September 2019 Newsletter
Youth Advisory Board to Raise Awareness About Dating Violence
Thank you to all those who attended our
2nd Annual Light to Life event!
You can find all of the event photos on our Facebook page!
Meet our new staff:L PollardL (she/they) is a new Criminal Court Advocate at Life Span. They just earned their Master’s in Education Policy from University of Illinois at Chicago. Their studies focused on how social structures and institutions perpetuate inequality. As a graduate student L provided research and programming support for the Women’s Leadership and Resource Center and the Campus Advocacy Network at UIC. She has also volunteered with the YWCA providing advocacy and support for survivors. |
To read more about Life Span’s activities in September check out the rest of this month’s newsletter at the link below!
See entire newsletter here
Jim DeRogatis, Light to Life Honoree, September 25, 2019
Life Span’s 2nd Annual Light to Life Benefit
Life Span’s second annual Light to Life benefit event, speaker and honoree is Jim DeRogatis, writer, author, and renowned Chicago Public Radio, WBEZ 91.5 FM Sound Opinions co-host!
Jim’s new book is Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly.
Please join us:
Galleria Marchetti 825 W Erie St, Chicago, IL 60642
September 25, 2019 6:00 PM
Wieland & Company, Inc.
Rice Insurance Agency
Sinars Slowikowski Tomaska
OverNorth
Mutual of America
Anne Kohler
Future of Counseling
The Future of Counseling at Life Span
New Director of Counseling, Laura Valiukenas, with outgoing Director of Counseling, Margaret Luft.
Peggy Luft turns over the reins of Director of Counseling to Life Span’s Senior Counselor, Laura Valiukenas.
Laura joined Life Span in 2012. She was first stationed at Chicago’s Domestic Violence Courthouse, advocating for survivors in criminal court against their abusers.
Peggy began mentoring Laura shortly after she started; Peggy was Laura’s clinical supervisor as Laura earned her LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) credential.
In 2015, Laura began to focus on growing Life Span’s high school counseling program. “This was something my friends and I could have needed when we were in high school,” Laura explained, “I knew Life Span could fill that role.”
Laura recalls Peggy’s support: “Let’s try growing it and see how it goes! But be careful not to do too much…watch out for yourself!” advised Peggy at the time.
Laura listened, yet managed to grow Life Span’s services quickly from a program in just one school to services for 17 schools.
As Director of Counseling, Laura plans to continue to support her staff’s initiatives, as Peggy did for her. She also plans to continue Peggy’s emphasis on caring for co-workers as people: “She cares about staff personally. She gave assistance in processing things in our clients’ lives and went beyond that to care about us as people too,” explains Laura.
Life Span March 2019 Newsletter
Life Span Honored by the North Suburban Bar Association
Legislative Breakfast with the Northwest Suburban Alliance on Domestic Violence
Pictured: Life Span Policy Director, Jennifer Greene; Illinois State Representative Mark Walker; Illinois State Representative Michelle Mussman; and Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison.
Life Span joined the Northwestern Suburban Alliance on Domestic Violence in hosting a legislative breakfast for federal, state and county legislators. At the breakfast, legislators learned about domestic violence resources in the community. Participants were informed about pending legislation that impacts domestic violence survivors, including the overdue VAWA reauthorization. We were thrilled to welcome so many legislators to the table!
To read more about Life Span’s activities in March check out the rest of this month’s newsletter at the link below!
See entire newsletter here
Life Span February 2019 Newsletter
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
To read about our public comment on the proposed changes to Title IX, the Chicago mayoral election, our new staff, and more, check out the rest of this month’s newsletter at the link below!