Bethany Britton graduated in December 2018, from the University of Illinois Master’s MSW Program with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health. 

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In 2017, she received her bachelor’s in communication from the University of Illinois.  She was awarded the YMCA Bailey’s Fellowship, for her service in creativity passion, and commitment through community organization.  The 2017 Fred H. Turner Leadership Award was awarded as she proceeded to complete her bachelor degree.  

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In 2018 she was awarded Roxie A. Watson Student Leadership Award for succeeding in academic pursuit despite encountering her person obstacles. While working toward her MSW, she founded the non-profit organization “Women in Need Recovery”. 

Bethany was inspired to make a change due to her own experience of despair with homeless and involvement with the justice system.  She began to pursue transitional housing for women and LGBTQ population who are being discharged from treatment or released from Jail and/or prison. 

Blake joined WIN in 2023. At the Resilience Resource Center she is also the Director of Human Resources and Employee Relations.

Connor is a young aspiring therapist who works at the Win resource center. He organizes triage materials and coordinates for our clients. He works at the center because he wants to make the world a better place and wants to give everybody a fair chance at starting over.

Vanessa D. Beaver is an Executive Administrator for-profit and nonprofit entities for over 13 years. In Vanessa’s previous role she was the Admissions Coordinator for Stepping Stones Treatment Center. She oversaw the admissions process for inpatient and outpatient clients. While being in service there, she was able to create new ways to connect with referral sources and streamline processes for paperwork for admittance.  

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Vanessa is an advocate in her local communities from leadership roles to feeding the homeless. During these past 32 years of community help, she has served in numerous areas such as a Chief Financial Officer for 4 years for a non-for-profit entity, Executive Administrator for over 13 years for corporate and non-for-profit businesses, Life Coach for 14 years, and Inspirational Speaker for 18 years.

She stands as the Founder of Cycle Breakers Healing Centers. Cycle Breaker’s program consists of recovery homes and safe houses for women dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues. Vanessa is currently working toward her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. 

Mel started working for WIN Recovery in August of 2021 as our amazing Client Resource Coordinator. She has been able to witness WIN Recovery grow into the organization that it is today. Mel loves how WIN is like a home for the staff and the women living in the homes.

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Mel has stated before that working for this organization has given her a purpose and she strives to be a leader for our clients. She loves how she is able to meet with other organizations in the community and be someone for our women to look up to. 

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Mel has an immense amount of knowledge about substance abuse and addiction due to having family members who are in recovery or in active addiction. This knowledge gives her insight to better help our clients. She was raised around the “Narcotics Anonymous” (NA) community and continues to attend meetings to further her education about substance abuse.

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Mel has always had a passion for helping people and she had a desire to become the person people go to and trust which is exactly what she is at WIN Recovery.

Dana joined WIN in 2019 and since has contributed a tremendous amount to the program as a former house coordinator. Having gone through the program herself she is able to support women currently in the program. Dana is Indigenous and an advocate for LGBTQ2S+. If you followed us during Pride month Dana helped us post content informing us about Two-Spirited individuals.

Dana is proud to be nine months clean and is very optimistic about her future. She believes that going back to Chicago, where she is from, is tackling the source of the problem. A big change for her has been connecting spiritually and culturally, as she is part of an Indigenous trauma group. Dana states that The Resilience Resource Center also helps her get away from the house, give her a place to be a part of a team again, and to get a foot in the door.

Well Dana is now a Resource Coordinator at WIN Recovery! Congrats Dana! She will be facilitating workshops using the ReAction workbook to focus on techniques for reentry and recovery. WIN Recovery is grateful for all the work Dana has done and continues to do. All her hard work has not gone unnoticed! Thank you Dana!

Gina Robinson is a mother to an amazing little boy named Andrew Donovan Maro. Her son saved her life by being the reason she got clean from a 9-year addiction to painkillers. She has been clean from painkillers since the day she learned she was pregnant in 2017. Gina moved to Chicago in 2019 and has since been involved with non-profit organizations that specialize in holistic healing for addiction, and treatment for mental health. Working here at WIN is so important to her because she knows, all too well, how it feels to need help and have no idea where to start or where to look. Helping those in need is what she has a passion for. 

Vanessa Dallas is our the Center Administrator. She has been with WIN Resilience Center since 2023. Prior to this employment, she worked as a Claims Agent for the Illinois Department of Employment {IDES}. She is the first point of contact sitting at the front desk when visitors enter the facility. In her current position, she pre-register clients for upcoming appointments. She also creates files for each client. She is responsible for arranging meetings for the training room, keeping up with inventory for supplies, and whatever is needed. 

Melissa’s journey with WIN Recovery began in April of 2021 when she came into the Champaign first step house as a client. WIN Recovery offered Melissa a safe place, support, and the tools she needed to reach her goals. Melissa was able to get a career, a drivers license, a car, a home, and full custody of her children back.

Melissa joined WIN Recovery as a colleague in September of 2023. She is so grateful for everything that WIN Recovery has done for her and her children. Melissa knows that her life experiences have given her tools that she can now use to help others. Melissa is ready to do her part, share her experiences, and give the support and tools she was given to clients today.

Bio and contact information coming soon ...