We’re nearing the Spring move-in dates for both SLM projects that will be housed in the Harvest Commons Building, formerly known as the Viceroy Hotel, at Ashland and Warren. Program participants from Grace House and St. Leonard’s House will move into SLM’s second floor Harvest Commons Residency program as early as mid-April. The Program Director and the Director of Supportive Services for SLM’s Harvest Commons Residency Program will be selected in April and will begin their work in May. Final components for Gracie’s Café are being addressed; equipment will be moved early in April with a projected opening date for the Café sometime in May. Stay tuned!
Come and join us on Saturday, May 11th, 2013 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM for our 2013 Walk-a-thon. This will be, as it has been in the past, a really enjoyable time to come out and support St. Leonard’s Ministries. You’ll meet new friends, have a chance to spend some time at St. Leonard’s and to know that you are helping people with a second chance at life.
All funds raised through the Walk-a-thon will be part of a dollar for dollar grant match awarded to St. Leonard’s Ministries.
More details will be posted soon.
St. Leonard’s Ministries is pleased to announce that Walter Boyd has become the Agency’s Executive Director as of mid January, 2013. Walter is well known in local and national circles that are devoted to criminal justice issues and, in particular, community re-entry issues of men and women exiting prison. Formerly with Protestants for the Common Good, Walter brings a great deal of passion and many varied skills to his new position at St. Leonard’s.
At the same time, Bob Dougherty has assumed the role of Development Director for St. Leonard’s Ministries. Having a full-time staff person devoted to development efforts will benefit the Agency’s short and long term financial needs. With more than a few years of experience in development work, Bob is a good fit for this new role.
The coming of the New Year 2013 will bring about a new design for the Administration of St. Leonard’s Ministries. For twenty-five years, the Agency has combined the positions of Executive Director and Development Director. The combination of these two roles has worked effectively. With Agency growth, however, both programs and funding needs have come to require new levels of focus. The Board of Directors and Senior Staff Members have spent the last two years addressing these concerns as articulated in the Agency’s current Long Range Plan.
Beginning Jan. 1st, 2013, the current executive director, Bob Dougherty, will assume development responsibilities for the Agency. Bob’s years of experience in developing funding for St. Leonard’s Ministries make this transition seem optimal. With more time to devote specifically to development tasks and concerns, a full-time Development Director will better position the Agency to continue meeting current financial needs and to provide for a more solid future.
A Search Committee was created early in 2012 to begin the process of choosing a new executive director for the Agency. Seven members of the SLM Board of Directors constituted the Search Committee which undertook a variety of distinct tasks related to the search process. Most recently the Committee has been reviewing the sixty some resumes of individuals who have applied for the position. Plans call for the final selection to be made in December and for the new executive director to assume the position early in January, 2013.
Grace House is hosting its Annual Fundraiser Luncheon on Thursday November 1, 2012. Come and join us for lunch and celebrate Grace and Hope with the residents and staff of Grace House. The Luncheon will take place at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, located at 3121 W Jackson Boulevard in Chicago, Illinois, from 11am- 2pm.
RSVP is requested by October 22, 2012. Please call Carla at Grace House at 312.733.5363, or E-mail Sister Theresa at tmayrand@slministries.org to confirm your attendance.
