Leadership Transition Update

August 7, 2020

After more than a year of exceptional leadership as Growing Home’s Executive Director, Danielle K. Perry, Esq. has accepted an appointment with Governor Pritzker’s Administration as the Cannabis Regulations Oversight Officer.

 During Danielle’s tenure, Growing Home has grown in many ways, including winning the coveted Impact Grants Chicago $100,000 Award and subsequent completion of the construction of a third farm dedicated to providing healthy, affordable produce to the community of Englewood. The Governing Board and the Growing Home team are grateful for Danielle’s passionate leadership, especially as the organization adapted programming this season to provide a safe environment for our staff and Production Assistants during the Coronavirus pandemic.  

Danielle looks forward to maintaining her unflagging commitment to healthy people and communities in her next step and staying connected to Growing Home and the communities we serve. 

“Communities across Chicago are in desperate need of resources and opportunities like jobs and food. The current pandemic has made these needs abundantly clear. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve the Englewood community and Growing Home with selfless, talented people who are committed to eradicating poverty through transformative work. I know Growing Home will continue to thrive.”

As Danielle moves on– at this moment of both great community need and great momentum in our mission–Growing Home will be initiating a search for a new Executive Director. The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Janelle St. John as the Interim Executive Director.

 Janelle has served as the Chief Fund Development Officer for Growing Home since June 2019, and has been an integral part of our growth this past year.  Given her familiarity with all aspects of Growing Home’s operations, coupled with her extensive experience with non-profit management, Janelle is well positioned to lead Growing Home effectively during this transition period.  

As Janelle shares: “It is with great pleasure that I accept this leadership role within Growing Home.  I am dedicated to ensuring that we continue to build on our commitment to our program participants, alumni, staff and our role within the Englewood community.”

Lynn Sheck, Governing Board Chair stated: “We appreciate the significant contributions Danielle has made to Growing Home, and wish her success in her next endeavors. We look forward to continued momentum under Janelle’s leadership, and thank all our donors who make our work possible.”

Growing Home is filled with gratitude and admiration for leaders like Danielle and Janelle in our Chicago community who are all working together towards our larger common mission: bringing good jobs and good food to everyone. 

To see the official press release from Governor Pritzker’s office for Danielle’s new appointment, follow this link.