Our Founder
Judith McCray
Founder, Board Chair & Executive Director
Judith McCray is a multiple Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist, documentary filmmaker, and media activist with over 30 years in television and media production. She received the Leaders for a New Chicago award from the Field and MacArthur Foundation in 2023.
Her experience includes working both fulltime and as an independent producer for public broadcasting stations WNET/New York, WTTW/Chicago, WBEZ/Chicago, WYCC/Chicago, WSIU/Carbondale, and Common Ground/weekly radio series on world affairs.
She’s also written, directed and produced independent documentaries for PBS Primetime and national public television. She has long embraced using media as a vehicle to examine social justice issues and advocate social change. Her passion for finding the “ah-hah” moment in every story that can inspire and compel deeper understanding has taken her to the Sudan, Egypt, Kenya, Switzerland, Brazil and across the U.S. to uncover hidden truths, the unheard and little recognized.
Born and raised on a family farm in eastern Iowa, on land her grandfather purchased after fleeing Jim Crow racism in Mississippi, she has always fought for social justice with the media as her primary tool. She holds a B.S. degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, and a M.A. degree in politics and public policy from Rutgers University’s Eagleton Institute of Politics.
Board of Directors
Bettina Chang
Board Secretary
Bettina Chang is a nonprofit leader, founder and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist living in the Bay Area. She currently serves as Program Manager for Just Democracy at the Skyline Foundation, supporting organizations working toward a stronger, more equitable and more resilient democracy. She is the co-founder and former co-executive director at City Bureau, a Chicago-based journalism nonprofit that pioneered a new model for community-rooted, participatory media. In 2024-2025, she was a joint John S. Knight Journalism Fellow and Institute for Advancing Just Societies Fellow at Stanford University.
Gregory McCray
Board Treasurer
Greg McCray is the CEO of PBE Axell, a global company that provides communication systems, monitoring products, and tracking units for industrial, commercial, and public safety markets. He is an experienced executive with more than 30 years of business, marketing, sales, engineering, operations, mergers & acquisitions, management and international experience in the communications technology industry. Greg has served in a number of CEO and management roles, including Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FDH Infrastructure Services, CEO of Google Fiber, CEO of Aero Communications Inc., CEO of Antenova, Chairman and CEO of PipingHot Networks and Senior Vice President of customer operations at Lucent Technologies where he managed Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He currently serves on the board of directors of FreeWave Technologies; Belden, Inc.; DigitalBridge Group, Inc.; and Adtran Holdings, and also sits on the non-profit boards for The 1921 Institute and Iowa State University College of Engineering.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from Iowa State University and a Master of Science degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Purdue University. He has completed Executive Business Programs at Harvard University, INSEAD, and the University of Illinois. In 2022 Greg was inducted into the Iowa State University Engineering Hall of Fame. He was named Most Influential Black Public Corporate Directors in 2014 & 2016, and Who’s Who International Business Leaders for 2005-2006, 2009-2010, and 2011-2012.
Wendell Robinson is the Executive Director of Restore Justice. He initially joined us as an apprentice to Jobi Cates. He went on to create and lead the Future Leaders Apprenticeship Program to cultivate non-profit management skills among people returning to the community following extreme sentences. Wendell is a dedicated leader and passionate advocate, bringing unique expertise to the role of Executive Director.
Wendell Robinson
Carl Williams is a passionate advocate for prison reform and youth restoration. He is dedicated to supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals in various aspects of their lives, including mental health, education, rebuilding, employment opportunities, legal rights and societal reintegration. As Community engagement specialist at the Chicago Torture Justice Center (CTJC), he plays a crucial role in advocating for justice and providing support to survivors of police torture and their families. Additionally, he serves on the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program Committee at DePaul University, contributing to educational initiatives that bridge the gap between incarcerated individuals and the broader community. Carl is also a committee member for the Illinois Coalition for Higher Education in Prison (ILCHEP).
As an entrepreneur Carl is dedicated to creating positive change through innovative solutions. He is president and owner of the custom furniture company Royal Men Solutions where he implements strategies to empower individuals in overcoming challenges and realizing their full potential. Moreover, his 501c3 organization Kids United for The Future, underscores his commitment to nurturing the next generation and creating opportunities for their growth and development.