About Us
THE WELL’S CORE PURPOSE
The Well Resource Center exists to serve First Responders in Chicago’s Northwest Side along with their families to be
“a place where people are with and for you.”
OUR VISION
The Well Resource Center and it’s staff’s goal is to see transformation in our first responders and their families emotional, spiritual, relational and physical health by creating engaging, community-enriching, need-based environments.
Matt Blair – Founder/CEO
In 2012, Matt received his Masters in Divinity from McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta, GA. While Matt was in school he was also co- leading a church on Atlanta’s Southwest side. After graduating with a Masters in Christian education, Matt knew God was leading him and his wife to his hometown, Chicago.
Matt’s diverse background covers donor relations, sales, project management, children and youth ministry, and outreach ministry.
Matt continues to be encouraged and blessed by his wife Audra and his two kids Robert and Maggie.
Audra Blair – Founder/COO
Audra met Matt while attending college in East Tennessee. After graduating from college with a degree in Advertising and Marketing she worked as a recruiter for a staffing firm in Atlanta, GA. Since living in Chicago Audra has found such a love and respect for this city and is very passionate about connecting families and people together.
Audra has found great joy in being a wife to her husband of 12 years and a mom to her 9 Year – old son, Robert and 7 Year old daughter, Maggie.
Laura Unander – Director of Finance
Laura comes to the Well with over twenty years of accounting experience working with small businesses and nonprofits as owner of ASK Bookkeeping Service. She is a graduate of North Park University having earned a degree in Nonprofit Management.
Cyrus Martinez – Therapeutic Recreation Coordinator
Cyrus was born and raised on the northwest side of Chicago and earned a BS in finance and Management from UIC. After graduating, Cyrus joined the Chicago Police Department where he remained for 8 years. During his time with CPD, we worked primarily on tactical and gang units, covering the north and west sides of the city. In December 2020, Cyrus made the move to the Chicago Fire Department and is currently stationed downtown. As a firefighter and a former police officer, Cyrus has experienced the pressure and hardships that come along with being a first responder- an otherwise rewarding career. He understands the importance of encouragement, a strong support-system, and simply blowing off steam.
Cyrus finds joy in helping people achieve well-being and firmly believes that fitness, sports, and positive social interactions aid in countering the many stressors of being a first responder, Above all, Cyrus loves his family. He is grateful for the moments he has with his wife and three little girls – as well as time spent with other close family and friends.
Julia Schofield – Counselor
Healing is hard, staying wounded is harder.
Julia Schofield is a Licensed Professional Counselor who earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Law, Crime and Deviance at the University of Toronto and her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at DePaul University. Julia works from an eclectic approach, marrying psychodynamic perspective with DBT, CBT, Narrative and Solution Focused techniques.
A true advocate that healing, change, and growth is a holistic process, Julia offers natural options that help alleviate symptoms, promote mental health, and assist the work done in session. She believes that her clients are the experts on themselves and her job is to help her clients discover tools and strengths that already exist, support in letting go of strategies that are no longer beneficial, and aid in developing and practicing new skills. Working with individuals and couples, Julia strives to create a warm, respectful, supportive, empathic, challenging when needed, and non-judgmental space where clients can freely and openly be themselves.
Julia F. Cuirdar – Counselor
Julia is a licensed clinical social worker who has over 5 years of experience working with individuals in education, nonprofit, and private practice settings. Julia utilizes a strength based and relational approach, and works with each client to determine a successful treatment plan. She sees the importance of holistically integrating all aspects of an individual’s life, such as culture, family origin, spirituality, relationships, and internal thoughts and emotions, to foster healthy growth.
Julia earned a B.A. in Pre-Counseling from Moody Bible Institute and a Master of Social Work, with a specialization in Mental Health, from Loyola University Chicago. Throughout her education and experience, she has worked with new moms and parents, adults with mental disabilities, essential workers, young professionals, and individuals working through every day’s life challenges
Jennifer P – Counselor
Jennifer’s experience as a social worker includes working with families, children and teens, couples, and individuals as a therapist and also as a caseworker. She has been married for over 28 years; she and her husband have three young adult children. Jennifer returned to social work after spending time raising children, homeschooling, and caring for elderly family members.
Jennifer works from a Family Systems perspective, using aspects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and strengths-based therapy to help you deal with issues in your life.