About Us

Chicago Staff

Dirk FiccaExecutive Director
Rev Dirk Ficca
Rev. Dirk Ficca serves as Executive Director of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions. Dirk worked closely with the religious and spiritual communities of the Chicago metropolitan area to plan and organize the 1993 Parliament event in Chicago. Given the enthusiasm generated by the 1993 Parliament, Dirk continued to lead the Council's efforts to build a vibrant interreligious movement in Chicago and around the world. Dirk is an ordained Presbyterian minister and prior to joining the Council served for eleven years as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Benton Harbor, Michigan.  Dirk teaches at DePaul University, the Lutheran School of Theology and Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. Contact Dirk Ficca.

 

 

Deputy Executive Director & Partner Cities Director
Ms Zabrina Santiago

Zabrina Santiago brings over 15 years of experience in executive leadership, strategic planning, and relationship management to the Council. Previously, Zabrina served as Director of Client Services for the international firm of Morningstar Investment Services, Inc. Zabrina has been involved in the work of leading international organizations including UN Alliance of Civilizations, United Nations-USA, and the Council on Foreign Relations Religions and Foreign Policy Initiative. A longstanding leader in campaigns promoting social justice through the Presbyterian Church (USA), Zabrina combines religious commitment with social activism. Zabrina is recognized for her work in international community development, having guided religious and civic leaders in over 25 cities worldwide who have implemented programs focused on reducing religious, social and economic conflict. Zabrina holds a Masters in Theology from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. Contact Zabrina Santiago.
 

 
Outreach Director and Development Associate
Ms Alisa Roadcup

Alisa Roadcup brings seven years of non-profit experience in strategic communications, programming and development to the Council. Alisa has served as Amnesty International's Stop Violence Against Women Campaign Coordinator for Colorado, Arizona and Illinois and also as Education Director at Fresh Start Women's Foundation in Phoenix, Arizona.

Alisa holds a B.A. in Humanities, an M.A. in Religious Studies and wrote her thesis on Thomas Merton's Theology of the Self as Influenced by Christian Mysticism and Zen Buddhism. She went on to study Contemplative Social Action at Naropa University.

Alisa’s heroes include Desmond Tutu and Dr. Judith Simmer-Brown. Contact Alisa Roadcup



 
Executive Associate
Amelia Perkins
Amelia Perkins has studied and worked in the areas of religion and the arts. After receiving a Masters of Theology from Harvard in 2005, she received a Sheldon travel fellowship to research Eastern Orthodox monasticism in Greece. Amelia has worked as a researcher at the Harvard Center for the Study of World Religions, where she helped shape the exhibit content for the Museum of World Religions in Taiwan. She also worked for Dharma Master Hsin Tao at One Center in New York to connect Taiwanese Buddhists to the wider interreligious community, mainly through interfaith arts events. She presented a Religious Art and Healing Workshop at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Barcelona in 2004. In her role as executive associate, she is working on arts programming for the 2009 Parliament, as well as general support of the executive strategies and administration. Contact Amelia Perkins
 


Website Development Manager
Mr Matthew Black
Matt Black is committed to harnessing the power of the internet to bring people together. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Penn State University and an MDiv from McCormick Theological Seminary. He has worked for years as a web developer for organizations in both the corporate and non-profit sectors, currently focussing his work in both the interreligious movement and peacemaking. He is also a singer/songwriter and lives in an intentional community in Chicago. Contact Matt Black


 
Volunteer Coordinator
Ms Connie Sulkin

Connie Sulkin was a preschool teacher and director for over thirty years. She then developed preschool programs at The Field Museum and was an early childhood consultant for the Chicago Public Schools. During much of this time she volunteered for the Parliament and attended many Parliament activities at the 1993, 1999 and 2004 meetings in Chicago, Cape Town, and Barcelona. Contact Connie Sulkin.