January 2026
Holly Birnbaum
Following a career in public affairs implementing communications strategies from reproductive health to community development; disability rights to international peace initiatives; care near the end of life to affordable, accessible housing and mixed-income communities, Holly retooled. In 2005, her keen interest in creative problem solving led her to co-found Thoughtly Crew, providing a pool of emotionally intelligent creative thinkers to enrich clients’ ideation and co-creation sessions (www.thoughtlycrew.com). Although she rewired in 2018, she still helps a few clients as an editor and writing coach. She has served on the Leadership Council of the Marjorie Kovler Center for more than 20 years, where she volunteers as a French interpreter for asylum seekers. Holly has lived in Chicago’s Ravenswood Manor/Albany Park neighborhood since 1985.
Rachel Boutte
Rachel Boutte is an assistant professor, licensed clinical psychologist, and researcher. On her circuitous journey to discover what she wanted to do in life, she obtained a master's in divinity, a master's in psychology, and finally a doctorate in psychology. In 2022, she was fortunate enough to get a job doing a lot of cool things she loved, and then met and married an amazing man she wanted to spend her life with- all in the same year! At the end of 2024, she took a stand-up comedy class at the Second City and discovered a love of writing things outside of the constraints of scientific abstracts and NIH grants. Around the same time, the law changed, and it became illegal to use words like "gender" and "socioeconomic" in federal grant applications, which made her health equity-focused research very challenging to continue. So now, in true late diagnosed ADHD fashion, she is leaving her career in academic medicine and is unsure of what she will do next, but hopes it will involve writing and speaking. Also, she shaved her head in May (it’s a long story), but all of her headshots are from the before time, so this is what she looks like with hair. If you find your way to this event, you will get to see what she looks like without hair.
Mack Dihle
Mack is a proud butch woman who moved to Chicago 21 years ago, plays trumpet in a gay Latin band, holds a degree in music education, rides a giant motorcycle, walked the runway 6 years in a row as an androgynous model for New York Fashion Week’s DapperQ show, prior to the “panorama”. She has survived as an elder millennial and been a police officer for 16 years to pay the bills. She finds joy in living life with her fiancé Adrienne and two Tiger tabby’s in Rogers Park.
Tim Robinson
Tim Robinson grew up in a very small town in Indiana, and learned at an early age that he doesn’t love mowing grass or shoveling snow. Now he lives in a condo in River North with his amazing wife Rachel (who is also telling a story tonight)… with no mowing or shoveling. Growing up, Tim didn’t really know what he wanted to do with his life, so he went to school as long as possible. He works in investments, but he still doesn’t really know what he wants to do when he grows up. So he and his wife take classes at Second City and dream of a life away from office buildings and cubicles.
Gerardo Salamanca
Gerardo Salamanca is a cleaner who was born and raised in the Northside of Chicago. (Born in Ravenswood to be exact.) He is the current and two time T35-38 Chicago Marathon Para Divison Champion, the only in the Chicago Marathons storied history, a race he will be running for the 11th time this October. He continues to show his defiance to the Universe by running long distance races as an athlete with cerebral palsy and nerve damage. Gerardo intends on setting the 100 mile world record for his classification in 2026 at the Tunnel Hill Ultra in Vienna, Illinois, a race he is yet to finish. He is a moviegoer, who has seen well over 9,000 films, his favorite film of all time being William Wyler's 1946 masterpiece, The Best Years of Our Lives. While Gerardo is not cleaning, running, stretching, or watching pictures, he likes to cycle the trails and roads of Illinois with his bike Barbara, read tragic books, eat eggs (he eats 12 a day), bake breads and desserts, dance to New Wave music with his shadow, swing his kettlebell Dez, meditate, and continue his practice of formally learning how to dance.
Mark Weitekamper
60 years old . Born in Germany. Recent citizen. Mark Weitekamper is a chicago-based comedian and Improv actor and storyteller. He has appeared in various showcases around town including Laugh Factory, Zanies, and several others. He enjoys topical humor and relatable material as a hobby around town. Whether he’s riffing on modern life, family quirks, or his own misadventures, Mark’s comedy connects with audiences everywhere. He lives with his wife and son on the far north side of Chicago.