EL JIMADOR MEXICAN GRILL
Restaurant to bring ‘nueva vida’ to downtown DeKalb TAKING CARE OF OUR CARETAKERS IN DEKALB COUNTY SAFE PASSAGE LOOKS TOWARDS THE FUTURE
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INSIDE
EL JIMADOR MEXICAN GRILL Restaurant to bring ‘nueva vida’ to downtown DeKalb............................................................ 6 MOBILE FOOD PANTRY Bringing fresh food to those in need ...........................10 TAKING CARE OF OUR CARETAKERS-DEKALB COUNTY Residents helping both first responders and restaurants during a challenging time ........................12 LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Safe Passage readies multimillion-dollar fundraising campaign for new domestic violence shelter...............................................................18 T-SHIRT SALES from Tees4DC benefit DeKalb County businesses and nonprofit organizations.....................21
est. 1851
Project Manager: Lisa Angel Layout & Design: Allison LaPorta Photography: D.M. Herra and Stephen Haberkorn Writers: Stephen Haberkorn & D.M. Herra Articles and advertisements are property of Shaw Media. No portion of DC Magazine may be produced without written consent of the publisher.
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RESTAURANT
TO BRING
nuevavida’ ‘nuev TO DOWNTOWN
DEKALB By D.M. Herra
A
group of DeKalb residents are aiming to make the city’s downtown a destination – one that feels like Illinois but tastes like Jalisco.
El Jimador Mexican Grill is slated to open this summer at the southwest corner of Lincoln Highway and Third Street, in the building formerly occupied by O’Leary’s Irish Pub. The restaurant is a passion project for a group that wants to be a part of the downtown revitalization. “We are a part of the family here in DeKalb,” said Christopher Cardenas, who will manage El Jimador’s front-of-house operations. “We want to change people’s minds about the potential in downtown DeKalb and we want the opportunity to share with our community.”
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El Jimador began when banker Ryan Gifford and builder Tom Weaver agreed they both wanted to invest in downtown DeKalb. The men saw a lot of possibilities in the area’s revitalization and wanted to be a part of it, Gifford said. One day, while making his weekly visit to his favorite Mexican restaurant, Gifford asked Cardenas, Rudy Hernandez and Olivia Pacheco whether they had ever considered running their own place. Cardenas worked in the restaurant’s dining room, Hernandez in the kitchen and Pacheco at the bar, and Gifford said he believed all three were capable of bigger things. “You would think they were owners already because they acted like owners. They were that confident in what they were doing, and they were that good at it,” Gifford said. “I asked, ‘Did you guys
ever have a dream of opening your own restaurant?’ and in unison, they all said yes.”
The men both own homes in the city and say they are deeply invested in the community.
With the three restauranteurs on board, Gifford and Weaver began looking in earnest for a location. Gifford made it clear that the team came first and the plans afterward.
“Ryan is a man with a lot of ideas,” Cardenas said. “We’re the restaurant guys, he’s the financial guy. This was perfect.”
“Tom and I wouldn’t have invested in the building if Rudy, Christopher and Olivia hadn’t agreed to run the restaurant,” he said. “These guys are the perfect people to bring this to life downtown.” Cardenas said he and Hernandez have worked together in restaurants for more than a decade. For most of that time, he said, opening their own place has been a dream. Realizing that dream is made even sweeter by the opportunity to bring a new business to downtown DeKalb.
All the partners expect Hernandez’s cooking to be a major draw. While there will be some familiar plates on the menu, Hernandez is excited to introduce DeKalb to new dishes cooked in the authentic style he learned in his mother’s kitchen in Jalisco, Mexico. “Everything will be prepared fresh,” he said. “Homemade tortillas, seven to 10 different salsas, fresh guacamole. I began cooking with my mom when I was 8; a lot of the recipes I use I first learned from her.”
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Cardenas said he became a fan of Hernandez’s cuisine even before the pair entered the restaurant world. After immigrating to the U.S., the men worked in construction and lived together in a house with several other people. Hernandez became the home’s de facto cook.
“Everything will be prepared fresh. Homemade tortillas, seven to 10 different salsas, fresh guacamole. I began cooking with my mom when I was 8; a lot of the recipes I use I first learned from her.”
