Mary Santana, Executive Director
Mary, the Founder of The Miracle Center, created the agency out of a need to spend more time with her son, Adrian, when he was just 8 years old. Over the past 11 years she has touched the lives of countless children who have participated in The Miracle Center’s programs. Mary holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Northeastern University and is currently working on her Master’s in Business Administration and Non-Profit Management from North Park University. Mary is a true visionary and has an intense passion for ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the arts.

Jose Sanchez, Senior Program Director
Jose is entering his third season with The Miracle Center and brings over 25 years of experience working with and supervising children and youth programs throughout Chicago. His dedication and love for children, experience as a professional musician for many years and passion for the performing arts, has helped The Miracle Center develop programs that not only meet the needs of the youth, but creates an anchor for youth and families in the community.

Anais Barreto, Artistic Coordinator/Lead Choreographer
Anais was born and raised in Chicago and has been involved with The Miracle Center since the age of 14. Dancing since the age of 10, she has trained in the Dance Ministry at Maranatha Church, enrolled in 2003 at Columbia College in the field of dance, has been active in numerous dance productions and Certified in Ballet Magnificat's 2007 Summer Intensive Teacher’s Workshop. She is the year round Artistic Coordinator/Lead Choreographer with the children. Her passion is to enrich and encourage children to express themselves through the art of dance.

Elsa Chaparro, Community Outreach Coordinator
Elsa came to Chicago 12 years ago from the Enchanted Island of Puerto Rico; she posses a Bachelor’s Degree in Art from the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras. Elsa brings over 25 years of experience working with children, youth, families and the community in general. Her passion has always been the community. She has been hired to work as a Project Coordinator for the Strategic Prevention Framework Project (SPF). This project studies the underage drinking issue among our youth and works with the community stakeholders and residents as a whole to look for resources and more effective approaches.

Sarah Barr, Community Coach

A long-time "cheerleader" for the Miracle Center, Sarah Barr joined the staff in 2007 with 10 years of experience working with youth-serving agencies in Chicago.  Before coming to the Miracle Center, Sarah worked for the Chicago Department of Human Services and After School Matters analyzing community and program data to identify community resources and needs, and to guide the planning and placement of youth programs and services.  As the Community Coach, Sarah uses data analysis, program evaluation, and geographic information systems to help TMC plan programs and services around the needs of the Hermosa community, particularly in the area of drug and alcohol prevention.  Sarah will earn her Masters Degree in Urban Planning and Policy with a focus in Community Development from the University of Illinois at Chicago in August 2008.  She also has a Bachelor's degree in Geography from DePaul University.  Sarah works as a community development consultant for other Chicago organizations and universities, and she is highly dedicated to planning healthy, vibrant communities for Chicago's youth.

Jennifer Concepcion, Instructor
Jennifer is currently a senior at Northeastern University. She is majoring in Communication with a concentration in Theatre/Media and a minor in Music. For the past two years, Jennifer has been a part of the Evangelical performing arts ministries, “Consuming Arts” and “De Adonai.” Jennifer started at The Miracle Center in 2006 as an intern before becoming part of the staff family. It has been a great learning experience and a true blessing for her to serve the children of The Miracle Center.

Ivette Ortiz-Rentas, Parent/Volunteer Coordinator
Ivette volunteered with The Miracle Center for six years prior to coming on as a staff member in June 2007. Every summer, she ran an abstinence program with a focus on health. Ivette holds a Nursing degree and Teaching degree from Northeastern Illinois University. Her focus is in Elementary Education with a double major in English and a minor in ESL. Ivette has had the opportunity to bring in ESL and GED classes for the parents and youth adults of the community. Soon we will be offering substance abuse workshops for parents. Ivette’s goal at The Miracle Center is to empower and educate parents that in return we can have healthy, happy children and families.

Roberto Negron, Theater Director
A native to Chicago’s Humboldt Park, Roberto has had a passion for the arts since the age of 9. Since 1964, Roberto has been involved in numerous artistic ensembles including the “Workshop off Wells” that performed for schools, senior citizens, and wherever else the company was called to perform, the ‘Brothers United’ a revolutionary inter-racial band called and helped drive the funk and groove movements as their guitarist and conga player. In 1982, Roberto served as head of a church drama department and for over 15 years taught drama, mime, painted backgrounds, designed fliers, logos, and designed apparel. He traveled to Spain, Switzerland, Canada, Mexico, and throughout the United States with the churches drama group to do community outreach. He was also part of the church’s music ministry. From 1999 to 2005, Roberto was hired by The Miracle Center, to be the art, mime, and drama Director, working in their after school programs and summer school programs and community events in outreach.

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