Who We Are
Staff
Program Director
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Bekky graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and earned a Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina. Bekky joined the Ignite Peace team in 2021 and leads the anti-death penalty organizing, and facilitates our nonviolence and anti-racism educational programming.
Executive Director
A Cincinnati native, Shannon Hughes is a two-time graduate of Xavier University, earning her BA in English and her MA in Urban Sustainability and Resilience. Shannon joined the Ignite Peace team in 2024, bringing 18 years of experience in education and advocacy work. Shannon leads the organization to implement it’s strategic vision by collaborating with community stakeholders, staff, and Board Leaders.
Program Director
Originally raised in Findlay, Samantha attended the University of Indianapolis to earn a degree in social work and later received her Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. Joining Ignite Peace in 2017, Samantha leads the immigration justice work and facilitates our nonviolence and anti-racism educational programming.
Director of Development and Communications
A Cincinnati “boomerang”, Kelly left the Queen City for The Ohio State University, earning a BA in English, and then an MFA in creative writing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She joined Ignite Peace in 2026 with more than thirteen years of experience in community organizing, relationship building, and communications.
Board Leaders
Founding Partners
Congregation of St. Joseph, Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg.
Partners
Anawim Community, Bellarmine Chapel, Cincinnati Friends Meeting, Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship, Comboni Missionaries, Congregation of Divine Providence, Dominican Sisters of Hope, Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, Franciscans, St. John the Baptist Province, Glenmary Home Missioners, Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, New Jerusalem Community, Sisters of Notre Dame of Covington, St. John Unitarian Universalist, Ursulines of Brown County, and Ursulines of Cincinnati.