“He has ideas and he has techniques, and he has all these recipes in his head,” Cardenas said. “The food is amazing where we come from. We are excited to give people from DeKalb the chance to try something that really tastes like it does in Mexico.” It took about a year and a half from conceiving of the restaurant to closing on the building. The location, Gifford said, is perfect – it’s centrally located, close to the largest downtown parking lot, and has a second floor for event and banquet space. “This building can do everything a restaurant should do,” he enthused. “It’s a great place to hang out.” While the restaurant will have a familyfriendly feel, Gifford said he anticipates
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the bar being a place people hang out and watch sporting events. He plans to have live music every week, playing outside on the patio when weather permits. “We want to be really interactive with the community,” Gifford said. “Imagine walking downtown and hearing a live band playing and just stopping to listen. That’s what I envision for this place.” Gifford will manage the upstairs banquet space, which will be available to rent and will be home to regular entertainment. “We have the space up there to do big fantasy football drafts, karaoke, all kinds of things,” he said. “Most restaurants have trouble accommodating both the entertainment crowd and the dinner crowd. This building does an awesome job of accommodating both.”
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While the COVID-19 crisis has many businesses pulling back the reins, Gifford said it did not slow El Jimador’s momentum. The restaurant still plans to open by the end of summer, complying with whatever safety protocols public health officials recommend. “Staff will, of course, wear masks and gloves,” he said. “We’ll sanitize surfaces frequently. We’ll comply with whatever the health department recommends as to capacity and distancing. We want people to feel safe and comfortable when they’re here, and we want to keep everyone healthy.”
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y
o F o d e P l i antr ob M BRINGING FRESH FOOD TO THOSE IN NEED
By D.M. Herra
O
n a sunny Saturday, a 14foot box truck was parked in front of the Kingston Friendship Center. Three people stood behind the truck, placing boxes of groceries on long folding tables. One smiled behind his cloth mask as a person approached.
produce and other grocery items to communities throughout DeKalb County. It was started two years ago with a patchwork of state and local grants. Its goal is to supplement the work of local food pantries and bring food directly to the people who need it.
“Hi!” he said. “Do you need some food?”
“Originally, the idea was that it would become a sort of traveling health oasis,” Community Gardens Executive Director Dan Kenney said. “Other organizations partner with us at the food distribution to offer information and other services.”
The covid-19 pandemic has changed the way the DeKalb County Community Gardens operate, but it has not stopped the Grow Mobile mobile food pantry from making its rounds. The Grow Mobile is a 14-foot refrigerated truck that carries fresh
The DeKalb County Health Department has set up mobile flu shot clinics at Grow Mobile stops, Kenney said. Other times, the
Regional Office of Education has come along to distribute diapers, baby wipes and information about child development and early literacy. But there’s no question that the Grow Mobile is the big draw. Over the past two years, it has distributed more than half a million pounds of 9 food. The economic toll of covid-19 has brought a surge of new clients to its stops. “Many of our clients have always had jobs and never expected to find themselves in this position,” Community Gardens Assistant Director Heather Edwards said. In response to the growing need, the Grow Mobile increased its number
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of distribution days. Concerns about sanitation and social distancing meant changing the method of food distribution on the fly. Clients used to select the items they wanted, much like a grocery store, Edwards said. Now, volunteers pack grocery boxes in advance and clients take home the whole box. This year, Kenney said, the number of people using the Grow Mobile has doubled or even tripled in some areas. In Sandwich, for example, Kenney said the Grow Mobile typically saw fewer than 50 clients last year. Early in the pandemic, volunteers thought they should plan for increased need and took 75 boxes of food to the Sandwich stop. More than 100 people showed up. Kenney said it was the only time the Grow Mobile has ever run out of food. “The volunteers running that distribution took the names and numbers of everybody who did not get boxes and we delivered boxes to their homes,” Kenney said. “That was the only time we ran out, though we’ve come close a couple of times.” The Grow Mobile has been known to make house calls, Kenney said, to vulnerable people unable to venture from their homes to visit a food pantry. Some people reach out directly to ask for help; others are referred by organizations like the
