A New Direction Beverly Morgan Park (AND) was founded in 2011 by a grassroots group of community members and professionals who saw a need to help women, men, and children on Chicago’s far South Side in the Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhoods and surrounding communities (city neighborhoods and southern suburbs) who are victims of Domestic Violence (DV). When the neighborhood’s primary DV agency closed, the group realized that the community could not abandon victims of domestic violence and that AND could serve the existing clients from the closed agency as well as new clients. AND’s mission: “...is to provide counseling, education, support, and advocacy to individuals and families affected by Domestic Violence. AND provides confidential counseling and advocacy services at no charge to clients as they navigate their journey to safety. AND’s vision is to have every home be safe and free of domestic violence and abuse and to break the cycle of violence for future generations.” AND is the only DV organization located in the community. 

In 2011, AND hired Rita Ryan, an experienced Certified Domestic Violence Professional (CDVP), and began offering Legal Advocacy, Education, Counseling and Support Services. Ryan was a legal advocate at the closed agency and brought former clients to AND. Ryan’s reputation as a 30-year veteran DV service provider has solidified the organization’s reputation. In 2013, thanks to an earmarked gift from the Mary Elizabeth Waller Foundation, AND added Children’s Therapist Kristy Arditti, AM, LCSW, CDVP, a colleague of Ryan’s and a perfect fit for the Children’s Therapy Services Program. Arditti and Ryan work together to help families heal from the effects of DV so that the cycle of violence can be broken. 
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AND is committed to all who utilize its services, as well as its donors and stakeholders. Though our clients are primarily from the Beverly/Morgan Park community (Chicago), AND has no geographic boundaries, and serves women, men and children from any area with the vision to, one day, have every home be safe and free of domestic violence and abuse.

AND is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.