Philister Lukacevic is passionate about social justice, mental health, and community engagement. With over a decade of marketing and communications experience, she believes that her role is to tell the stories of the young people we serve and the impact of our work. Having started her marketing career at a social enterprise that supports young people with diverse learning needs, Philister witnessed firsthand how young people harness their impact, resilience, and advocacy skills to propel meaningful progress and shape a more promising future for themselves and their communities.
Philister serves on the boards of Housing Opportunity and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.), a Chicago-based multi-generational housing organization that supports older adults’ connection to the larger community, and Good Shepherd Gracenter, a recovery residence in San Francisco that offers a supportive and gently challenging program for women who wish to strengthen their early sobriety.Philister is a creative at heart and a resident playwright at Fehinty African Theatre Ensemble (FATE). She received her MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage from Northwestern University and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Film and Video from Columbia College Chicago. In May 2011, her play Suicide received a reading at Goodman Theatre. In addition, Philister’s play Lost was produced as part of Regina Taylor’s State(s) of America series. She produced her first feature play, WRECKED, with FATE, and wrote and produced FATE’s 2019 mainstage play, A Ditch in Madagali. Besides writing and filmmaking, Philister is a thrill-seeker and enjoys traveling and exploring the outdoors with her dog and husband.
I believe that we all need support to succeed and that the neurodiverse community can provide many of the solutions we are seeking in our communities if we provide them with the environment to thrive and grow. As an educator, I witnessed this firsthand, and I want to give this opportunity to all young people who learn differently. This is a movement I am passionate about and excited to be a part of.