Voluntary Action Center and Elder Care Services. The DeKalb County Housing Authority has delivered hundreds of Community Gardens boxes to the apartments of elderly and disabled residents. The early end to the e school year meant all of the school gardens that supply DeKalb County Community Gardens closed. The rest of the community gardens are still operational, Kenney said, though gardeners are restricted to no more than two at a time, wearin ng masks and staying at leastt six feet apart. Plans to start new gardens in the south end of the county have been een put on hold. Nonetheless, Kenney said, there has been no impact on the amount of produce available through the Community Gardens. Klein’s Quality Produce in Burlington has partnered with the organization to augment the harvest from the garden plots. Talks to pay DeKalb County farmers a fair price to grow food for local pantries are in the early stages, Kenney said. He also hopes backyard gardeners will consider sharing some of their bounty with their neighbors in need. Donating surplus tomatoes, zucchini and other produce to the DeKalb County Community Gardens ensures the food won’t go to waste. People who don’t garden but still want to help can make
financial donations through the Community Gardens’ website, www.dekalbgardens.org. Volunteer opportunities such as packing boxes and stocking shelves can also be found on the website. People who need food or have questions for the Community Gardens can send a message through the website, Kenney said. The Community Gardens can be reached by phone at 779-212-9543.
KNOW MORE For information about DeKalb County Community Gardens, how to get food, or how to help, visit www.dekalbgardens.org. To know when the Grow Mobile mobile food pantry will be in your community, visit www.dekalbgardens.org/foodneeds/, follow DeKalb County Community Gardens on Facebook or call 211.
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Taking Care of our Caretakers in DeKalb County
Residents Helping Both First Responders and Restaurants During a Challenging Time By: Stephen Haberkorn
A
s the coronavirus spread sickness and economic anxiety around DeKalb County during the spring of 2020, acts of kindness and community support seemed to be just as contagious. One group in particular stood out during this time. “Taking Care of our Caretakers-DeKalb County,” a group started on Facebook by two old friends, served thousands of meals and treats to healthcare workers, first responders and essential workers, raised tens of thousands of dollars to support local restaurants, and inspired
many others to do what they could to lend a hand during the difficult time. Katie Norris-Geer of DeKalb, one of the founders of the group, has a board that says, “When you open your heart to helping others, you begin to heal yourself.” She thought about that saying as she recovered from a 30-year addiction to opiates and a second bout of kidney cancer. After seeing a woman featured on TV who was providing meals to healthcare workers and first responders on the frontlines
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of the COVID-19 pandemic, Norris-Geer got the idea to start Taking Care of our Caretakers-DeKalb County, Illinois (TCOCDKC). She called an old friend, Melissa Butts, who was heavily-involved with several DeKalb County community groups and pitched her the idea. Butts created a Facebook page for the group and a gofundme campaign, and NorrisGeer and Butts kicked in $150 between them to get things started. By the next day, the campaign had raised thousands of dollars, and that evening they delivered 50 fish dinners from The Lincoln Inn to the E.R. and I.C.U. staff at Kishwaukee Hospital. The following day, Common Grounds provided breakfast for the hospital workers and Domino’s Pizza delivered pizza and pasta to both Kishwaukee Hospital and Davita Dialysis in the afternoon. As of May 24th, the group had over 1,100 members on their Facebook
