ABOUT
Origami Works Foundation addresses gaps and opportunities in Chicagoland’s vibrant and complex workforce development ecosystem. We collaborate with community-based organizations, educational institutions, employers, and government agencies to reduce barriers to rewarding employment. We apply project management strategies and capabilities to bring promising ideas out of the ideation stage and into reality.
Dani Houchin
Executive Director
Dani's commitment to addressing workforce issues across Chicagoland is palpable and it inspires the people around her.
January Miller, Embarc
Dani (she/her) is the Executive Director and Managing Trustee of Origami Works Foundation. Dani spent most of her career as a management consultant, helping organizations of all kinds and sizes enhance the performance of their employees, through learning initiatives, change management efforts, and process improvements. Now she applies those skills to enhancing opportunity for Chicagoans seeking to overcome barriers to employment, opportunity youth, and first generation college students.
A first-generation college graduate herself, Dani has a degree in Public & International Affairs from Princeton University, and a Masters in Instructional Technology from Columbia University. She also completed doctoral level coursework at Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy.
Tami (she/her) is the Program Officer at Origami Works Foundation providing support and direction on a variety of projects both past and present. She has spent her career in a diverse set of roles and sectors, including Office Management, Human Resources, and was the creator and proprietor of a small online crafts business for several years. Tami's unique career path has given her an ability to adapt and innovate, and she now uses that skill to help Origami Works Foundation succeed in its partnerships with Chicagoland workforce organizations.
Tami is a first-generation college graduate with a BA in Theatre & Dance from The University of Texas at Austin. In addition to her work with Origami Works Foundation she is a writer, performer, and advocate for the empowerment of girls and women.
Tami Hillberry
Program Officer
Allison Harju
Operations Manager
Allison (she/her) is the Operations Manager for Origami Works Foundation. Allison is responsible for many critical tasks that, when done well, often go unnoticed. Her responsibilities include human resources, bookkeeping, payroll, benefits, compliance, grants administration, website maintenance and general operations. Allison is both a people person and a numbers person; she is creative and consistent, reliable and thorough.
Allison earned her Associate in Arts from William Rainey Harper College and completed additional coursework in psychology, sociology & criminal justice. Allison has years of experience working behind the scenes making sure organizations run smoothly for employees, clients, and business partners. Allison is also a certified yoga instructor.
Austin (he/him) is the Associate Project Manager at Origami Works Foundation and is engaging and assisting with several strategic projects over the next year, including the blog, a new contact management system, the 2023 Workforce Development Symposium and others.
As a first generation student, Austin received a BA in Chemistry from Princeton University and conducted research on microtubules. He is also a rock climber, a film fanatic, and a sneakerhead. His favorite movie is Te Llevo Conmigo and plans to continue developing his rock climbing expertise and expanding his sneaker collection.
Austin volunteered as an ESL instructor at El Centro in Trenton, New Jersey and worked as a Rock Climbing Wall Coordinator for Princeton University’s Climbing Wall. Both of these experiences have contributed to Austin's professional skills and cultivated his passion for the empowerment of marginalized communities.
Austin Morales-Sanchez
Associate Project Manager
Megan Hannon
Project Management Fellow
Megan (she/her) is the Project Management Fellow at Origami Works Foundation. She assists and helps manage several projects, including the blog, Talent Connections book promotion, updates to the contact management system, and more.
As a first-generation student, Megan received a BA in Computer Science from Princeton. Her senior thesis focused on designing a system of programmable hardware that can be used to create immersive, self-guided tour experiences, by detecting the user’s location and their interaction with integrated modules.
Megan is also a musician, her favorite instrument being the tenor saxophone, which she played for the Band at Princeton. She is a portrait artist, animator, and loves to crochet plush toys as a hobby. Megan looks forward to starting her new life in Chicago and working on new and exciting projects at Origami Works.
Isabel is a Project Management Intern at Origami Works Foundation, where she supports and helps manage multiple initiatives, including the organization’s blog and the Employer Engagement Playbook. She is committed to maintaining organization across projects and assisting teams in meeting goals efficiently. Isabel is currently a student at YearUpUnited, where she continues to develop professional and technical skills that complement her prior experience as a Team Lead at a distribution center, strengthening her leadership, communication, and operational skills.
Outside of school & work, Isabel is a dedicated mom with a busy schedule who enjoys playing softball, reading, trying out new food spots, and currently learning how to bake (one recipe at a time!). A recipe that she is trying to learn is a sourdough bread.
Isabel Arista
Project Management Intern
Maria Hernandez
Project Management Apprentice
Maria is the Project Management Apprentice at Origami Works Foundation. During her apprenticeship, Maria will support various projects at the Foundation, including the Talent Champions blog and the organization’s contact management system. Maria has had a variety of experiences, including working as a leasing agent, where she developed strong communication, organizational, customer service, and time management skills; these skills have prepared her for her work at Origami Works Foundation.
As a first-gen student, Maria is currently majoring in Business Economics at City Colleges of Chicago and is expected to graduate Fall 2026, with future plans to transfer and continue her education. With business being her study focus, Maria hopes to continue building a future in community-oriented work. Maria is also a talented baker who loves to bake macarons and is known for her delicious cake pops.
Ava (she/her) is the Communications Intern at Origami Works Foundation. She supports and helps manage multiple initiatives, including the Talent Champions blog and the production of a monthly newsletter for employer engagement professionals. Through these experiences, she continues to develop her communication and writing skills while working toward her future career goals.
She is currently a first-generation college student at the University of Dayton and is actively involved in a variety of academic, professional, and service-oriented groups. Throughout her time at UD, she has worked on public relations campaigns, journalism assignments, and community-focused initiatives, developing strong skills in communication, research, and planning. As a student pursuing communication and public relations, Ava is passionate about storytelling, relationship building, and creating meaningful connections within communities.
Ava enjoys exploring new places, spending time with friends, and discovering new experiences through travel.
Ava Siragusa
Communications Intern
Katelyn Tran
Project Management Intern
Katelyn is a Project Management Intern at Origami Works Foundation. This summer, Katelyn will be supporting Origami Works Foundation's Employer Engagement Playbook project. She is currently a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she works as a consultant for CUBE Consulting and a director for Ascend (Pan-Asian Business Leaders). Katelyn's experience in client-facing work and planning case competitions will support her success in engaging stakeholders and managing projects at the Origami Works Foundation.
Outside of school and work, Katelyn enjoys doing Chinese dance, drawing, and trying new places to eat. Though she's always stuck with Chinese dance, she's recently been learning more modern forms of dance!