EPIC is governed by an Executive Committee consisting of five officers—president, vice president, corresponding secretary, recording secretary and treasurer—and answers to a constituency of more than 600 residents, both property owners and tenants. The block club meets quarterly but calls special sessions when issues so demand.

President: John Holden

John Holden is a lifelong Chicagoan who has lived in Magnolia Glen since 2013. He previously was a 22-year resident of the Sheridan Park neighborhood where he was actively involved in numerous community improvement projects and served for six years as president of the Dover Street Neighbors block club and led the drive to name the street a City landmark district. John is past president of the Uptown Historical Society and currently serves on the board of the Edgewater Historical Society. In his professional life, he has worked as a financial auditor, journalist and public relations officer. He currently is working as a consultant.

Vice President: Clare Lake

Clare Lake has called the Edgewater neighborhood home since 1994 except for a brief absence in 2007 and 2008 when he was living and working in Tokyo. He has resided in the same location on West Elmdale in all these years and loves the neighborhood. He has been an EPIC member for many years and has served as vice president and president. He has been a block captain for many years, as well. In his spare time he enjoys reading and listening to Asian pop music and trips to Japan whenever possible. He currently is finishing his master’s degree in global higher education and manages the Office of International Affairs at Kendall College.

Corresponding Secretary: Leslie Dossey

Leslie Dossey and her husband David Bush have lived in their current home in Edgewater for 11 years. They live on Magnolia with their two daughters – Miriam 10 and Emma 8 – and five cats (yes, really). Leslie has lived in Chicago since 1998. She is an associate professor of history at Loyola University and once served as secretary of the BARGE Neighbors Community Organization.

Recording Secretary: Marsha Holland

Marsha Holland has lived on Elmdale near the north end of Magnolia for over 25 years. She previously was secretary, treasurer and president of the EPIC Block Club. She also sat on the board of the Edgewater Development Corporation and served on the Edgewater Community Council’s Housing Committee. Since history is her passion, she is currently enjoying being a volunteer with the Edgewater Historical Society. She loves gardening and hopes that now that she is retired she will have more time to become involved in working on several community gardens surrounding the EPIC area that are maintained by volunteers.

Treasurer: Willard Duncan

Willard Dunan has been a resident of the Magnolia Glen neighborhood and an EPIC volunteer since 1994. An elementary school teacher since 1960, Willard is now semi-retired. He has volunteered for and served as a staff member of several AIDS organizations since 1988. In his spare time, Willard enjoys reading, cooking, baking and gardening.

Immediate Past President:  Charles Bonilla

Charles Bonilla has lived in Edgewater since returning from the U.S. Navy in 1992. He is a past president of the Edgewater Triangle Neighbors Association and a former Edgewater Community Council board member and currently serves as box office manager at Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr. During the day he works as a veteran career counselor.

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