We wanted you to be among the first to know that after 22 years as the Executive Director of Open Communities, Gail Schechter is leaving the agency in mid-January to pursue new opportunities to advocate for social justice.
While we are sad that our visionary leader and mentor is moving on, we are so grateful that she has put in place an extraordinary team of housing, economic and social justice professionals who are well prepared to take us into the future with the same passionate dedication she always demonstrates. We're also delighted that she has agreed to remain our wise counselor and advisor whenever we need her.
The first full time Executive Director in the agency's 43-year history, Gail has shepherded the organization into a broader sense of mission that recognizes the imperative to advocate for justice in all aspects of community life so that our neighborhoods truly will become more welcoming.
In 2012, Gail led Open Communities in unveiling the organization's broadened mission, which was reflected in its name change from Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs to Open Communities. Since then she has ushered in a new era of grassroots organizing and activism in the suburbs under the banner of
. The Justice Project has identified
, which give communities a framework to demonstrate that they are taking steps to be more inclusive and give residents the capacity to hold their leaders accountable. The Justice Project, which is facilitated by Open Communities and steered by volunteers, has formed "Justice Teams" in each of the
the organization services.
