Kids Above All welcomes Newest Member
Kids Above All today is excited to welcome Pastor Beverly Dukes to its Board of Trustees. The 36-member governing body provides leadership, financial support, and guidance to help the agency in its mission to build better lives for children and families in the Chicago area impacted by poverty, violence, and injustice.
Rev. Dukes serves as clergy at both Christ United Methodist Church (UMC) in Alsip and Morgan Park UMC in Chicago, where she preaches, leads worship, and supports congregational ministries. She was ordained as an Elder in Full Connection with the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2023.
Prior to her ministry in the UMC, Rev. Dukes worked for more than two decades on the front lines of human services with a particular focus on child welfare, youth development, and family support. Dukes has held leadership and case management roles with organizations including Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Camelot Care Center, MYSI, Inc., and Catholic Charities, where she worked directly with children and families to ensure their safety and stability. She also served as Policy Coordinator at United Voices for Children, advocating for youth in under-resourced communities in and around Chicago.
“My journey in ministry and child welfare has always been guided by the belief that every child deserves safety, love, and opportunity,” said Rev. Dukes. “I’m honored to join Kids Above All and its mission to help families across our community to build better lives.”
“We’re excited to welcome Pastor Dukes to Kids Above All’s Board of Trustees,” said Dan Kotowski, President & CEO of Kids Above All. “Her extensive experience in protecting the health and welfare of children, as well as her deep connection to the United Methodist Church strengthens our mission and ensures Kids Above All will continue to increase our impact on children and families throughout Chicagoland.”
Pastor Dukes holds a Master of Divinity from Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary and a Master of Science in Public Service Management from DePaul University. She also serves as an Executive Member of the Board of Ordained Ministry of the UMC’s Northern Illinois Conference, the Black United Methodist Pastors, the NAACP Chicago Far-South Suburban Branch, the Poor People’s Campaign, and the Anti-Racism Task Force of the Northern Illinois Conference.