Director of Public Engagement and Programs

Seasoned executive and an astute connector, David Day has joined the Till Institute to lead our public engagement and programming mission. David has worked many roles in the nonprofit, government and private sectors. Most recently, David served as the Chief Operating Officer at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, where he played an essential role in effectively managing the operational growth of the organization across multiple offices around the US.

Prior to Rainbow PUSH, David was the Vice President of Development at Chicago State University, and previously served as the Chief Administrative Officer of the National Black MBA Association.

David is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the premier youth mentoring organization, the 100 Black Men of Chicago and is a member of the Development and Corporate Relations Committee at the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. He also serves as the Vice President of Operations for the Chicago Chapter of the National Black MBA Association.

Editor/Producer, Digital Media

Alexis Ross is the Editor and Producer of Digital Media at the Till Institute, where she leads multimedia content creation across the Institute's web and social media platforms. She brings a strong foundation in video production, photojournalism and multimedia storytelling, as a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism master's program.

Her reporting has appeared in the Arizona Republic, and her photography has been featured by Beloit College, showcasing her versatility across sports, news and visual storytelling.

Creative Director

Till Institute Creative Director, Raymond A. Thomas, is an international award-winning fine artist, filmmaker, creative, curator and teacher. Thomas graduated from the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

After graduating, Raymond was hired by Johnson Publishing Company Inc. where he served as the Art Director and Creative Manager for 23 years. Raymond has served as a board and committee member for many  renowned Chicago art institutions including: Little Black Pearl, Black Harvest Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival Black Perspectives Sidebar, Chicago Public Art Group and South Side Community Art Center (SSCAC).

Raymond is currently the Art Director for the Jazz Institute of Chicago and a resident artist at the Bronzeville Artist Lofts in Chicago.

Director of Operations

Marnie E. Trotter brings more than 30 years of leadership experience to the Till Institute as Director of Operations, advancing operational excellence in support of the Institute’s mission to preserve the legacy of Emmett Till and the activism of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley.

She was the National Director of Community Affairs and Correspondence for the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, as well as Executive Assistant and National/International Scheduler to its founder, the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.

Marnie also served as an administrator, contributing to company growth and playing a key role in securing major government contracts, including a multi-million-dollar contract with the Department of Defense. Her professional background includes counseling, education, finance, ministry, public relations and public safety. She successfully managed over 40 employees, from maintenance personnel to senior-level staff.

Marnie attended Loyola University Chicago for undergraduate work, majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in English. An emerging theologian, she has completed two years toward her pursuit of a Master of Divinity degree at the Chicago Theological Seminary.

She remains active in her community by serving Trinity United Church of Christ, Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.