page. They had paid over $33,000 to local restaurants and delivered over 6,600 servings (both meals and treats) to caretakers all throughout DeKalb County. They averaged spending about $10 per meal and between $500-1,000 dollars a day. Their goal was to raise $40,000 total, so that they could keep it going through at least the end of May, 2020. Besides Norris-Geer’s inspiration, none of that would have been possible without the work of Melissa Butts. “Melissa is very DeKalb proud,” said Norris-Geer. “We all are, but Melissa goes that extra mile and is always willing to step in and help.” Butts has the skills and connections to get things done through her job and her involvement in local non-profit groups like Proudly DeKalb, DeKalb Corn Fest, DeKalb County Unites and the Cortland PTA. In her day job, Butts is a recruiter for CTC TeleServices in DeKalb. “I just go
into recruit mode when it’s something that I’m as excited and passionate about as this,” said Butts. Using her recruiting skills, she was able to bring several other women on board who also worked tirelessly to fulfill the group’s mission. In addition to Norris-Geer and Butts, the TCOCDKC board consisted of Brenda Jergens, Sue Christiansen, Jennifer Yochem, Patricia Myers, Christi Coulter, and Tammy Harper. All of the women brought with them special skills and connections. “Never did I think it would turn into something that was so communitywide,” said Norris-Geer. “It’s a community healing...We’re giving them good meals and we’re supporting our local businesses by giving them money to help them stay in business.” Norris-Greer pointed out that DeKalb County has always been supportive during difficult times, and remembered
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the way the community wrapped its arms around everyone after the Valentine’s Day shooting at NIU in 2008. “I think people realize that these people who are taking care of us are exposing themselves possibly, and then going home to their families and putting them at risk,” said Norris-Geer. Joey Schap, Clinical Director of Respiratory Therapy at Kishwaukee Hospital, said that the hospital staff has been greatly encouraged by the efforts of the group. “The overwhelming amount of meals that have been provided to all shifts at the hospital has been received with such graciousness and staff really genuinely feels that they have 100% support of the community,” said Schap. “I think it makes them want to work even harder, because they know that the community is showing tremendous gratitude towards them and the work that they’re doing.” Schap further explained that the hospital staff feel fortunate to be working and living, for many of them, in a great community that is going above and beyond to ensure that they are feeling supported. In addition, they are grateful that the Taking Care of our Caretakers group is also supporting local restaurants to help them stay in business as well. Besides delivering meals to Kishwaukee Hospital 3-5 times a week, other healthcare providers and first responders who were served by the group included Valley West Hospital, Kindred Hospital, DaVita Dialysis, all of the police departments in the county, all of the fire departments in the county, Bethany Rehab, Pine Acres, DeKalb County Hospice, Kishwaukee Hospital Cancer Center, DeKalb County Health Department, Northwestern Medicine Sycamore, Northwestern Medicine - Genoa, Physicians Immediate Care, Ben Gordon Center, DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center, Heritage
Woods, Oak Crest, Prairie Crossing, Ridge Ambulance and A-TEC Ambulance. SUPPORTING LOCAL RESTAURANTS DeKalb County restaurant owners have been appreciative of the business that the TCOCDKC group has given them, and they are also glad to be able to do their part to give back to the caretakers and to the community. Bill McMahon, owner of the Lincoln Inn restaurant in DeKalb, has been hit especially hard by the pandemic, because his family also owns Faranda’s Banquet Center. Since there are no events going on or even being planned at this time, Faranda’s business has completely dried up. “When you see Melissa and Katie doing something positive like this it inspires me to try to keep positive,” said McMahon. “It’s one of the pluses that comes out of a bad situation.” McMahon was pleasantly surprised when Butts contacted him on the morning of March 20th about the possibility of providing 20 fish dinners for caregivers. She had seen The Lincoln Inn’s website and then advertised on the TCOCDKC Facebook page that $14 would buy a dinner for one of the caretakers. Things snowballed from there, and they ended up placing an order for 50 fish dinners that McMahon and his daughter personally delivered to Kishwaukee Hospital that evening. “It worked out really well,” said McMahon. “We were in the shock of having our dining rooms closed, so we were happy that someone ordered 50 meals.” Because of the order, The Lincoln Inn was able to keep five people working that day. The TCOCDKC group has ordered one more meal from the restaurant since then, and Kishwaukee Hospital has also placed an order directly for 25 boxed lunches.
