• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois

SOS Children’s Villages Illinois

Donate Today
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Careers & Internships
    • Volunteer
    • Contact
  • Our Impact
    • The SOS Illinois Difference
    • Success Stories
  • Foster Parenting
    • Becoming a Foster Parent
    • Foster Parent Questionnaire
    • Spanish Bilingual Foster Parent Questionnaire
    • Start or Finish an Application
  • Giving
    • Ways to Give
    • Welcome to the Roosevelt Square Community Center
    • Holiday Giving Program
    • Evening of Hope
  • Blog & Media

Advocacy & Awareness

CEO Message: The Next Step for the Children

Many spoke these words to us as small children just beginning to walk, “go ahead . . . take the next step . . . you can do it.”

Later in life, either the same people or others told us once again to take the next step. They encouraged us to move beyond fears and apprehensions by moving forward in a personal relationship, exploring a professional career opportunity, or investigating other aspects of our lives, even when we felt unsure.

Today, we are in extraordinarily challenging times of uncertainty, fear, and insecurity.

A worldwide virus challenges us to care for others by maintaining distance and wearing protective face coverings. SOS Illinois has witnessed many of the communities in which we serve suffer from this pandemic in disproportionate numbers. As we continue to provide much-needed services, we see the impact of COVID-19 leaving thousands upon thousands sick and millions unemployed; and most recently we have sadly seen once again the visible signs of hatred, division, and racism that permeates our society.

So, amidst all this, what must we do? The options are simple. We can stand paralyzed in fear and remain in the shadows of uncertainty, or we can collectively stand and find the courage to take that next step.

That next step for SOS Children’s Villages Illinois is to act upon the goodness that is ours.

We will continue to heal, teach, and strengthen children, as well as guide them to move beyond fears and uncertainty. By leading each child to take the much-needed steps, we show them they can trust in the power of the human spirit through authentic, unconditional, and powerful love.

Out of such love for others, we will be implementing in June new protocols on our journey to provide more services in each of our Villages. We are taking the next steps ensuring that good sanitation practices, social distancing, protective face coverings, and self-monitoring will maximize everyone staying safe and healthy.

Yet just as important, we will be working with our Foster Parents and staff to take the next steps in dialogue with our children to let them know the brokenness in our society will not define us, but motivate us to be who we really are – a people on a common journey towards the good.

Recently, we had an online gathering all the Villages. Some of the children gathered with us and looked at the array of faces on the monitors. I could not help but notice the smiles on each of the children’s faces.

I also realized for some of the children their first days coming into foster care could not allow them to smile due to their pains, fears, and uncertainties.

And yet, each of those children trusted and took the next steps. They were able to believe they could move forward. They heard and trusted in our voices and our presence that they could do it.

Today during all of this, we still can smile at each other- even if behind face coverings . . . because we can move forward. We can take that next step guided by the voices of our past that urged us to move forward when everything seemed unclear.

I thank each of you for all you give us and how you inspire SOS Illinois to keep moving forward. I trust always in your confidence and commitment to keep us united in strength on this magnificent journey of ours.

Today, we can take the next step for the children in our care and for children in foster care everywhere . . . so later, they can teach others to smile again and trust to take the next step.

< Previous
Next >

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Twitter

SOS IllinoisFollow

SOS Illinois
sosillinoisSOS Illinois@sosillinois·
19h

We've embarked on an educational campagin about the #COVID19 #vaccine. In our open forum discussions with staff, many have shared their feelings & fears, and others their reasons for wanting to get the vaccine. At the heart of it, we all are humans figuring it out.

Reply on Twitter 1351640181477158919Retweet on Twitter 1351640181477158919Like on Twitter 1351640181477158919Twitter 1351640181477158919
sosillinoisSOS Illinois@sosillinois·
18 Jan

"If one group of people’s lives are treated with the virus of injustice, cruelty, and repression, then none of our lives can matter." To read our CEO's full #martinlutherking reflection, click here https://buff.ly/3qvV1Yt

Reply on Twitter 1351180727157710850Retweet on Twitter 1351180727157710850Like on Twitter 1351180727157710850Twitter 1351180727157710850
sosillinoisSOS Illinois@sosillinois·
17 Jan

So many thanks to @EsperanzaHealth at its Brighton Park location for helping SOS Illinois get its first doses of the #Covid19 #vaccine for our amazing team of essential workers. #VaccinesSaveLives

2
Reply on Twitter 1350614045259407360Retweet on Twitter 13506140452594073601Like on Twitter 13506140452594073603Twitter 1350614045259407360
sosillinoisSOS Illinois@sosillinois·
15 Jan

In the spirit of our #mlkdayofservice, we share the SOS Illinois Racial Justice Committee project - "Family Togetherness Bags" - created for biological parents and children in foster care. Read more about our efforts to build a better tomorrow. https://buff.ly/3ifajxQ

Reply on Twitter 1350150666224857088Retweet on Twitter 1350150666224857088Like on Twitter 1350150666224857088Twitter 1350150666224857088
Load More...

Get Engaged

Help us celebrate our 30th Anniversary in 2020 by sharing a memory, word of wisdom, or affirmation with SOS Children's Villages Illinois!

Footer

Learn About Us

  • About SOS Illinois
  • Our People
  • Our Villages
  • Our Impact
  • Client Services
  • FAQ’s
Visit SOS Children's Illinois InstagramVisit SOS Children's Illinois FacebookVisit SOS Children's Illinois TwitterVisit SOS Children's Illinois LinkedinVisit SOS Children's Illinois YoutubeVisit SOS Children's Illinois Pinterest

Donate

  • Giving
  • Become a Dream Maker
  • Events
  • Where Funds Go
  • Corporate Partners
  • Community Center Project
  • Holiday Giving Program

Change the Future

  • Work With Us
  • Become a Foster Parent
  • Careers & Internships
  • Volunteer
  • Staff Portal

Blog & Media

  • Our Stories
  • Success Stories
  • Resources
  • Contact

Copyright © 2021 by SOS Children’s Villages Illinois, Designed By ArtVersion

Privacy Policy

info@sosillinois.org

Registered 501(c)(3). EIN Tax ID: 36-3599110