Looking back to reflect on personal or communal history is
guaranteed to bring up a gamut of memories and emotions. This look back records some of my memories
and feelings. I must say I feel
fortunate to have crossed paths with the people and mission of Dove.
In the late 1970’s I was a full-time mom of three children
and joined Decatur’s League of Women Voters chapter. The group chose domestic violence as a study
topic one year and I volunteered to help inquire into the incidence and nature
of this newly-named phenomenon. Study
led us to connecting with a small local group of women (nurses, teachers, counselors,
and survivors of domestic violence) beginning to identify the need for
specialized responses to serve safety, legal and family issues caused by
domestic violence.
I joined the group focused on action and services. After some months of linking with education
and training to provide services for women and children seeking safety, we
managed to establish some basic emergency shelter arrangements and a hotline
for women to call in an emergency. We
had become the Committee Against Domestic Violence (CADV) and the hotline
number was, and remains, 423-2238 (423-CADV).
Struggling to build a solid program for folks whose safety
and survival was at risk was tough.
Happily, we realized that a local non-profit – Dove, Inc. – already had a
mission and a track record of meeting “unmet needs” with a commitment to
justice, equality and understanding among all people. We hoped and asked that Dove consider taking
us in and giving us a home. What a good
fit and nurturing spot for CADV to grow!
Thanks to Dove’s Board and executive directors in the early
years, this agency has remained unique and evolving in ways that facilitated
amazing development of staff, services, professionalism and community support.
Dove’s uniqueness is demonstrated in part by the Board
structure: representative members from
area churches intentionally work to BE an ecumenical presence of
faith-in-action. That solid grounding
then supports client services that DO NOT venture into any evangelizing or
worship or limitations on who can participate in programming. I was always proud when I watched Jewish
women, Muslim women, and hundreds whose faith wasn’t shared all be welcomed and
valued as blessings.
Dove’s ability to evolve was necessary as the Domestic
Violence Program and Homeward Bound were added.
Both areas have specific funding streams and standards which required
accountability by providers. Executive
Director Fred Spannaus led the way in the 1980’s and 1990’s, guiding the search
for grant funding and joining us in the community collaboration needed to
support these programs. Fred and the
Board fully supported our membership in the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic
Violence where we accessed on-going training and mentoring in our work to build
an effective and well-regarded program.
Their emphasis on ethics, accountability and client-centered services
matched Dove’s own. Workers have
appreciated the occasions when the Board and
an Executive Director have supported and believed in the expertise and
integrity honed through focused effort.
An evolving organization hits inevitable bumps along the way
but Dove in 2020 is in good hands, continuing to change and grow when required
and still rooted in the mission and values that have guided faithfully over 50
years.
Finally, I’d like to give a personal shout-out to some whose
influences are special in my memory:
Fred Spannaus, Sue Simcox, Ray Batman, John Henry Cain, Kim Stahl,
Darrel Parish, Connie Requarth, Amy Wilson, Mary Nolte, Barb Mills, Craig Mandernach and Larry
Lovell-Troy and all of my
colleagues at Domestic Violence and Homeward Bound, some of whom still do the
good work daily!
This Anniversary Reflection was written by Cluney John, former Dove Staff Member.
Thanks Cluney!
