OUR TEAM

Abby was born and raised in Buffalo, NY but came to Springfield to attend Wittenberg University where she obtained degrees in Psychology and Sociology. While pursuing her studies at Wittenberg, Abby interned with Promise where she fell in love with Springfield and the youth she served. After graduation, Abby felt called to continue her work with Promise and served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member. In September 2024, Abby joined the Promise Team full-time as the Youth Empowerment Coordinator where she is delighted to continue serving the youth of Springfield.

Dr. Bob Welker began developing the concept for the Springfield Promise Neighborhood in 2010 and served as its first Director until 2019. He has worked with area schools and social service organizations for over 20 years and is the founder of The Institute, the graduate program in teacher improvement at Wittenberg University, as well as Youth as Resources, a grant giving organization run by area youth and adults to promote service learning in Springfield/Clark County. He previously served on the Board of Education for Graham Local Schools, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Jefferson Street Oasis Garden.

Jesica is a Springfield native with deep roots in our community. After moving to Columbus for a short time, Jesica returned to Springfield to direct Promise's after-school program. Since then, she has worked on Youth Development projects, expanding Promise's summer program options. She is also an active member of Restored Life Ministries, and she loves chasing after her twin boys!

Jon is from a multi-generation Springfield family and has worked in and around Springfield schools for most of his career, first working as an after-school program assistant at Fulton Elementary's 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, and as a paraprofessional in multiple buildings. Jon served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member with Promise from 2021 to 2022, and was selected as the Healthy Families Coordinator in Fall of 2022. He has published a novel and is working on its sequel. He loves spending time with his family.

Kali is a graduate of Wittenberg University, where she first started volunteering for the Promise Neighborhood and took classes from its founder, Dr. Bob Welker. She served three terms as an AmeriCorps VISTA member, as an administrative assistant, and as Co-Director before Dr. Bob officially retired in 2019. Kali is originally from Elyria, Ohio. Thanks to her dad's love of nature, she also volunteers for People for Safe Water and loves spending time outdoors on her bike or in her kayak.

Krisi is a newly graduated MSW from Case Western Reserve University. She has served with the Promise Neighborhood through three VISTA terms, and now works part-time as a Youth Development Assistant and at . She supports extended learning programming, and her yearlong mentorship and peer support program "Promise Gems" has now expanded "Promise Kingz" for boys and to multiple schools in Springfield.

Wayne came to Promise after taking a course at Wittenberg taught by Dr. Bob and Kali in 2019. He shifted careers away from landscaping and manual labor to educational studies, desiring to work with people with disabilities. After being the main caretaker at the end of his father's life, Wayne completed his Educational Studies degree and came to the Promise team in the Fall of 2022. He supports the needs of our partner schools, including arranging volunteers, donations, and resources. In his free time you can catch him zooming by on his motorcycle!