Lived Experiences

Meet Jesse Purcell — Co-Founder & President of the Ronin Project

Jesse leads the Ronin Project with unwavering dedication as our President of the Board and Director of Operations. His journey from adversity to purpose is the heartbeat of our mission. In this video, Jesse shares the "why" behind the work — and the vision guiding our path forward.

Meet Jennifer Hood — Co-Founder & Vice President of the Ronin Project

Jennifer Hood serves as Vice President of the Board and Director of Finance and Fundraising at the Ronin Project. A Navy veteran, AI strategist, and heart-centered leader, Jennifer brings unmatched integrity and vision to everything she does. In this video, she shares how her personal and professional journey fuels her passion for healing, service, and innovation.

🔗 Connect with Jennifer: LinkedIn | Facebook

Meet Kanise Marshall — Secretary of the Board at the Ronin Project

Kanise Marshall brings heart, structure, and a passion for community service to her role as Secretary of the Board. With a background in project management, risk, HR, and storytelling, she’s no stranger to building systems that support people. In this video, Kanise shares why she joined the Ronin Project — and how she’s helping us grow with purpose.

Meet David McGee — Co-Founder & Director of Fitness at the Ronin Project

With over 25 years of experience as a certified personal trainer, David McGee brings unmatched expertise and heart to his role as Director of Fitness. A mentor, coach, and cycle-breaker, David’s passion for wellness is rooted in personal experience and purpose. In this video, he shares how growing up on the South Side of Chicago shaped his mission—and why the Ronin Project is about more than fitness. It’s about transformation.

Meet Balinda Williamson — Treasurer of the Board at the Ronin Project

Balinda Williamson brings over four decades of financial expertise and hard-earned wisdom to her role as Treasurer of the Board. A survivor of domestic abuse, Balinda knows what it means to fight for safety and healing. In this video, she shares how her journey shaped her purpose — and why she’s passionate about supporting others through their own.

Meet Heather Owens — Board Member at the Ronin Project

Heather Owens brings grace, wisdom, and a holistic approach to healing in her role on the Ronin Project Board. A trauma survivor, caregiver, spiritual counselor, and esthetician, Heather is dedicated to nurturing the whole person — mind, body, and soul. In this video, she shares how personal transformation and deep care guide her journey and her work with the Ronin Project.

Meet Carolyn Werner — Board Member at the Ronin Project

With a lifetime of experience supporting individuals with special needs, Carolyn Werner brings compassion, patience, and quiet strength to the Ronin Project Board. In this video, she shares what drives her service — and why every breakthrough moment, no matter how small, is worth everything. Carolyn’s presence is a testament to the power of gentle, consistent care in the healing journey.

Meet Donte Fitzgerald — Board Member at the Ronin Project

Donte Fitzgerald brings wisdom, lived experience, and a deep sense of purpose to the Ronin Project Board. From country roots to city realities, Donte’s journey fuels his passion for guiding youth and helping others break free from cycles of pain. In this video, Donte shares why healing, mentorship, and real transformation are at the core of his mission — and ours.

Meet Kris Wingfield — Board Member at the Ronin Project

Kris Wingfield brings creative brilliance and lived experience to the Ronin Project Board. With a lifelong connection to ADHD and a deep belief in the healing power of art, Kris uses creativity as a tool for reflection, expression, and hope. In this video, Kris shares how art became both sanctuary and spark — and how they’re helping light the way for others.

Title: "The Vision Behind Ronin Project – Jesse Purcell Interviewed by Kanise Marshall"

Description: In this powerful interview, Ronin Project Co-Founder and President Jesse Purcell shares his journey of returning home after 14 years in prison and choosing to build the support system he never had. In conversation with Board Secretary Kanise Marshall, Jesse opens up about living with PTSD, overcoming isolation, and the vision behind Ronin Project — a healing-centered network grounded in connection, fitness, art, and K9 therapy. More than a reentry program, Ronin Project is a place for anyone navigating trauma to find tools, community, and a path forward.

Title: “The Reality of Our Prison System” - Jesse Purcell

Description: The reality of our prison system is a peak inside a personal, up close look on the effects the system has on not only the physique but the emotional state as well. It points out the trap and calls into question the psychological warfare that keeps the hopeless stuck. - Jesse Purcell

Title: Ronin Project Podcast: Real Talk | Episode 1: The Beginning

Description: Every movement begins with a spark. For Ronin Project, that spark came from lived experience, the need for change, and the belief that healing and transformation should be within reach for everyone.

In this first episode of Real Talk, moderator Kanise Marshall sits down with Jesse Purcell and David McGee to uncover the roots of Ronin Project — how a vision born from struggle turned into an organization hoping to impact lives. Together, they explore what sets this work apart, why it matters now more than ever, and how it’s creating space for resilience, community, and sustainable change.

This isn’t just an introduction. It’s an invitation — to witness the beginning of a movement, to understand the story behind it, and to consider where you fit in shaping what comes next.

And stay tuned for our upcoming mini-series: Real Talk on The Realities of Our Justice System — where lived experience meets hard questions, and stories challenge the way we see justice.