FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chicago, IL, April 14, 2025 – Connections for Abused Women and Their Children (CAWC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Hillary Douin, LCSW, CDVP, as its next Executive Director. A dedicated leader in the nonprofit sector with over eleven years of experience specializing in gender-based and domestic violence services, Hillary brings a wealth of expertise, passion, and vision to CAWC.
The appointment is a homecoming for Douin, who once managed CAWC’s non-residential programming and staff across four sites. Hillary has been working in the gender-based violence field since 2013, starting in direct service provision to survivors and working her way up through leadership roles at service organizations in the Chicago area.
Meet Hillary Douin
Prior to rejoining CAWC, Douin served as the Director of Domestic Violence at YWCA Evanston/North Shore, a role she assumed just three months into the COVID-19 pandemic. She successfully navigated the challenges of opening a brand-new 23-room emergency shelter during that time, while also expanding services and nearly doubling the department’s budget. She has extensive experience overseeing a wide range of direct services, prevention and training programs, and services for those who cause harm.
Douin is known for her ability to build strategic partnerships across sectors, collaborating with key stakeholders to address systemic issues and advocating for long-term change in the lives of survivors. She has secured over $1 million in government grant funding, contributed to organizational stability, and spearheaded innovative, trauma-informed approaches to violence prevention and intervention.
In addition to her leadership in program development, budget management, and interdisciplinary coordination, she has developed and delivered workshops, training sessions, and community education initiatives focused on equity and gender-based violence. She has also mentored and supervised diverse teams, fostering an environment of growth and empowerment for staff, interns, and volunteers.
“Becoming Executive Director at CAWC feels like coming home. I have loved this agency and its mission since I worked here in 2016, and I am so excited to bring my passion and leadership back to support the incredible work that is happening here,” said Hillary Douin.
In her new role, Hillary looks forward to building on CAWC’s strong foundation, empowering staff, survivors, and community partners to work together toward a vision of equity, justice, and safety for all.
“As we welcome Hillary Douin to CAWC, we are confident that her expertise, vision, and dedication will propel our organization forward in its mission to support survivors and advocate for a future free from violence,” said Board of Directors President, David Levine, MD. “Her leadership will strengthen our services and expand our reach, ensuring that CAWC continues to be a beacon of hope and safety in our community.”
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jessica Kurkowski
Development and Communications Manager
jkurkowski@cawc.org
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CAWC
CAWC is committed to ending domestic violence. Using a self-help, empowerment approach, CAWC provides a shelter for adults and children, counseling, legal advocacy, and a 24-hour hotline for people affected by domestic violence. CAWC works for social change through education, service collaboration, and institutional advocacy.
In 1977, CAWC established the first domestic violence hotline in the city of Chicago and opened the first shelter for battered women and their children, Greenhouse Shelter, in 1979. With a long history of service and advocacy for abused women and their children over the years, CAWC has evolved in response to changing needs, focusing on client-based services that are both trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive. CAWC is also known throughout Chicago for its emphasis on bi-cultural, bilingual services.
Learn more about CAWC at www.cawc.org/about.