The Night Ministry

This past Saturday, our President & CEO Carol J. Sharp, MPA had the honor of speaking at a TEDx Talk as part of their powerful "The Puzzle of Purpose" series. Carol joined an inspiring lineup of presenters - Bryan Flower, Michael Zevin, and Margaret Bower - for a day centered on purpose-driven leadership, storytelling, and the very fabric of life. The event was expertly emceed by Clint-Michael Reneau, Ph.D. and thoughtfully organized by a dynamic, student-led committee that also facilitated a networking luncheon, fostering meaningful dialogue and connections. It was a terrific success and a unique opportunity for The Night Ministry to connect with a new and engaged audience. We’ll be sharing the video of Carol’s presentation and official photos from the event as soon as they become available—stay tuned! #TEDx #TheNightMinistry #PurposeDriven #Leadership #CommunityImpact #TEDxNIU

Welcoming Dr. Amish Desai to The Night Ministry Board of Directors We are proud to welcome Dr. Amish Desai as a newly elected member of The Night Ministry’s Board of Directors! Dr. Desai is the Chief Medical Officer of Population Health at Northwestern Medicine, where he leads strategic initiatives to improve clinical outcomes, advance disease prevention, and address the social determinants of health. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis, a medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a Master of Science in Healthcare Delivery from Dartmouth. Dr. Desai completed his Internal Medicine training at Yale University. A passionate advocate for health equity, Dr. Desai has served in multiple leadership roles dedicated to transforming healthcare systems to better serve communities in need. We are honored to have Dr. Desai join our Board and look forward to the expertise and vision he brings to our mission. Northwestern Medicine #boardservice #thenightministry

Our Community Engagement Manager Jenny Merritt attended a wonderful Serve and Learn event last weekend at ProAuto in Morton Grove. This special collaboration between the Morton Grove and Glenview Chambers of Commerce brought together local business members and community volunteers who assembled over 300 sandwiches and prepared sack suppers for our outreach teams to distribute to those experiencing homelessness. What made this event particularly meaningful is the personal connection. Julie Hardegree, ProAuto's owner, grew up supporting The Night Ministry, as her mother, Nancy Carpenter, volunteered at our first youth housing program in Lakeview. This incredible family tradition continues as Julie's mother still provides monthly sandwiches for our organization! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated and donated. Your generosity makes a significant impact on The Night Ministry's ability to serve those in need. Please reach out to Jenny if you are interested in starting your own tradition and volunteering at The Night Ministry jennifer@thenightministry.org https://lnkd.in/gVfswwjG Glenview Chamber of Commerce MORTON GROVE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Julie Hardegree Jenny Merritt #volunteersrock #volunteering #makingadifference

We are thrilled to welcome, Stephanie Cohen as one of our newest members of The Night Ministry’s Board of Directors! Stephanie brings a dynamic background in Marketing and Advertising, having worked with clients across the CPG, liquor, and grocery sectors. Her leadership extends into the nonprofit and education spaces as well—most recently serving as Co-Chair of the Francis W. Parker School Parents’ Association, where she remains deeply involved in school life. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Stephanie is also a trained improviser, having completed programs at The Second City, The Annoyance, and iO—skills we’re sure will bring creativity and insight to her role on the Board. We’re excited to have Steph on board and are grateful for her commitment to advancing The Night Ministry’s mission and making a meaningful impact in the community. #communityservice #boardservice #steppingup #makingadifference

On #WorldHealthDay, we recognize the critical link between health and housing. The Night Ministry’s Health Outreach Bus provides accessible, basic medical care and support services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or poverty in underserved areas of Chicago. By meeting people where they are, our health outreach teams help reduce barriers to care and supports the health and dignity of our unhoused neighbors. To learn more about The Night Ministry, visit our website at www.thenightministry.org #TheNightMinistry #PublicHealth #HealthcareAccess #StreetMedicine #WorldHealthDay #SocialImpact #partnerships Photo cred: Lloyd Degrane

Being a good neighbor means looking out for everyone in our community—including those experiencing homelessness and poverty. 💙 Here are some ways YOU can make a difference: 🏠 Advocate for affordable housing and support services 📚 Learn about homelessness in your community 💬 Challenge stigma and misconceptions 🤝 Treat unhoused individuals with dignity and respect 🔗 Connect people to The Night Ministry’s services when appropriate 🛍️ Support businesses that partner with homeless service organizations Small actions create big change. Let's build a more compassionate community together! Learn more at www.thenightministry.org #BeAGoodNeighbor #SupportYourCommunity #endhomelessness

We’re incredibly grateful to our Platinum Sponsor, The Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation, and our Diamond Sponsors, Ringer Family Foundation and IMC Chicago Charitable Foundation for their incredible support of Lighting Up The Night! Their generosity fuels our mission, helping us provide housing, health care, and support to our unhoused neighbors. Let’s celebrate together! Grab your tickets, join the fun, and be part of an unforgettable night that makes a real difference. Don’t miss out—get your tickets or donate today: https://onecau.se/lutn25 IMC Trading #lightingupthenight #thenightministry #IMCtrading #IMCchicagocharitablefoundation https://lnkd.in/gxMkbp89

The Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (IAFCC), whose mission is to strengthen the safety net and maximize the collective impact of free and charitable clinics by representing and resourcing them to ensure equitable, accessible, and quality healthcare for all, held its annual conference today in Tinley Park. IAFCC is a vital resource for The Night Ministry and our partners across the city and state—connecting us with knowledge, outreach, process and quality improvements, and so much more. Our very own Lindsay Zimmerman, PhD, a longtime supporter and champion of The Night Ministry, was a keynote speaker and presented on "Protect Your Capacity | Innovation as a Tool." We were also able to give tours of our Health Outreach bus to conference attendees and share the ways we are able to provide direct healthcare services to members of our community who are unhoused or experiencing poverty. Thank you to IAFCC for leading the way and creating a positive space to discuss common challenges and network with key stakeholders on how we can provide much-needed healthcare to underserved communities and those in need. The Night Ministry Team in attendance included David Wywialowski (Director of Outreach and Health Ministry), Tedd Peso, (Director, Strategic Partnerships), Lindsay Zimmerman, PhD (Learning & Impact Committee Member), Jenanne L. [Luse] (Nurse Practitioner) and Carol J. Sharp, MPA, (President & CEO and IAFCC Board Member) #IAFCC hashtag #TheNightMinistry hashtag #CommunityPartners hashtag #Healthcare

We are thrilled to share that Carol J. Sharp, MPA, will be joining an impressive lineup of speakers at Northern Illinois University's TEDx NIU series on April 12th. Tickets are available to the public to attend: https://lnkd.in/gBiyD-mA #TEDtalk #TEDxNIU #NIU #TheNightMinistry 

For our unhoused neighbors, keeping their feet clean, dry, and healthy can be a huge challenge. That’s why The Night Ministry is so thankful for the support of Hanes and the Hanes for Good Program. Hanesbrands Inc. has been supporting The Night Ministry with annual donations of socks and underwear since 2017. This winter Hanes donated 1000 pairs of socks to The Night Ministry. The Hanes for Good Program recently celebrated its 15th anniversary and, in that time, has donated over 6 million items, including 4 million pairs of socks, to support the unhoused community nationwide. Hanesbrands Inc. #HanesforGood #HanesSockDrive #communitysupport