The ongoing pandemic has left people cooped up and stressed out at home, giving rise to domestic violence in the Chicago community. In this panel, we're bringing together people who have spent their careers committed to advocating, educating, and organizing to end domestic violence, and will explore actionable solutions to support those experiencing abuse. This webinar will feature a Q&A with Amy Milligan, Director of Domestic Abuse Services, Metropolitan Family Services; Amanda Pyron, executive director, The Network; and Carol Ruderman, executive director, SHALVA; and will be moderated by JWI YWIN Chicago President Carrie Seleman.
Click here to watch the recording of the webinar.
We’re asking for a $5 donation to attend the event in support of JWI’s National Library Initiative which builds brand new children’s libraries in domestic violence shelters.
JWI welcomes, embraces, affirms, and invests in women of every race, culture, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
Amy Milligan, Director of of Domestic Abuse Services at Metropolitan Family Services
Amy Milligan is an Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional who has been an advocate and leader in the field of domestic violence since 1995. During her 24-year tenure at Family Shelter Service in DuPage County, Illinois, Amy served survivors of abuse in a number of capacities, including hotline, support group facilitation, outreach services, medical advocacy, and court advocacy. She spent 15 years as a member of the FSS leadership team, managing a range of programs that included hotline, court advocacy, crisis counseling, mobile advocacy, training, and prevention. In 2019, Amy became the Director of Domestic Violence Services for Metropolitan Family Services, a multidisciplinary organization offering programs that support and strengthen Chicago-area families. In her current role, she provides guidance and oversight of the domestic violence programs offered throughout MFS’s community-based sites in Cook and DuPage Counties. Amy’s areas of professional interest include the impacts of domestic violence and trauma on adults, trauma-informed care, and legal remedies for the protection of abuse survivors. She is an experienced trainer who presents to community partners and professionals on issues related to family violence.Amanda Pyron, Executive Director of The Network
Amanda Pyron serves as the Executive Director of The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, a comprehensive membership based organization advocating, educating, and organizing to end domestic violence. She is an experienced professional in the domestic and family violence sector, having provided direct housing, services and advocacy to survivors in Washington, DC for over ten years. She also developed a national program for crime victims at the Department of Justice and trained nationally on the rights of crime victims after sentencing. Most recently, Amanda oversaw training, policy development, and research for a child welfare organization in the Republic of Ireland.Carol Ruderman, Executive Director of SHALVA
As Executive Director of SHALVA since January 2014, Carol has been a leader in nonprofits for over 20 years. Prior to joining SHALVA, Carol served as Regional Director at The American Cancer Society, where she led area wide education and development programs, managed patient services and advocacy efforts, and oversaw human resource and administrative functions. At the Society, Carol was selected to participate in a highly selective National Leadership Development program and received the Illinois Division “PIECES” award for Equality. Carol previously served as Co-Studio Director for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (Learning Ally), where she managed operations, production and volunteers.
At SHALVA, Carol leads the agency’s clinical and administrative staff in fulfilling SHALVA’s mission and oversees all programs, services, and fundraising efforts. Carol is an active member of partner coalitions, serving on the steering committees for JCARES and the Partnership for a Safer Lake County. She is committed to making sure women facing domestic abuse get the help, support, and resources they need.
Carol holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and received a Bachelor of Arts with honors from Chatham College.Carrie Seleman, moderator, President of JWI’s Chicago Young Women’s Impact Network, Assistant Public Guardian at the Cook County Office of the Public Guardian, spent a year as an intern and post-graduate legal fellow at Ascend Justice, formerly known as the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic
