Vikki Rompala, LCSW, PhD (ABD) joined Chicago Commons in 2020 with over 20 years of experience with community organizations providing culturally and linguistically relevant social services, health education, assessment, treatment services, and program development. Prior to joining Commons, Vikki was a researcher at Rush University Medical Center, led workforce development programming at Metropolitan Family Services including professional development of staff, quality and outcomes monitoring and reporting, and was a program evaluator for La Rabida Children’s Hospital. Vikki’s accomplishments include her work as co-chair of the Partnering with Youth and Families Committee for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, where she partnered with families and youth to elevate their voice for change at the organizational, local, state, and federal levels. She is also a Peer Reviewer for the Council of Accreditation and provides training on family systems, continuous quality improvement, and trauma-informed education and interventions. Vikki earned a master's in social work with a focus on Clinical and Community Organizing from University of Maryland. Her PhD training from University of Illinois at Chicago focused on program evaluation and public policy. Vikki’s dissertation research is on building workforce opportunities that grow skills and social capital among youth.