About Us
Who We Are
Best of Proviso Township is a member-funded association that supports the Proviso and surrounding Communities through member involvement. The association plans to use our pool of talent, expertise and networking ability to MODEL, MENTOR, MONITOR and MOTIVATE. As a group, we are looking to help our children with life long decisions as we keep them motivated throughout their journeys. We intend to MODEL good citizenship, MENTOR the next generation and spotlight the positives in their lives and the lives of others; we will MONITOR growth and dispel negativity and low self worth. The Association will MOTIVATE this type of behavior so that it will become contagious and multiply.
Vision Statement
Our vision is to support new and established programs and to empower groups to build internal strength and growth. We will also support networking and collaborations among all nonprofits working at the grassroots. Best of Proviso Township will be a powerful and dynamic community agent for social change, efficiently applying its resources to the needs of our communities. Through involvement in BPT, we envision members learning together, engaging in social change, and building a successful community. We believe that working with those who share a common vision, Best of Proviso Township (“Giving Back”) will foster positive change.
President Randall McFarland
Randall McFarland was born and raised in Maywood, Illinois by his hard-working mother. He attended Garfield Elementary and Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois. While in elementary school Randall was introduced to sports and competition by his mother, uncles, and cousins. Growing up in a single parent household Randall was fortunate to meet and then have Lawrence McCall Sr. as his coach. This gave Randall a father figure as he embarked on the journey of being a new student athlete. An impression to help others was left on Randall as he watched his coach give of himself to the community daily and the way his mother & grandmother helped family and neighbors.
Randall competed in track & field, baseball, football, and basketball, while finding the time to do his favorite hobby, which was drawing. Randall was also an active Boy Scout prior to his teen years which taught him many of his lifelong skills and beliefs (Be Prepared). Upon entering High School Randall continued his passion for baseball and basketball. To excel at both sports Randall was intent on being a reliable teammate who would never forsake his teammates. This led to Randall always being viewed as a great teammate, whether on the field of competition or on duty at work and now in the community that he was raised in. It was during this time that Randall began to grasp the advantage that some students had over others in regard to unlimited resources provided by their middle-class families.
After high school Randall attended College of DuPage where he excelled as a student-athlete and met teammates who turned into lifelong trusted friends. During Randall’s basketball career at COD he was voted MVP of N4C Conference, NJCAA All-American, and named to various post season honor teams.
After college Randall’s path eventually led him to work various jobs where he gained valuable lessons of being a supervisor. Eventually Randall started his career at Illinois Department of Corrections in 1993. During his time at IDOC Randall gained experience in investigations, roster management, employee evaluation, personal property, finger printing, audits, safety & sanitation, grievances, affirmative attendance, etc.. Of all the training and experience that Randall acquired over his 25 plus years career it was his time as Residents Recreational & Activities Coordinator that he enjoyed the most. In that role Randall was able to purge the communities for resources to enlighten the residents of the ATC about the resources available to them within the community. Those resources came in the form of job training, free tuition-based education, mental health assistance, culture significant entertainment, addiction assistance, anti-homelessness agencies, etc. Randall’s time as an IDOC employee is what confirmed that he wanted to be on the preventive side of the pipeline to prison dynamics. After seeing many childhood friends incarcerated during his career Randall decided to return to his hometown to prevent young men & women from making decisions that would lead them to IDOC in the wrong way. This is when Randall established the Proviso East Young Men’s Club at his beloved Alma Mater. Randall helped maintain the club for eight years that met with 30-40 boys weekly after school.
Currently Randall is the President of the Best of Proviso Township Org,, based in Maywood, Illinois. With assistance of his fellow board members & BPT Ambassadors the BPT Org. has become one of the most reliable support, resource, & edutainment org. in Proviso Township. The BPT Org. has led suicide prevention campaigns, hosted free food & resources distributions, Covid-19 awareness, aided homeless families, fundraised for HS and college, fundraised for HS & College students, prom dress giveaway,etc.
Vice President Rajeska Jackson
Rajeska S. Jackson, U.S. Army Veteran, of twelve years is an accomplished individual that has the drive and desire to assist and grow her community as a whole. For the past 5 years she has helped develop a team of individuals that are reaching to focus on children, families, community outreach and programs that will focus on our kids future. She is a mentor to young adults and youth in assisting them to focus on their careers and to go after their goals and interest.
Originally from Oak Park, IL and later moved to Maywood, IL where she grew and loved and dedicates most of her time in building and developing a community that comes together, giveback and supports our youth and families.
Giving back to the youth has been a primary focus of Rajeska's for years. Some of our children are suffering through complex issues that others take for granted. This inspired her to out to family and friends to donate funds to ensure some students had the funding to participate in programs they couldn’t afford. She has helped developed different community outreach events and raised over $3000 for our youth in her 1st year through fashion, open-mic and clothing drive. She feels that our youth should not bare the stress of worrying about finances preventing them from excelling and experiencing special moments throughout their lives. She has volunteered for different organizations such as the R.E.E.C.H. Project that focuses on Suicide Awareness throughout the communities in the Chicagoland Area. Rajeska has volunteered for many community programs and fundraisers throughout and looking forward to lightening up her surroundings and making her community a place to work, play and live.
Rajeska Jackson is the proud parent of 3 children; twin girls age 27 (Atlanta) and her son age 20 who reside with her in the Western Suburbs of Chicago, IL.
Secretary Chris Chambliss
Christopher L. Chambliss is the founder and CEO otThe Nehemiah Community Project, (501 (c)3 organization focused on helping men ages 15 and up identify and rectify their personal traumas so they can thrive. While the focus is mainly advocating for wholeness and healing for all, he has established unique programs that address the needs of underserved teens and their families as well as US veterans following the lead of Nehemiah in the bible, an intercessor in passionate pursuit of healing for his community.
Originally from Maywood, Illinois, Chris has a strong desire to serve the community that made him. He excels at leading diverse teams and is focused on meeting the needs of others as his top priority. A compassionate giver and natural connector of people, he utilizes his relationships and resources to help improve the lives of others. His 
innovative, action-oriented programs have been partnered with Best of Proviso Township (BTP), Cook County Department of Public Health, Proviso Partners for Health (PP4H), Ignite (Program for homeless youth), Oak Park River Forest Foundation and countless high schools on Chicago's West side.
Chris and his wife Denise are the proud parents of 6 children and reside in the western suburbs of Chicago where Denise, an award-winning pastry chef, owns and operates a cake boutique.
Treasurer Stoney Gillespie
Stoney Gillespie is married and a father of three. Both he and his wife, Juanita Gillespie, are very active in their community. Stoney has organized fundraisers for youth athletic programs, winter coat drives, toy dries for kids, assisted in raising money for grammar and high school students’ activities, uniforms etc. He has also organized care packages for homeless as well as mentoring young men in his community. His primary goal is to help those in need and leading by example. Growing up in Maywood, Stoney has seen his community vastly change over the years and his desire to help turn things around by creating opportunities for the youth to have positive involvement within the community. Stoney will assist the organization in developing the social entrepreneur piece with our organization amazing people on your team.
Our Partners