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“There’s only so much cleaning we can do or walls we can paint,” said McMahon. “We’re hospitality people. We’re cooks. We’re servers. That’s what we need to do. So when Melissa calls me and says, ‘Bill, I need an order for next Tuesday,’ that allows me to schedule a full staff.” After TCOCDKC publicized The Lincoln Inn’s fish delivery of the dinners to the hospital, they received lots of messages from people thanking them for what they did. Some of their customers even gave them “nice-sized” amounts of money to help them out. Because of people’s generosity, they started doing customer appreciation meals on Monday’s, where they paid for and prepared snack boxes and customers drove through to pick them up. One Monday, 130 people came through and picked up Italian beef snack packs. The following week, they gave away 200 pork chop dinner snack packs. “It’s been a pay-it-forward kind of thing,” said McMahon. Another restaurant owner who has been able to provide meals to healthcare workers through the Taking Care of our Caretakers-DeKalb County group has been Bea Pham of Bea’s Wok ’n Roll in DeKalb. TCOCDKC has placed three orders with Bea’s for a total of 31 meals. Pham said that the orders have helped her a lot, and at the same time she has been able to take care of caregivers. “This is a really emotional time for me,” said Pham. “I’m struggling right now, but I want to serve the community. That’s why I’m here. When they open the box, I will make them happy. This is the only way I can serve.” Bea’s third order from the group was 17 meals for Prairie Point Ob/Gyn in Sycamore. Dr. Dubrick’s office is a regular customer of hers, so she knows what they like. She said she went out of her way to do extra for them, because “they have the heart for people.”
“Nobody expected it to be this way, but things happen for a reason,” said Pham. “We hold hands together and make it work. I’ve been in the community for almost 30 years and everyone who walks into my place is my family and I pray for them every day.” And Bea’s customers return the love. She recently had a customer whom she hadn’t seen for twenty years called her from California and donated $100. She was able to give the money to two of her employees. Other local restaurants who provided meals for caretakers through the TCOCDKD group included Sweet Dream Desserts & Catering, Pizza Villa, Taxco, The Neighborhood Bakery & Deli, Fatty’s Pub & Grille, Egg Haven, Hometown Sports Bar & Grill, Burritoville, The Huddle, Remington’s Gastropub, Maria’s Little Italy, The Junction, French Toast Pancake House, Rosita’s, Barb City Bagels, Smoking Grill, Ollie’s, Latsis Bakery, Cassie’s Corn Crib Cafe, Polka Dot Bakery, Big D’s Hot Dogs, Hillside Restaurant, World Famous Pizza, Fanatico, Gonzo’s Pizzeria, Elleson’s Bakery, Pizzo Pros, Pita Pete’s, Angie’s Sugar Buzz Bakery, Tinez Tacos, Beef Shack, Tom & Jerry’s of Sycamore, Sycamore Cafe, Martha’s Kitchen, Bull Moose Bar & Grille, Johnny K’s, and Country Girl Food Service & Restaurant.
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RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS At first, the Taking Care of our Caretakers group just provided meals to healthcare workers and first responders—the people on the front lines of the pandemic. And then, using food donated by businesses, they expanded to what they labeled “random acts of kindness,” or providing treats to other essential workers, such as postal carriers and auto mechanics.
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since they had not been using their coffee machine for a while because of the coronavirus. “I think it’s really awesome that they are going out of their way to spread some hope and some light and some positivity during this dark and negative time,” said Mershon. “We all super appreciated it.” people who don’t get to stay at home, that are out there stocking the toilet paper and doing all these things to help us?’” said Norris-Geer. One of the businesses that TCOCDKC surprised through their random acts of kindness was DeKalb-Sycamore Chevrolet GMC Cadillac. Alyssa Mershon of Sycamore, who works on the service drive at the dealership, said the visit gave them a big lift. “When Katie came in, I think it caught us all off guard,” said Mershon. “Sometimes I don’t necessarily think of myself as essential in the car business, so it was nice to see that people kind of understood that we are essential as well.” Norris-Geer delivered candy from The Confectionary and Starbucks. She served pretty much everybody in the service drive—the service manager, the dispatcher, the advisors, the quick lube people, and the mechanics. She also got the salesmen and the people upstairs in the office. According to Mershon, they were really excited about the coffee,
