Jim DeRogatis, Light to Life Honoree, September 25, 2019

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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

Tickets and sponsorships:   weblink.donorperfect.com/lighttolife2019 
Thank you to our generous sponsors: 
 
      

Wieland & Company, Inc.

Rice Insurance Agency

Sinars Slowikowski Tomaska

OverNorth

Mutual of America

Anne Kohler

Future of Counseling

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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

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Life Span Honored by the North Suburban Bar Association

 
Earlier this month, Executive Director, Denice Wolf Markham, accepted an award and donation on behalf of Life Span at the North Suburban Bar Association’s 2019 Gary Wild Dinner.

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

Sign up to receive all Life Span e-mail updates here

 

Life Span February 2019 Newsletter

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Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Life Span’s counseling staff will be out raising awareness with presentations and tabling events at numerous suburban high schools throughout the month. Take some time to get educated and help us break the cycle. Follow along on social media with the hashtags #TeenDVMonth and #TDVAM2019.
More resources can be found at loveisrespect.org and breakthecycle.org.

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!

See entire newsletter here

Sign up to receive all Life Span e-mail updates here

Life Span Fall Newsletter

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  October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Life Span staff attended a number events in order to spread the word about our services and the resources available to survivors. Below are just a few examples!

On October 19th, the VOICES (Violence on Illinois Campuses Elimination Strategies) Project hosted their Fall Symposium entitled Overcoming Resistance: Meaningful Approaches to Changing Campus Culture and Preventing Violence at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU). Pictured above is the VOICES team: Pam Stratigakis (Assistant State’s Attorney), Kailey Hopkins (Paralegal/Advocate), Katherine Davis (Civil Attorney), and Sasha Solov (Project Coordinator).

We had two incredible featured speakers at the symposium, Dr. Valyncia Raphael ( pictured left ) from Cerritos College, presenting on Title IX Work as Oppression Disruption, and Heather Imrie ( pictured right ) from Catharsis Productions presenting Beat the Blame Game, a program that dives deep into unpacking victim-blaming.

 

See entire newsletter here

Life Span’s Position on Separation of Families Executive Order

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Life Span released their statement on the family separation executive order.

We Stand With Immigrant Children and Their Mothers!

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Help Life Span raise funds to send a team of 6 Spanish speaking staff (2 immigration attorneys, 2 legal advocates and 2 counselors) to Texas to join the CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Project for at least 300 hours of assistance to immigrants. Life Span’s work will help end the incarceration of children and their mothers and seek safe and appropriate immigration relief for these families.

Funds raised will be used to cover costs of travel and lodging for our team as they work tirelessly on behalf of families at the border. Any extra funds raised will be used to buy needed supplies for the families.

Go to gofundme Campaign

Be part of positive change! Help create safety for immigrant families at the border! Take a stand today!