name "Matthew Homes" comes from the Bible in Matthew 5:14-16. Jesus had just encouraged his listeners to live out the Beatitudes. Next he encouraged them to actively shine God's love and kindness to those nearby because this glorifies God. Thus, Matthew Homes were launched as a tangible expression of God's love for all.
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MISSION & VISION.
Community Revitalization
ReNew is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that seeks to transform and empower struggling communities. Our mission is to come alongside community leaders and residents by offering programs that work collaboratively with local businesses to increase jobs, provide affordable home ownership for those in need, and build career pathways for students, all with the goal of igniting a tipping point toward community revitalization.
Rebuilding and Restoring Hope
OUR STORY.
ReNew Communities seeks to cultivate a “tipping point” in which momentum in community revitalization “crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads” organically and rapidly throughout North Chicago. (Malcom Gladwell, The Tipping Point)
We think a growing number of engaged residents is the catalytic ingredient. A good job and a place to call home and raise a family are the foundations of thriving communities.
Our business development and career pathway teams are cultivating jobs and pathways into good careers by collaborating with the city, chamber, schools, local businesses and non-profits.
Our Matthew Homes teams are seeking to increase homeownership by 15%, primarily by providing opportunities for low and moderate-income families renting or working in North Chicago to own a home. Thriving communities generally have a 66% rate or greater of home ownership. North Chicago hovers around 34% home ownership. As home ownership increases so does safety, improved childhood academics, friendships among neighbors, family health, and family stability. ReNew Communities believes 300 new homeowners, or about a 15% increase in home ownership, represents the “tipping point” for North Chicago in which momentum “crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads” organically and rapidly throughout the city.
OUR BOARD
The People Behind the Passion
Mike Woodruff
Board Chair. Mike Woodruff has been the Senior Pastor of Christ Church since 2002. In addition to being the past president of Scholar Leaders International and the author of numerous books and over 200 articles, Mike chairs the board for the Lakelight Institute and the author of The Friday Update.
David Weil. PH.D.
Board President & Executive Director. Dr. David Weil has a long history in management, teaching, and leading new initiatives in both corporate and church communities. David is a Fire and Police Commissioner with North Chicago and an elected Trustee with Shields Township.
Steve Alley
Board Vice President. Steve Alley is the Founder and President of Alley Company, an investment management firm, which was formed in 1998 after spending 12 years at Morgan Stanley. A University of Wisconsin graduate, who went on to play for the 1976 US Olympic Hockey Team followed by a career in the National Hockey League. The focus of Steve’s charitable board work is on underserved communities and education.
Bob Smith
Board Treasurer. Bob Smith is the head of public credit and equity at Allstate Investments. Bob also is board treasurer for Mosaic NFP, in North Chicago.
Eric Tienou
Board Member. Eric Tienou specializes in corporate finance, strategy and mergers & acquisitions. He is a former VP, Consumer Retail Group with Goldman Sachs. Previous work experience was with the Industrials Investment Banking Group at J.P. Morgan and also with PPG Industries. Prior to coming to ReNew, Eric served in several advisory capacities and also volunteered with a New York based nonprofit serving the working poor.
Rejean Morgan
Board Secretary. Rejean Morgan is a business and intellectual property attorney, with a focus on patent & trademark law and business formation. Prior to law school, Rejean was an electrical engineer with Wisconsin Electric (now WE Energies). Rejean also serves on the board of directors for the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and was a founder and director of The Justice Center, a legal aid ministry in Lake County IL.
Marshall Reavis
Board Member. Marshall Reavis was the CEO of SVM, a company he founded in 1997 and sold to Blackhawk Network (a Silver Lake portfolio company) in April 2020. He then began DeCA Cards, the gift card program manager for military commissaries around the world. Marshall also serves on the boards of DePauw University, ScholarLeaders International and Life Builders Ministries International.
“North Chicago is a community with resilient people, a rich heritage, and a tenacious spirit for building a future for their children.”
— David Weil, Executive Director, ReNew Communities
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