Those encouraged by random acts of kindness included people making and delivering meals at all of the schools, TransVAC, Grand Victorian, Sycamore Medical Associates, Edward Medical Group, Safe Passage, Biolife, Northwestern Clinic, NIU Student Health, Opportunity House, Genesis House, NIU Dispatchers, City of DeKalb Dispatchers, DeKalb County Dispatchers, Midwest Orthopedic, Open Door Rehabilitation, Hauser-Ross Eye Institute, Northwestern Medicine ENT, Bethesda Lutheran Home, Sandwich Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, and Lehan Drugs. Businesses that donated treats for random acts of kindness included Sweet Dream Desserts, Sweet Delights, The Neighborhood Bakery, Hy-Vee and Schnucks. INSPIRING OTHERS TO GET INVOLVED As word got out about what the Taking Care of our Caretakers group was doing, others in the DeKalb County community were inspired to pitch in. In particular, a
couple District 428 school teachers came up with the idea to sell signs thanking healthcare workers, first responders and essential workers. Jill Springer, a literacy teacher with the DeKalb School District, originally came up with the idea. She called Cate Cardella, another DeKalb school teacher, to see if she would make the signs. “I was inspired to do the signs based on everything I’ve been seeing Melissa’s group doing,” said Cardella. “You’re working in a hospital with the stress that you’re feeling and then somebody shows up with meals. What a sense of relief and comfort, like you’re being taken care of. And then to keep our local restaurants going is so important for our economy. I was just inspired by the outpouring of the community to donate, that I thought if we can do anything to help that would be great.” In order to produce higher quality, weather resistant signs, they had them made by Banner Up Signs in Sycamore. They charged $15 for each sign and donated half of the price to TCOCDKC. Because the task of processing thousands of dollars in donations and delivering hundreds of signs was so great, Springer and Cardella enlisted the help of two other women: Melissa Beck and Vicky Aburto. After stopping sales at the end of April, the “Essential Signs - DeKalb County” group had delivered 450 signs all over DeKalb County (and beyond) and donated
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$5,500 to TCOCDK. Banner Up Signs even agreed to continue selling the signs and donating half to TCOCDK on their own beginning in May. “It is a win-win-win,” pointed out Cardella. “We’re supporting Banner Up Signs, who has been awesome. We’re supporting first responders, essential workers and healthcare workers by putting the signs up, and then we’re supporting TCOCDKC, who are feeding the healthcare workers, but are also supporting local restaurants and bakeries.” In addition to donating meals, through the TCOCDKC Facebook page, group members also made and donated face masks and headbands to healthcare workers. BUSINESSES DONATING TO THE CAUSE Several businesses also helped to keep the caretaker meal train going by doing fundraisers and/or making large donations. Whiskey Acres donated $1500 they made from selling their hand sanitizer shirts. Tonya Sheehan of Fundraising by the Buckets raised thousands of dollars through laundry and dish soap sales. Sports of all Sorts raised over $600 for the cause through “Shop Local” t-shirt sales. Tom & Jerry’s of Sycamore Catering by Diann donated $500. Tito’s Vodka donated $1,000 through Fatty’s Pub & Grille.
Brenda Jergens of Malta reached out to Jonamac Orchard about doing a fundraiser to sponsor a meal. As it turns out, Jonamac had talked with Edward Apple Orchard West in Winnebago about a drive-thru doughnut fundraiser they did and was looking for a charity to partner with for a similar event. Jonamac decided how many of their cinnamon sugar apple cider doughnuts they could reasonably make with their small spring staff and spread pick-up over five hours to limit the traffic and crowds. They raised the price for a dozen doughnuts from $10.00 to $12.50 for the fundraiser and sold out 400 dozen doughnuts in one morning. Since it was all paid in advance, no exchange of cash or credit cards was necessary. Jonamac was able to donate $2,000 to TCOCDKC from their fundraiser, and because everything went so smoothly they were planning to do another one. “This group, we thought was wonderful. I love what they’re doing,” said Kevin McArtor. “There are so many good causes right now. There are so many things happening. I’m so impressed with the people who have stepped up. It restores your faith in humanity and in America to see people reaching out to help other people.”
EXTENDING THEIR INFLUENCE In addition to TCOCDKC inspiring people throughout DeKalb County to provide food for caretakers and support local businesses during the pandemic, Melissa Butts was also able to help others begin similar groups around Northern Illinois, the Midwest and even in other countries. Butts put her recruiting skills to work and contacted former DeKalb resident, Ellen (Hager) Posledni, who is the Batavia City Clerk, about starting a Taking Care of our Caretakers chapter in Batavia. Posledni reached out to a couple of her contacts and they started Taking Care of our Caretakers - Batavia. Melissa Butts’ daughter and another woman started Sauk Valley Taking Care of our Caretakers. Karlos Ramirez, who is from DeKalb, started something similar for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerice in St. Louis. A man from the United Kingdom even contacted Butts about starting a group in his country. This movement shows that it only takes an idea and a few friends to make a huge changed that helped so many in our county.
