Orlando “Chilly” Mayorga
Program Officer
he/him
As program officer, Orlando “Chilly” Mayorga helps lead Polk Bros. Foundation’s grantmaking for the Closing the Life Expectancy Gap and Fostering a Participatory, Multiracial Democracy goals. He joined the Foundation in 2024 and draws on his experience in community violence intervention, restorative justice and public policy to inform the Foundation’s grantmaking and partnerships that support safer, healthier communities. Before joining Polk Bros. Foundation, Chilly led reentry policy initiatives for youth and adults at the Office of Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton’s Justice, Equity, and Opportunity Initiative and at the Illinois Department of Human Services. He also led community violence intervention and reentry programs at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood. Chilly is a restorative justice practitioner guided by the principle of In Lak’ech — “You are my other me/Tú eres mi otro yo” — which reflects his commitment to healing, belonging and our shared humanity. He is a 2022-2023 Obama Foundation Scholar and co-founder of the People’s Liberty Project, a peer-led initiative rooted in restorative practices and collective healing.
