The Dream Team

Gregory Justin Michael Perez, President​

Resume and CV

Born in the Bronx, NY 1972
Background: Puerto Rican
Graduated New York School for the Deaf
 
Accomplishments:
Making a Difference Award, NBC Chicago 2020
Volunteer of the Year Award, Deaf Defy, 2019
 
Education:
NTID ’92-‘93
Gallaudet 94 -95
RIT 95-96
 
DPS Job
President

Day Job
Residential counselor for mentally ill youth and adults at group home facility
 
Hobbies
​Basketball, boxing, ping pong, foosball, football, floor hockey, DJ, and watching movies

Zaineb "Zee" Abdulla, Vice President

​Resume and CV

Born in 1991
Background: Iraqi
 
Education
University of Illinois at Chicago, 2013
  - BA in Sociology
St. Joseph’s University, 2017
  - MS.Ed in Special Education/Deaf Education
California State University, 2019
  - VCS Applied Behavior Analysis
Arizona Trauma Institute
  -Clinical Trauma Specialist certification
 
DPS Job
Vice President
​
Day Job
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
​ 
Hobbies
Mixed martial arts, writing, compulsive coffee drinking

Parisa Haghighi

Resume

Born: Tehran, Iran in 1988
Background: Iranian and Russian

Education
NTID 2012 AAS in Laboratory Science Technology.
Graduated from Eastern Illinois University, majoring in Medical Lab Science/Biological Science with a Bachelors degree, 2019

DPS Job
Social Media Manager
​ 
Day Job
Hobbies
Listening to the music, playing with makeup, working out, traveling, self-defense, watching movies, reading quotes for living. I enjoy learning something new everyday!

Adlai Hampton Jr.

Resume

Heritage: Black American

Education
Whitney M. Young H.S 1986-1990
Northern Illinois University 1991
Harold Washington City College 2009-11

Employment
Northern Trust Bank Company, check processor and data entry 1997-2001
LaSalle Bank, data entry 2001-2005
Thresholds, staff aide 2001-2013

Current Employment
CVS Health Manufacturing, Pharmacy Tech 1 Calibrator (Pharmacy Technical License)

Accomplishments
My accomplishment will come when I finish studying for my pharmacy tech license

Hobbies
I like to travel around world and enjoy to meeting new people of various cultural  backgrounds. I love to play sports, especially basketball and football and enjoy trying new adventures. I like to read books: non-fiction or fiction, whatever interests me! I also like to play video games, hang out with friends and family at events. I enjoying volunteering in a variety of events and helping others in need.

Nansi Hernandez

Resume

Born in Durango, Mexico in 1989
Background: Latinx

DPS Job
Personnel Manager
​ 
Day Job
Residential counselor for youth and adults at group home facility + providing services to clients with mental health needs and developmental disabilities.

Hobbies
Adult coloring, watching interesting documentaries, playing board games, putting together puzzles, butterfly gardening, collecting favorite things, hiking in nature, jogging or running, and wine tasting

Sibila Munoz Torres

Resume

​Born in Concepcion, Chile in 1968
Background: Chilean and Latina

Education
Rockville High School (Maryland), 1987
Gallaudet University, 1996 (BS, Family Consumer Studies)

Accomplishments
Secretary: National Hispanic Latino Association of the Deaf and Latino Deaf & Hard of Hearing Association Metropolitan, DC

DPS Job
Secretary

Day Job
Paraprofessional, Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, Gallaudet University, 1998-current

Hobbies
Traveling the world, shopping, cross stitching, wine tastings and watching movies/soccer.

Courtney Nugent

Resume

Born: Chicago 1989
Background: Irish & German

Accomplishments
High Honor Roll, multiple academic years
Summa Cum Laude, 2011

Education
Lemont High School- 2007
Gallaudet University- 2011 (BA in Biology)
Certified Sterile Processing Technician - 2015
​Certified Illinois Basset Bartender- renewed 2021

DPS Job
Soldier Field Program, VIP Manager
​ 
Day Job
Medical Billing Clerk- current

Hobbies
Pet sitting, exercising, watching movies/tv shows, listening to music, wine tastings, event planning, and working as a certified special event bartender

Derek Nathaniel Troy

Resume

Born in Evanston, IL in 1977
Background: Part Romanian, Part Russian  
 
Education
​Hersey High School 1996
William Rainey Harper 1996-1997
College of Lake County 1998
Northern Illinois University (Bachelor’s Degree) 2000
 
DPS Job
Soldier Field Program, Outdoor Manager
​ 
Day Job
Bicycle dealer
 
Hobbies
Flea market, farmer’s market, reading books, sightseeing
For two years straight, Deaf Planet Soul has earned the Gold Seal of Transparency from Candid's Guidestar program. In 2023, we also earned the Platinum Seal. We owe it all to the team of DPS superheroes making it happen!