Said Norris-Geer: “I may have had an idea, but it took a whole community, all of DeKalb County, to make this happen. I am forever grateful and humbled. They’ve all filled my heart and made this the best experience of my life.”
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Looking to the future
Safe Passage readies
multimillion-dollar fundraising campaign for new domestic violence shelter By: D.M. Herra
W
hen Nancy Prosel joined the Safe Passage board of directors about three years ago, one of the first things she wanted to do was tour the safe house for survivors of domestic violence. She saw survivors and families who were safe, who were beginning to heal – and who were sharing five bedrooms and two bathrooms among 25 people. “The shelter is more than 100 years old,” Safe Passage Executive Director Mary Ellen Schaid said. “It was clear from the beginning of my time, around five years ago, that it was overcrowded. It was not the ideal environment you need for people that are in crisis.” This summer, the board is preparing to launch a multimillion-dollar capital campaign to relocate Safe Passage to the former site of the DeKalb Clinic, in the 200 block of Franklin Street in DeKalb. The clinic building will be torn down and replaced with a contemporary 18 | JUNE 2020 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE
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resource center to address the issues of sexual and domestic violence. “The lower level will be dedicated to counseling,” said Prosel, who is cochairing the campaign. “The second floor will be administrative, and the third floor will be the safe house.” Plans for the new shelter include private and adjoining rooms, more bathrooms, and more common spaces. There will be play areas for the many children who often reside at Safe Passage, Prosel said, and quiet spaces like a library. “Research has led to this understanding that survivors need more than just a physically safe environment. They need an emotionally safe and mentally safe environment where people can really heal and start addressing their trauma,” said Lynnae Laskowski, Safe Passage’s director of prevention. “Our shelter [today] is a physically safe environment. But it’s not a space where people can easily relax and heal. It’s a small space with a lot of people.” Besides being a more comfortable space for survivors, Schaid said, the new shelter will be able to accommodate more people. Safe Passage frequently has to turn away people seeking help because it is out of room.
“People call us in crisis, and we don’t have enough space to shelter everyone who needs shelter,” she said. “That’s not acceptable.” The current shelter is located inside a century-old house and can accommodate up to 25 people, who share five bedrooms, two bathrooms, one kitchen and one washing machine, residential director Renee Wester said. The shelter serves people of all genders, and usually has a mix of single adults and families with children. “Clients share that coming to Safe Passage – even though it is full, even though it is busy – is life changing,” Wester said. “It’s the first time they’ve been believed. The first time they’ve felt safe with someone. The first time they can share their story. We want to take all of that and make it even better.” When Safe Passage moves, the six buildings it currently occupies will be put up for sale, Prosel said. All but one of the buildings are converted singlefamily homes with vintage charm that will be ready to house families once again. In a boon to local government, Prosel added, that means that six residential lots currently designated nonprofit will return to the tax rolls.
At press time, the board had not established the final amount it will seek from its capital campaign. It was in the process of selecting the architect to work on the project; the amount funds needed to complete the building will come after the architect’s preliminary study. That hasn’t stopped at least one major donor from making a commitment to give, Prosel said. Even with the financial uncertainty that has arisen from the COVID-19 crisis, staff and board members are certain the community will support the new shelter. Schaid pointed out that Safe Passage raised $52,937 in the Give DeKalb County day of giving, the third highest earner of any nonprofit. “I’m really grateful for all the support we have, because we’re really going to need the support of every single person in DeKalb County to grow into this new and dynamic building,” she said. The safe house is not the only place Safe Passage is feeling growing pains. Staff meetings and training sessions are held off site, because there is no place on the campus big enough to hold all 34 staff members. A lack of counseling space sometimes means the children’s counseling groups include all ages, from infants up to teenagers.
