Check out our incredible lineup of dynamic speakers for CHES 2026! Each one brings unmatched expertise, passion, and a heart for empowering families!
At CHES, our speakers are more than presenters—they are faithful believers in Jesus Christ who are Kingdom-minded individuals with a bold posture. Each one walks in the anointing of Issachar—understanding the times and knowing what we, as God’s people, ought to do (1 Chronicles 12:32).
We prayerfully invite leaders who carry both wisdom and courage to equip families with biblical truth, practical strategies, and prophetic insight for such a time as this. Stay connected—you won’t want to miss this!
LATASHA H. FIELDS
Home Educator, Parental Rights Advocate & Founder of
Chicago Home Educators' Summit
The Education Battleground
Pastor Latasha H. Fields is a J.D. Candidate at Trinity Law School, a home educator for over 19 years, and a passionate advocate for parental rights, unconventional education, and community empowerment.
She and her husband, Evangelist Ronald L. Fields II, are the founders of Our Report Ministries & Publications, an evangelistic outreach ministry.
Latasha is the founder of Christian Home Educators Support System (CHESS), a homeschool co-op, support group, and K–12 microschool, and Empowering Parents Igniting Communities (EPIC), a parental rights organization in Chicago.
She serves as the Illinois State Coordinator for ParentalRights.org, is a 1776 Unites Achiever, a Project 21 Ambassador, and a past candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.
She has testified before the U.S. House Budget Committee, written for The Wall Street Journal, and appeared on national media outlets including Fox News, Newsmax, and C-SPAN. In 2021, she received the Illinois Family Institute’s “Voice of Truth” Award for her bold defense of families and children.
Latasha and her husband have four children—two graduates and two still homeschooling—and together own 3rd Phase Barbershop in Chicago’s South Shore community.
Alex NewmanLiberty Sentinel Media CEO
The Purpose of Education--Biblical Discipleship
Alex is an award-winning international journalist, educator, author, speaker, investor, nationally syndicated radio host, and consultant who seeks to
glorify God in everything he does.
Among many other roles, Alex serves as CEO of Liberty Sentinel Media, Inc, Senior Editor of The New American magazine, fellow at Classical Conversations, executive director of Public School Exit, and
more.
He has written multiple books on education, including his most recent one, Indoctrinating Our Children to Death. Alex has appeared on thousands of radio
and TV programs around the world, including appearances on Fox, Newsmax, The Blaze, and more.
He has also appeared in numerous movies on education, including Kirk Cameron’s Homeschool Awakening and Pete Hegseth’s docuseries MisEducation of America. Alex and his wife homeschool their 6 children.
Matt Trewhella
Pastor of Mercy Seat Christian Church & Author of The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates
Equipped for Battle (Banquet Speaker & Panelist)
Pastor of Mercy Seat Christian Church for 35 years.
He and his wife, Clara, have been married 42 years. They have 11 children, and 35 grandchildren including one great-grandchild.
Pastor Matt spent over 15 months in jail for interposing on behalf of the preborn at the
doors of the deathcamps.
He is the author of the book The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates: A Proper Response to Tyranny and A Repudiation of Unlimited Obedience to Civil Government which has
sold over 140,000 copies.
He preached his first sermon exposing the false narrative of the covid pretend-demic on
March 22 nd , 2020 – just nine days after Trump announced the national emergency.
The sermon was entitled A Contrarian Look at Covid 19. You can read how Pastor Matt came to Christ at HowJesusChangedMyLife.com
Cora Weber
Executive Director, International Alliance for Freedom in Home Education
Establishing Church and Family jurisdictions in the sphere of education (Speaker & Panelist)
Cora Weber is a second generation, home educator and mother of 7.
She and her family were missionaries in post-Soviet, Central and Eastern Europe, where a vision to help families and churches understand Biblical principles for nation building was born.
She studied government and economics at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, and presently serves as Executive Director for International Alliance for Freedom in Home Education.
Vetiveah Immanuel
Farmer & Food Justice Advocates
Founder of Radiance Gardens and Co-Founder of Liberated Land Cooperative
The Next Generation Speaks: Homeschooled Grad
Vetiveah Immanuel, a Creole from Baton Rouge and daughter of Ronald & Latasha H. Fields, is an urban farmer and food justice advocate with over a decade of experience in improving food systems, community health, and land sovereignty. Her work blends agriculture, nutrition, cultural foodways, and policy advocacy. She holds a B. S. in Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport and was influenced by her family’s wellness business and time on a reclaimed farm in Chicago.
She founded Radiance Gardens to reconnect people to faith, food, and land through gardening and co-founded the Liberated Land Cooperative to distribute culturally relevant food in Connecticut's food-insecure areas. Her career includes roles at Greater Chicago Food Depository, FoodCorps, CitySeed, and Green Village Initiative.
A dynamic speaker featured at the Yale Food Systems Symposium and International Festival of Arts Camp; Ideas has also appeared in Yes! Magazine. She has served on committees like CT NOFA, CT Department of Agriculture, and NAACP Bridgeport.
When not serving her community, Vetiveah enjoys gardening, exploring eateries, and spending time with her husband and dog, Tego.
Kirk Smith
Executive Director Illinois Christian Home Educators
Speaker: Standing Together in Faith and Freedom
Kirk and Joely Smith have been married since 1991. Kirk graduated from Greenville College and taught and coached for two years at the high school level before founding the House of Prayer church in Albion, IL, which he pastored for almost 25 years.
Joely graduated from the University of Southern Indiana and taught first grade for two years before the birth of their first child, after which she stayed home.
Leah Brooks
Founder of Kairos Patriot Academy & Microschool Specialist at My Father’s World
Speaker & Panelist:
Rescue the Children: Build Arks of Safety
Leah Brooks is a wife, mom of 4, and a veteran of My Father’s World homeschool. Former USA Gymnastics coach, she's worked with children for over 30 years. Passionate about educating children to fulfill their God-given purpose, she focuses on rescuing them from the woke agenda aimed at grooming, indoctrination, and blocking critical thinking. Leah founded Kairos Patriot Academy, a MicroSchool in Carpentersville, IL.
Her voice is heard on One New Man, Illinois Family Action, and Counter Culture Mom’s podcasts, criticizing efforts to replace the family as the core influence on children. Her mission is to protect children from evil, empower them to stand against it, and uphold parental authority and the U.S. Constitution.
In the past two years, Leah has worked with My Father’s World and David Hazell to launch MicroSchools nationally and internationally. They've supported over 150 schools with curriculum and resources, with hundreds more considering starting soon. Leah speaks at MicroSchool trainings and trains teachers to shift mindsets from worldly systems to spiritual gifts of teaching given by God.
Ceasar LeFlore
Pastor at Spirit of Liberty Church of God
Equipped for Action: Strategy & Solutions Panelist
Rev. Ceasar I. LeFlore III is the Senior pastor at The Spirit of Liberty Church of God in Markham, Illinois. With a motto that reads, “Where worship and works come together”, their mission is to impact their community through acts of Christian love that include prayer ministry, Liberty Faith Academy Christian School, and the soon to launch “His Loving Arms Women’s Pregnancy Center.”
Reverend LeFlore is also the State Director of The Illinois Family Institute’s Public School Exit project, and the Founder and Chairman of the Good Soil Good Seed Christian Education Foundation, providing grants to launch Christian schools and scholarships for low-income families.
