Black Lives Matter SPI
Springfield, IL
Our
Team
Khoran Readus is a lifelong resident of Springfield, Illinois and has a Master's Degree in Social Work specializing in Leadership and Social Change from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She played an integral role in the Domestic Violence Division at the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office for over fifteen years. The majority of her tenure she supported and championed the rights of victims of violent crimes, as well as trained incoming domestic violence attorneys on criminal court processes while providing them with insight and guidance when working with community members who fall under historically marginalized populations and lower socioeconomic classes.
Readus’s job responsibilities at the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office ultimately gave her first-hand knowledge of how and why racial disparities transpire within the criminal justice system and is greatly responsible for her profound passion in the fight for criminal justice reform.
In 2016, Readus became the co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Springfield and has been active in engaging with Springfield’s Black community, becoming both a voice and protector of the unheard community. Readus is also the founder of the Brown Bag 217- Summer Food Program, created in 2016. The brown bag program collects breakfast and lunch food items from donors and delivers them directly to the homes of families with children in Springfield, IL during the summer months. Readus is very active in her community, wears many hats, and loves recruiting the assistance of her fellow community members to help those in need.
Sunshine Clemons (She/Her) is a lifelong community advocate, who has spent most of her life in Springfield, since moving from East St. Louis at an early age.
Sunshine co-founded the local Black Lives Matter SPI chapter in Springfield driven by the hurt and anger that the murders of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile incited. These tragic events inspired a rally. That rally eventually led to the creation of the local chapter, with the goal of making a concentrated effort here in Springfield to implement changes to local law enforcement, the community at-large, and the day to day lives of Black people in the city of Springfield.
Black Lives Matter SPI co-led by Sunshine, received the Humanitarian Service Award from The Greater Springfield Interfaith Association and won the readers poll category of “Best Affirmation that Black Lives Matter” from the Illinois Times, both in 2020.
Sunshine recieved the Dr. Kennibrew Trailblazer and the Advocate for Social Justice Community award, both in 2025, was named "Introvert to Watch" in 2024, was awarded the 2022 Bridge Builder Award from CORAL for her work to build bridges and support the LGBTQIA+ community and was a 2021 Black History Month Honoree recognized by Comptroller Susana Mendoza smong other awards and recognitions.
Sunshine's main goal is to create a more equitable environment for those who have historically been intentionally disregarded due to their marginalized identities.
Tiffani Saunders has worked in health care since July 2021. Prior to that, she was lecturer of Sociology and African American Studies at University of Illinois Springfield for 10 years. There, she was a leading voice for DEI considerations in teaching and faculty recruitment; she also co-chaired the Chancellor's Anti-Racism and Social Justice Task Force. Tiffani is an avid volunteer, giving her time and expertise to organizations, boards, panels, and workshops. She is committed to making the world around her more equal, more just, and more accessible. Her career and volunteering work toward that goal.
Samuel Rhymes was raised between the vibrant cities of Chicago, Illinois, and Atlanta, Georgia. He earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Georgia State University before attending Howard University School of Law. While at Howard, Samuel dedicated himself to community advocacy and civil rights work by joining the Civil Rights Clinic and being elected the Editor-in-Chief of the Howard Human & Civil Rights Law Review, gaining foundational experience in the pursuit of equity and justice through the legal system.
Currently, Samuel continues his commitment to social change through his work specializing in civil rights. Since arriving in Springfield, he has been driven by a desire to uplift, encourage, and emphasize the important voices of the Black community, especially in these trying times. Samuel is honored to bring his passion for community advocacy and social justice to BLM SPI. He is committed to the mission of nurturing and empowering the community while working toward a more just and equitable future.
Megan DeMaris (she/her) currently works as the Trainer at the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA), where she brings equal parts heart, humor, and hard-won expertise to her work. Prior to working in anti-violence, Megan worked as a high school English teacher and Social Justice Club sponsor for over a decade, diversifying the ELA curriculum and uplifting authors with marginalized identities. She has served as the Treasurer for teachers’ union for the Chatham school district, and co-led an antiracism book club for educators through that role. Megan holds a BA in Creative Writing and a deep belief in lifelong learning. She is honored to join the BLM SPI board, to learn from the board leadership, and further the organization’s mission of collective liberation.