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Laskowski sees the new administrative space as supporting Safe Passage’s educational mission as well. With enough space, she said, Safe Passage could host training sessions for professionals like doctors, police officers, and teachers on how to work with survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Safe Passage was founded in 1981 to provide safe shelter to survivors of domestic violence. It has since grown to address the issues of domestic and sexual violence from 360 degrees, Laskowski said. It provides counseling to survivors and educates the community on recognizing and addressing signs of abuse. It helps survivors apply for orders of protection and offers legal advocacy to survivors who have cases in the court system. In the 1990s, Safe Passage added a partner abuse intervention program, working with abusers to address and change their behavior. “People don’t realize how much of a need there is for this in our community and how much Safe Passage really does,” Laskowski said. “The 24-hour
crisis line is there for someone who is having a really rough day and just needs to talk. Or for someone in crisis. Or for someone who has a question – maybe they’re worried about someone else and want to know how they can help them. We’re here for kids who have been sexually abused. For kids who have witnessed violence in their family. For the person who was abused as a child and never told anyone for 40 years and now they are ready to talk about it.” Former Safe Passage client and domestic abuse survivor Kowana recorded a video interview to share how the organization changed her life. “Safe Passage gave me a voice,” Kowana said in the video. “They took away the shame that I felt. …I’ve got self-respect now. Thank God there’s a Safe Passage.” SAFE PASSAGE TELEPHONE HOTLINE: 815-756-5228 TEXT LINE: 815-393-1995
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T-SHIRT SALES
From Tees4DC benefit DeKalb County businesses and nonprofit organizations By: KATRINA J.E. MILTON e Print Express in Sycamore teamed up with DeKalb Sign Shop to offer a way to promote local businesses and organizations in the DeKalb County community. Through the website www.Tees4DC. com, T-shirts bearing the logos and custom designs of various DeKalb County businesses and nonprofit organizations were sold for $28 each. Each business or nonprofit organization received $10 for every shirt bought with their logo. Nancy Perkins, owner of Le Print Express, said that the goal of Tees4DC was to “get brand recognition out there for as many businesses and organizations as possible to help everyone survive the economic downturn.” “Small businesses need to help each other out in this time, because it’s tough,” Perkins said. “We wanted to make sure the public kept in mind local businesses and nonprofits out there, and a custom T-shirt was a fun way to
do it. It helped to keep the name of the businesses in their mind.” By contacting Le Print Express, businesses and nonprofit organizations created a custom T-shirt for free with their logo and design and were able choose from about 50 different shirt colors. Kishwaukee United Way’s T-shirt design featured its logo, a dandelion and the words “Scatter Kindness.” “We hope our shirt’s design sent a message of positivity and hope for folks during these times,” said Dawn Littlefield, the executive director of Kishwaukee United Way. “Tees4DC encouraged people in the community that were at home with a few extra dollars to support their agency in a unique and special way.” Since the website was created in April, over 120 business and organizations joined the site. More than 1,500 shirts were sold, with over $16,000 being donated back to our community.
“I think it was a great way to share a little about your agency’s story, share and be proud of the agencies you value,” Littlefield said. “So much of our donations come from companies that are struggling at this time. Tees4DC helps support our agency, Le Print Express and our community during this difficult time.” DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | JUNE 2020 | 21
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You can help!
This is a very difficult time for lo ocal businesse es.
Shop local or purchase gift certificates at your favorite stores; remember many have ecommerce options. If you need cleaning or household supplies buy them locally. Pay with cash. Businesses pay a processing fee each time you use a card. There's no fee for cash & every little bit helps. Support local restaurants by ordering take out, ordering delivery, or purchasing a gift card for future use. Share this information with friends and family! Encourage them to support their local community as well.
ADVERTISING INDEX DeKalb Area Retirement Center............. 5
est. 1851
First National Bank ................................. 2 Hampton Inn........................................... 5 Larry Gregory Photography.................... 3 NIU Athletics ........................................ 20 NIU Dept. of Visual Arts ....................... 24 Pizza Villa ................................................ 9 Radiant Dermotology ........................... 23 State Farm- Micah Stoddard ................ 15 Yaegar’s Farm Market ............................. 9
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