Strong communication skills and a broader knowledge of the world are helping Katherine Brown make a difference in the lives of domestic violence survivors.
Brown learned some of those skills at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills and then transferred to the University of Illinois Chicago for a bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in European Union Studies, but the passion for helping was already there.
For the last five years, Brown has been senior director of Impact & Innovation at The Crisis Center for South Suburbia.
She speaks with a deep understanding and concern about the women and men who come to the Tinley Park center for help.
More Top Picks Best Survival Kits For Emergencies
“It does not discriminate — domestic violence affects people across every language, religion. We try to take down those barriers.
While some domestic violence organizations “focus exclusively on intimate partner violence,” she said, The Crisis Center helps people hit by sibling, parent, child and in cases of elder abuse.
She pointed out that these days as more and more households become intergenerational, often because of economic situations, “the elderly are a very vulnerable population.”
Brown’s responsibilities include building relationships with government agencies, elected officials and funders of federal, state, county and city of Chicago grants for the shelter and the survivors it helps. She also translates the center’s program data, research and service experiences into an easy-to-understand explanation of what domestic violence is.
It’s “helping decision-makers understand survivors’ needs, barriers to safety, and the impact of investing in effective services,” she explained.
She said abusers often take economic control of their victims through credit cards, bank accounts, etc.
“Some don’t have access to credit cards or (have) loans taken out in their name, but they don’t know about it,” said Brown. “Oftentimes we’ll help them get accounts closed or give them access to them. With utility bills, the abuser (may have) left the apartment but stopped paying utility bills.”
The center provides emergency financial assistance in such instances, as well its 54-bed shelter. Funding can help survivors become self-sufficient and be safe.
Their shelter provides basic needs, including food and clothing, but case management sometimes includes a safety plan to help victims get back on their feet.
A newer and pervasive type of abuse is technological, where abusers use social media to track where a victim goes and may even place a tracking device on his or her car.
That’s what happened in the case of Jailene Flores, who worked at a grocery store in Evergreen Park, Brown explained. She was alleged to have been shot to death by her boyfriend for reportedly removing the AirTag he had placed in her car.
“Honestly, technology is the most common (form of domestic violence) other than financial,” said Brown.
Pam Kostecki, the Center’s outgoing executive director, said Brown is leaving her mark.
“When I think about Katie Brown, I think about someone who has an incredible passion for what we do and an even greater determination to make sure the rest of the world understands why it matters,” said Kostecki.
Kostecki said Brown has a way of keeping the big picture in mind.
“She understands that if we want to make a difference for survivors of domestic violence, we have to do more than provide great services. We have to educate people, influence conversations, build relationships, and make sure our voices are heard by the people making decisions that affect the lives of survivors.
“And Katie is absolutely amazing at that,” said Kostecki.
Brown said her education at Moraine Valley Community College helped prepare her for the challenges at the University of Illinois Chicago.
She then worked in a variety of jobs, including at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs doing research for the FBI on unmanned aerial vehicles and drones. She then worked at several non-profits before coming to the center.
She lives in Crestwood, where she grew up, with her parents and three dogs, the most recent a rescue from a hoarding situation.
She also gets much of her wardrobe from the center’s Neat Repeats resale shop in Worth, which often carries designer clothing. It’s staffed by volunteers, some victims themselves. They also have a resale shop in Orland Park and one soon to open in Tinley Park.
“We do have some volunteers who unfortunately, their loved ones didn’t survive,” she said.
More Top Picks Steering Cover
Marita Kay, The Crisis Center’s fundraising and communications officer, said one of Brown’s strengths was recognizing how domestic violence affects not only the victim, but also the family and community.
“Most importantly, she understands that behind every statistic is an individual or family whose life has been affected by domestic violence,” said Kay.
The shelter also has a 24-hour hotline at 708-429-7233.
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.