Early in May, 23 students graduated from the St. Leonard’s Adult High School Program. Sister Mary Margaret Pachucki, OP, President of Regina Dominican High School, the program co-sponsor, offered the Invocation and Dr. Lynn Todman, Executive Director of the Adler School of Professional Psychology’s Institute on Social Exclusion, honored the students with a challenging Keynote Address. A few weeks later, the Barlow Center Green Building Maintenance Class graduated 18 students and the Basic Culinary Skills Class graduated 8 students. These graduation festivities are always spirited and uplifting, but they are just the beginning for these students whose long-term goal is employment that will serve as a foundation for their continued successful re-entry into Chicagoland communities.
SLM’s Board of Directors held its Annual Meeting on Sat., June 11th. The meeting opened with a dramatic presentation, “A Day in the Life of Stateville” presented by former Stateville inmates under the direction of the IL Institute for Community Law & Affairs. The performance dramatically brought to life the experiences of SLM program participants. Board members were grateful for the opportunity to learn a bit more about those whom they serve. Additionally, board members accepted terms of office for the coming fiscal year with the following Officers elected to the Executive Committee:
President: Peter Daane
VP/Personnel: Anna Downs-Temple
VP/Programs: Jim Russell
VP/Resources: Kevin Dolan
Treasurer: Keith Porapaiboon
Secretary: Susie Dunphy
Board members discussed their roles as spokes-persons for SLM and exchanged successful and sometimes not so successful exchanges that they have had in trying to spread the word about St. Leonard’s to their friends and associates. The meeting served as celebratory kick-off for the coming year – one that will be filled with its share of challenges and opportunities for growth.
Close to a dozen or so SLH and SAC residents have been running regularly for the last six months or so, chalking up hundreds of miles – with no one chasing them! The “Back on My Feet” program was started three years ago in Philadelphia as a means to help individuals focus on rebuilding their lives, one foot after another. Currently, the program has 600 members in cities along the East Coast. That number will grow with additional runners here in Chicago. SLH and SAC program participants consider their running to be therapeutic in many ways – “Gets the bugs out of your mind.” Having run half marathons and preparing all winter, runners are setting their sights on a full marathon sometime this summer.
St. Leonard’s Ministries was honored to be featured recently in the Newsletter for HUD – US Department of Housing and Urban Development. SLM was selected for this national coverage because of its very positive and long-standing record of providing appealing housing and accompanying comprehensive supportive services for a particularly marginalized population. Talented and committed staff members at all four SLM program sites are the foundation of all the good that is accomplished. Congratulations to each of SLM’s very special staff members for this well-deserved recognition.
Early in the morning on the first Sunday of March, several SLM stalwarts participated in the “Polar Plunge” into Lake Michigan. The day was cold but hearts were warmed by this event which raised funds for the Special Olympics. SLM’s team of staff and residents raised $1,240 dollars to help ensure that the Special Olympics take place this coming summer. This is a good example of a basic component in recovery – helping others in need.
