Alvin is the Executive Director of Multi-Cultural Church Relations for Willow Creek Association in South Barrington, IL. He joined Willow Creek Community Church on staff in 1996 and in 2006, he transferred to the Willow Creek Association. His primary responsibilities consist of assisting the WCA in developing a more ethnically diverse movement in order to serve prevailing churches around the country. His role has special emphasis geared toward the values of compassion, racial reconciliation, social justice and leadership development for the sake of the church.
Under Alvin’s leadership at Willow, two key networks – the National Compassion Network and the Chicago Pastors Alliance were created. Both organizations have the vision of strengthening the impact of local churches in their support of the under-resourced.
From 1984-1992, Alvin was Executive Director of LaSalle Street Young Life, a local entity of an international youth ministry organization. In this position, Alvin ministered to the youth and families in the Cabrini-Green community (a housing development project in Chicago) where he grew up. Alvin works with professional sports teams in the city. He served as the chaplain to the Chicago Cubs for seven seasons.
Alvin is married to Peggy, a Danger Goods Specialist with United Airlines. They have two sons, Alvin Cartel, Jr. and Brandon Quintin.