From the Desk of your Friendly Neighborhood CEO

I’ve been obsessed with sunsets this fall. I always like a good sunset, but something about an early fall sunset is truly breathtaking. I recently had surgery on my foot, so all those hikes that I like to tell you about can’t happen right now. But what I did remember is that I can go just far enough to sit and watch the sunset.

I track the time on my weather app and make sure to get there a little early. Did you know that’s when the magic starts? You have to be there about 20-30 minutes ahead so you can actually watch the sun as it disappears behind the horizon. But that’s not the end! It is just the beginning. I got up after one sunset to head to my car and that was when I was blown away. As I descended the hill I noticed the pale lavender and teal hues and then came to the clearing and was awestruck by the brilliant orange tones, magenta and fire pinks. I also realized that these colors were surrounding me, 360 degrees. They kept changing and getting more beautiful by the second, no glance in any direction was the same.

I was there in this forest preserve all by myself experiencing something far beyond spectacular.

But what if I didn’t go? I had every reason to stay home. It was getting dark and cold. I was in a boot, just a few weeks out of foot surgery. I was a woman heading out into the woods alone. No one would know if I didn’t go. No one would care. But nonetheless, I ventured out. I was pushing my limits by even thinking about it. But I had this feeling the payoff would be great. And it was beyond my imagination.

I also learned, or was reminded of, a very important lesson about endings. As the sun slipped from my view, I thought it was all over. How often do we do that? We perceive an ending and then walk away. Never lingering, never looking back, never sitting with what was. That night I was forced to linger and was gifted with an encore that filled my soul with exactly what I needed. Endings are never really the end, yet the place of fulfillment and beginnings.

There are many beautiful things out there to experience. Some of them are hard to get to. Some of them are even a little scary to access. Some of them push us to our limits. But the payoff is beyond words, and you deserve that kind of beauty and fulfillment in your life. 

In Peace,

Jennifer

Michael Leonard was elected as Anew’s Board President at the September 2023 Board Meeting. He has been a Board Member since March 2020, serving as Board Vice President for the past 3 years. He has been a Senior Leader in Commercial Banking for over 35 years, currently as Group Executive Vice President for Wintrust Bank where he oversees the Commercial Banking Groups in the South Suburbs, NW Indiana, and Indianapolis. Michael received his MBA in Finance from DePaul University in 1992 and his BBA in Finance from University of Iowa in 1988. He has also been a Board Member for Northwestern Health Network since 2021. Michael has three children, Grant (26), Jake (24), and Caden (20), and lives in Frankfort, Illinois with his wife, Cindy and three dogs, Sofi, Peanut, and Lulu. He enjoys reading, puzzles, and gardening.

When asked about his time here at Anew, Michael Leonard wrote the following:

"I joined the Anew Board in 2020 because I have always been troubled by domestic violence, particularly the victim-blaming that exists in many cases. The fact that the abuser is generally that one person to whom you bare your soul, open your heart, and rely on to protect you makes it a disgraceful crime. I joined the Board right before the start of the pandemic, so I was not immediately able to experience first-hand the staff’s dedication and passion for the agency’s Mission. However, since the return to “normal” I have been able visit our facilities and witness the staff’s selflessness and eagerness to help victims. I have also appreciated the agency’s outreach efforts to educate and increase public awareness on the issue of domestic violence and its impact on the community. It all makes me proud to be part of Anew and inspires me to work even harder to have a greater impact in the fight against domestic violence!"

Anew looks forward toward a new chapter in board leadership with Michael at the helm. Stay tuned for more board related announcements in the near future!

Current Needs At Anew for the Holidays:

• Angels for the Holiday Meal for Adopt-A-Family
• Angels for gifts for families in Adopt-A-Family
• Complete the holiday decoration needs on Amazon for the families: Two Tree Skirts, Six Strings of Garlands, and Four Boxes of Ornaments
• Sign up for the Coat Giving Tree for new clients that may enter our program in the winter (all clients are currently covered for the Coat program)

Currently, we are in need of donors to help us create the most magical winter, holiday, and Christmas time there is! We have so many options available for you to make the happiest core memory this season, to someone whose circumstances bring unexpected and harsh financial hardships to themselves and their family.

If you would like to help this season, there are several opportunities. You can be a Secret Santa and provide holiday gifts and meals through our Adopt-A-Family program. You can also provide new coats and accessories through our Coat Giving Tree.

Finally, you can stay at home and help, by ordering the final Christmas Decorations that our clients humbly request. We have an Amazon Wishlist that will ship all orders directly to our agency.

Thank you to all who have contributed through the opportunites so far! Our office has cheerfully exploded with decoration and tree deliveries and much needed coats and accessories for the winter!

As the holiday season approaches, we are reflecting on how grateful we are to have people like you, who have supported our mission to provide wrap-around services to those impacted by domestic violence. Over the last decade, your support has changed lives, ensured safety, and helped many survivors and their children heal and begin anew, with the tools to live out their dreams.

With the support of donors like you in the last decade, Anew...

·      Helped 13,056 survivors, including 775 children.

·      Provided over 40,000 hours of counseling.

·      Provided 2,000 survivors with emergency shelter.

·      Educated and trained over 300,000 people about domestic violence.

·      Provided violence prevention education and teen dating violence presentations to over 85,000 school-aged children.

·      Helped 1,870 Partner Abuse Intervention clients become accountable for their past abuse and learn healthy relationship skills.

With this legacy in your hands, please consider contributing to Anew this GivingTuesday.



All new and increased donations will be matched by an anonymous donor, DOUBLING your impact!

Have a beautiful November with your friends and family, and remember:

change is possible!

Compensation and Benefits are listed clearly at the bottom of each job description. Take the guess out of applying-- Our salaries, wages, and benefits are transparent and up front! Please share with you network.

* All positions have been updated 11/15/2023 to reflect higher salaries and hourly rates.

★ Director of Grants and Contract Compliance ***NEW***

★ Bilingual Crisis Intervention Advocate

★ Court Advocate

★ Court Assistant

★ Children's Counselor

★ Community Education Advocate

★ Partner Abuse Intervention Case Manager

★ Partner Abuse Intervention Co-Facilitator

★ Childcare Provider

★ Children's Advocate

All positions have been newly updated, so if you checked them before, make sure to check them again!

Anew offers full time benefits including 14 paid holidays; 20 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) annually; medical, dental, vision and life insurance; short-term and long-term disability; and the ability to contribute to our 403(b) plan with 3% company matching. This position is also eligible for Aflac benefits.

If you are interested in applying for any of these positions, please email your cover letter and resume to careers@anewdv.org.